Me an introduction

[Terranz]

Hello

This is my first post here but I have been let here a few times by google so I thought I'd sign up.

Me: My name is Gerard and I live in Auckland, New Zealand.
I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in January 2012 although I was getting nasty symptoms much earlier.
I first got mild symptoms in the last weekend on November 2010. I went from perfectly fine to not fine in the space of a day or two so my GP thought it was food poisoning.

Right now I'm horribly nauseated on Azathioprine but my specialist says it's either that or surgery.

Does anyone know how long it takes to adjust to this drug and not be nauseated anymore. if that happens at all?
I'm on 200mg for 4 days so far and I was on 150mg for 7 days before that

 

[Dukeis]

Welcome to the forum! I would think there are other things you can do before you resort to surgery. Seems as though your doctor could prescribe you something for the nausea. Good luck, hope you get to feel better soon.

 

[Angrybird]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I have been on this med twice previously and did not have an issue with nausea myself, I to am wondering though why your doc says this is the only option med wise? Have you been given other meds previously and could they not give you something for the nausea? We do have a sub forum for this med that is worth checking out to see if others have has this problem and if so what worked for them: http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=64.

AB
xx

 

[acheallova]

Hi and welcome to the community Gerard.
Yes as stated above, I'd take a look at the sub forum on azathioprine. I would also make that call to your dr to see if he can prescribe you something for the nausea you're feeling. Have you researched or discussed other treatment options? Surgery seems a little drastic at this point, it sounds. I know Asacol® or Pentasa® is a good option for UC, but is costly. I would hope you increase communication with your doctor and explore other options putting a plan in place for treatment/ next step treatment if first choice fails etc....

Good luck and keep us posted! - hugs-

 

[Terranz]

Thank you very much for the suggestion of the sub forum to visit.
I have been on Pentasa since I was diagnosed but I can't say that I've noticed that it does anything for me at all
I absolutely love Prednisone as apart from putting on 5KGs I felt like there was nothing wrong with me. My GP gave me Prednisone and my specialist doesn't like it.

My GP has given me Prochlorperazine but that was only 2.5 days ago

 

[QueenGothel]

Welcome to the forum, it really is a great place to find a ton of information and also a great support system. I really don't know what I would have done without it.

Yes everyone loves Pred at first until it stops working so it really isn't a good idea to keep using that card when you might need it later on. I hate Pred we saw all the negative and very little positive effects in the end before my daughter Colectomy. Best of luck to you with the AZA. Never used it.

 

[LisaL]

I agree with the earlier posts...there are other medication to try prior to opting for surgery. Also, do you know if you have a build up of scar tissue or pain from inflammation. Medications can help alleviate the inflammation but won't help scar tissue. Having the answer to some of these questions can help you make a better choice about how to proceed.

I hope you find relief soon,
Lisa

 

[Terranz]

Thank you

As far as I know I have no scar tissue. I had a colonoscopy showed sever colitis but no ulceration... yet

 

[Hobbes650]

Welcome to the forum, it really is a great place to find a ton of information and also a great support system. I really don't know what I would have done without it.

Yes everyone loves Pred at first until it stops working so it really isn't a good idea to keep using that card when you might need it later on. I hate Pred we saw all the negative and very little positive effects in the end before my daughter Colectomy. Best of luck to you with the AZA. Never used it.

The love affair at first with Pred is short lived. The side effects kick in soon enough and we end up hating it it. But it sure beats the pain!

Sometimes patients aren't very responsive to Pred, but the AZA you are on should help (takes about 3 months to kick in). Biologics like Remicade and Humira are also being used early in treatment. Pentasa may be one that doesn't help so much, but it doesn't hurt either so it's a drug we all seem to take. If the drugs don't seem to help much and you get hospitalized, that doesn't automatically mean surgery. You might have enough improvement while on IV steroids to go home after a while, and hopefully the medication will keep the illness in check. Surgery is scary, but the life after is a lot better than being sick with UC.