Lots of questions because I'm fairly new to crohns

[j.low]

Hello . I am glad to have found this group. I was newly diagnosed in January. I ended up in the hospital for 10 days in march. And was just told that my immuran isn't working. I'm in the process of starting humira. It's so expensive. I'm nervous. My mom thinks that I didn't give my body time to heal itself because I'd have a few drinks here and there. Is this true? I asked my doctor he said it shouldn't matter. But everyones different and doctors have different opinions. Thanks!

 

[DustyKat]

Hi j.low,

Sorry I can't give answers your questions but there are plenty here with loads of great advice and experience, but I would like to give you a big hello and :welcome: to the forum.

 

[Astra]

Hi j.low
and welcome

yes you're right! everyone is unique in their disease, symptoms and severity, but from what I have learned over the years, some meds combined with alcohol, especially Azathioprine (Imuran) can make you worse! Aza interferes with the liver and you need to have liver tests/bloods done every now and then to check this. Abstain for a while, and see if it makes any difference. I'm not on Aza anymore but I haven't had a drink for 9 months, the effect is astounding! When I was drinking, I had shocking D and pain, but not half as bad now.
Check out the thread called the Humira Club, people have had amazing results on it, and I'm hoping to go on it too, don't be nervous about it. If you don't like it, come off it!
glad you found us, any questions, just shoot
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Crohn's 35]

Welcome to the forum, you have come to a place where we know how you feel and every med is scary for different people. NO one likes to be on meds but sometimes you have to do the trial and error, Humira worked great for so many and yes it is expensive, do you have coverage? Be thankful your doc didnt recommend Remicade, those shots are $4000.00 bucks a shot or more . I know you are young but from my experience of alcohol, it puts a strain on your liver eventually when you get older, it wreaks havoc on the gut. Because this disease does not yet have a cure, you are going to be on meds that can make your liver worse, that is a whole new ballgame. Like Astra says abstain for awhile, if you must have a drink, one with a full meal is best. Be good to yourself ok. Hope you hang around for a while

 

[Regular Joe]

Hi j.low,

Welcome.

Your doctor said it wouldn't matter? Is he/she a gastro specialist? If so you might want to consider finding another one.

If you had my GI, he would insist you stop drinking before he prescribes immuran or humira. I heard him bitch out a patient and refuse to prescribe any of the immuno's or biologics - he said it was too dangerous and drinking could be deadly. He used the term "I'd be foolish to prescribe the next level drugs to you and you are still drinking."

Alcohol tends to make a flare-up worse, not even counting in prescription side effects. Chronic drinkers almost always have diarrhea, and when they stop drinking, their pooping becomes manageable.

Well sorry there, I guess I answered some of your questions before you asked. When I hear a person say they have "a few drinks here and there", boy can I tell you a story or two!

Welcome, and don't be shy.
Joseph

 

[j.low]

Thank you for your opinions and thoughts about it. Ive decided that Monday is going to be a new start and i am going to stop having casual drinks every couple weekends because i want to get better. Thanks for the advice on going to the humira group, i am definately going to go look at those forums.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

Thank you for your opinions and thoughts about it. Ive decided that Monday is going to be a new start and i am going to stop having casual drinks every couple weekends because i want to get better. Thanks for the advice on going to the humira group, i am definately going to go look at those forums.

Stopping the drinking *may* help, but don't rely on it. Crohn's is a complicated disease.

I haven't drunk alcohol since I was 17. I still fight with this disease (I'm just short of 30 now)

 

[Crohn's 35]

I agree with Creepy, it doesnt make it better, it just lessens the chances of it getting worse. I quit smoking 9 years ago, didnt make it better either but it is healthier in the long run. Good decision though.

 

[Regular Joe]

Please allow me to clarify.

I believe that chronic drinkers, meaning "problem drinkers", daily drinkers, alcoholics, and heavy drinkers develop diarrhea as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. That is pretty much a fact. When they stop drinking, their bowel habits become (I said "pooping") manageable. This type of drinker often tell their physicians "I have a few drinks here and there." Those exact words that j.low used.

I'm not saying that j.low drinks excessively. j.low says she doesn't drink but on occasion. Judging from what my GI said, it could be harmful in the course of her therapy

I never said not drinking helps Crohn's disease get better. My disease had it's onset, and a second flare within the 12 years that I have not drank. I wasn't drinking when Crohn's disease onset and flared.

I know what my GI told the drinker, who admitted to being an alcoholic. I heard him because I was that person's AA sponsor. I have absolute trust in GI. and when he refused to prescribe humira, remicade or any "higher level" Crohn's therapy because the person drank, the GI considered the combination of alcohol and biologics a potentially fatal problem in the making.

I hope that clarifies why I suggested that j.low abstain from alcohol.

 

[Astra]

But it's not just the heavy meds like humira and aza, you have to be very careful with OTC stuff too, for example, hayfever tablets and also other prescription drugs like codeine phosphate, and metronidozole is a scary one!
Always read the leaflet, it usually recommends no alcohol.

 

[Matt]

Hey welcome to the forum .

As people have said, differnet things affect people differently and it's kinda a case of working out what does and doesn't work for you. With alcohol though I personally would err on the side of caution. Your liver has enough to deal with from different drugs and the like, no point giving it more work to do. Thats my thinking on it anyway

Matt