I am 34 years old and struggled with IBD symptoms for years. About 7 years ago my symptoms were completely out of control and I finally decided that it was time to get checked out. I was sick every day and missed a lot of work. After multiple trips to my primary care doctor I was referred to the doc that did procedures and was set up for my first scopes an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy.
The results came back inconclusive, but there was definitely inflammation. I transferred all my care to this doc, I felt like he helped me come up with a plan.
I also saw a GI doc who made me feel like everything I was experiencing was in my head and I needed to go see a psychiatrist. I can't believe doctors can make me feel worse. It took some work and time, but I got transferred to a new GI doc (though he still thought what was going was in my head) said let's do another scope. I remember coming out from the procedure and the first words he said was "you're not crazy, there is something going on and I think it's Crohn's disease."
It was a relief to have a diagnosis and it not be in my head. Since my last colonoscopy this doc has moved forward with me to try treatment that might work for me. I have been seeing this doc for 3-4 years now. I was put on Asacol, then added Entocort. Entocort was not good for me.
My doc had talked to me about Remicade and I was resistant for a year. I don't have a family and one day might want to have a child, so I didn't want be on a drug like that.
I stayed on Asacol and found that prednisone works well for my flares, but over all my symptoms were not under control and when I went on vacation this year it became so clear how my crohn's diease impacted me and really made it difficult to fully enjoy my trip.
I came back and called up the GI doc and said I am ready to try Remicade. I have been on it since July this year and though my symptoms are not gone, I feel that they are more manageable, my pain is less, diarrhea is more controlled, and the nausea is a lot less.
I saw my doc during my infusion last week and so far so good. I am not having side effects and I am not building antibodies against the Remicade.
Ideally I would like to symptom free, but for now this is an improvement. I am also still on Asacol.
The results came back inconclusive, but there was definitely inflammation. I transferred all my care to this doc, I felt like he helped me come up with a plan.
I also saw a GI doc who made me feel like everything I was experiencing was in my head and I needed to go see a psychiatrist. I can't believe doctors can make me feel worse. It took some work and time, but I got transferred to a new GI doc (though he still thought what was going was in my head) said let's do another scope. I remember coming out from the procedure and the first words he said was "you're not crazy, there is something going on and I think it's Crohn's disease."
It was a relief to have a diagnosis and it not be in my head. Since my last colonoscopy this doc has moved forward with me to try treatment that might work for me. I have been seeing this doc for 3-4 years now. I was put on Asacol, then added Entocort. Entocort was not good for me.
My doc had talked to me about Remicade and I was resistant for a year. I don't have a family and one day might want to have a child, so I didn't want be on a drug like that.
I stayed on Asacol and found that prednisone works well for my flares, but over all my symptoms were not under control and when I went on vacation this year it became so clear how my crohn's diease impacted me and really made it difficult to fully enjoy my trip.
I came back and called up the GI doc and said I am ready to try Remicade. I have been on it since July this year and though my symptoms are not gone, I feel that they are more manageable, my pain is less, diarrhea is more controlled, and the nausea is a lot less.
I saw my doc during my infusion last week and so far so good. I am not having side effects and I am not building antibodies against the Remicade.
Ideally I would like to symptom free, but for now this is an improvement. I am also still on Asacol.