My Crohn's Journey

[GurgleGurgle]

Hello everyone. I've been lurking around this forum since I was diagnosed with Crohns this past October. I'm long overdue with my introduction, but I must say that everyone on this forum feels like extended family already. Most days since my diagnosis, the only smiling I've done has been reading your daily posts. Thank you for keeping me sane. While I'm newly diagnosed, I have been dealing with this for some time now. I remember sitting in a Remicade training session like 6 years ago (I work for J&J-Centocor) thinking I have Crohn's. I've been to Gastroenterologists in the past, but it always took so long to get an appointment that my symptoms would lesson and I would be told that I wasn't getting any younger and that I needed to watch my diet. This last time I was flaring I made an appointment with a new gastroenterologist on the recommendation of someone at work and immediately went to my primary care physician and asked for blood and stool tests. My new gastro reviewed my test results and made a preliminary diagnosis of Crohn's within 3 minutes which was confirmed with a colonoscopy as well as a CT scan of my small intestine. I've since been on Lialda and Asacol HD which I promptly failed. I was a pez dispenser with both, my system didn't even put a dent in the PH coating. I went on Pentasa and Azathioprine which gave me no relief and then finally Prednesone which didn't seem to work either. Now that I'm tapering off on the Prednesone, I see how much relief I was getting because my symptoms are now twice as bad as they were prior to the steroids. I've been flaring continuously since my diagnosis with blood at least once or twice a week. My Gastro finally agreed that I needed to move to a Biologic and I am scheduled for my first Remicade infusion this coming Tuesday. It's funny, I've concentrated the last 10 years of my career working to improve quality of life for others not knowing that a time would come that I would be facing this damn disease myself. Thanks again for the support you've given me in the past, present and future. Blessings to you all for all the hope and support you give to this community. All my best. Be well.... Kevin

 

[Crohn's 35]

Hey gurgle,, when I saw your post my stomach gurgled lol. WELCOME! You will fit in the forum just fine. Great you are trying the Remicade, alot of people do wonders on it. Prednisone does work but the sides are really bad.. My Gi is trying to get me to go back on them but, I am waiting for my bone density test results and ct scan to see what to do. I have been on all the biologics available to Canada, just didnt have good luck with them, at least not long periods.

Pentasa (on them now) is a mild to moderate it is usually the first drug they put you on to see how bad your Crohns is.

I get some good laughs here too, because when there are times you dont want to laugh one of these guys prove me wrong. Glad you found us, let us know how the Remicade session goes. Are you prepared for it?? Good luck.

 

[imisspopcorn]

:welcome:....Make sure you check out the Remicade club thread in the treatment section. I hope the Remi can get your flare under control....It's nice to have you here. Hope to see you around.

 

[Pirate]

Hi Kevin, glad you decided to stop lurking and join in the fun.
Good luck with the Remi, I had my fist treatment last Friday so we'll see how things work out.

( Be on the look out for cats afterwards, They'll find you.) lol
Has to do with mouse DNA

 

[pain in the butt]

welcome

 

[farm]

:welcome:

 

[Brian]

Hello Kevin / Gurgle! :welcome: