Longest Period of Time between flares?

[butt-eze]

What is the longest period of time you've had between flares? In other words, what was your longest period of remission? Also, during that longest period only what medication, if any, were you on?

 

[butt-eze]

I have been in remission for over 18 months with the help of low dose prednisone/steroids and for the first year cytoxan(chemotherapy) assisted in maintenance of remission. I am currently in month two of no IBD medications.

 

[merrywidow]

18 months is my best then my hubby died and the stress caused a flare up and its been unsettled ever since. regards sharon x p.s med is pentasa

 

[22wendylou]

I went 4 whole years without a flare-up.....Just got over it about 3 weeks ago...Well, that is, I just weaned off the prednisone....I am now just starting to take pentasa.....Prior to this latest flare, it had been 4 years with no meds!

 

[Kev]

Not sure if it counts.. Pre dx... Had an undiagnosed (at the time) outbreak of some form of colitis... Treated it with pred enemas for 45 days. All symptoms just went away, and stayed away for nearly a full decade... No meds in that interval, and no symptoms of any kind that could be remotely tied to any form of crohns colitis, ulcerative colitis, or indeterminate colitis. Period. Nada. Zilch. Why? I dunno... Then an outbreak, then another period of 5 symptom free yrs.

The last 4 yrs... never a period of more than 6 - 7 weeks symptom free, either due to surgery, meds, diet.. etc.. Wish I could roll back the clock to the old me

 

[Cog]

I have been lucky 2+ years with Xifaxan (cannot spell it proper like) and Bactrin and now added cholestyramine to the list but Crohns has been absent - long may it continue - diet is pretty strict though and keep a watch on foods that I eat.

 

[vickyoddsocks]

Im garenteed a flare if i dont take meds - trust me ive tried! And even though im on alot of things theres still a very good chance i could have a flare. Ive never REALLY experienced full remission, although im at my best at the moment, but i still get pain, D etc.
Im on 150g Azathioprine (imuran)
Iron
And maintanence Infliximab every 8 weeks.

 

[Digits]

ditto, Vicky. never been in remission, so this flare is going on a good 10 years now (half my life)

 

[ruthymg]

My longest with meds (Pentasa, Imuran, Mebeverine) was just over 3 years I think and I have now been in remission again (with a stoma this time though) for about 18 months and I haven't taken any meds for a good six months.



Ruth

 

[Mazen]

My longest was 2+ years on Pentasa, then on Pentasa and Imuran.

There is a nice presentation on CCFA on how taking maintenance meds increases remission period as opposed to not taking meds

http://www.rmei.com/CCFAVL2008/

 

[butt-eze]

Thanks Mazen! I didn't realize that maintenance was encouraged. Guess I shouldn't have skipped my last GI visit just because I'm in remission.

 

[Methofelis]

Generally speaking, my average time for remission is usually about a month and a half -- if I'm lucky. I'll have about two-three major flare-ups a year, with smaller ones strewn about the rest of the time.

I have no insurance and disability is jerking me around, so the only medications I get are when I go to the ER during a major flare.

 

[BWS1982]

appx 4.5 mo's...with asacol 3.6 g/day and nothing more

 

[Kev]

Interesting stats Benson... maybe 5-ASA has some benefits at times.. betting tho you follow a regimented diet... just a hunch.

Metho.. Not that it helps, but I watched the movie 'Sicko'.. Ever considered going to Havana? Just for a brief restbit... short hospital stay... pick up some cheap meds

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I seem to go about 2 years between flares.
After original diagnosis, I was taking only sulfasalazine, and that remission lasted about 2 years.
After my next flare, I was on prednisone and asacol (maybe - don't quite remember. I think I switched back to sulfasalazine there somewhere.)
That lasted about 2 years.
My most recent flare has lasted about 9 months, but I've reached the feeling of 95% remission (for 11 weeks now) on Humira. Hopefully this one will last longer than 2 years. It's been a great 11 weeks so far!!
I'm also taking pentasa, which was started somewhere within that 9 month flare time.