New as of today

[Ohiomom]

Hi all. My son, Ben, who is 16 was recently diagnosed with Crohn's. I believe in my heart he has had it several years maybe starting around 8th grade.

Anyway, we were very relieved to have finally found our answer and looking back so many things all make sense now. We took him to the dr. OFTEN and they never found it. Anyway, feel a twinge of guilt there but we tried and came up empty so many times.

He started on his meds on Friday and returned to school today. The school has been a Godsend to us with him.

I noticed over on the other medicine folders that they mention ranitidine being given as an infusion? Ben is on it as a pill form. Am I missing something here?

Thanks all and I am SO relieved to finally have an answer for my sweet boy (yes, he's actually a sweet teen LOL).

Chris

 

[Astra]

Hiya Chris
and welcome

So glad your sweet boy has finally got a diagnosis after years of not knowing.
I don't know about Ranitidine (Zantac) being given as an infusion.
But I wanted to ask, is that all he's on for Crohn's?
Enjoy the forum, there's loads of friends here for you both
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Dexky]

Welcome Chris! I'm with Joan on the meds. I haven't heard of Zantac for crohns. I hope he can get back to some sort of normalcy. Good luck to you both!!

 

[MomofIBD's]

Hi Chris, I am glad you found us but wish you didn't have to be here! My son is on the highest oral dosage of Zantac so I looked it up in the nurses med book at work. If I remember correctly it is used to treat ulcers. Especially the Zantac in IV form & also shot form. Also just a hunch here...ulcers can bleed & I would imagine if an ulcer bleeds that that it would be used to treat more severe ulcers. So further hunching here I would guess with someone that might have CD in the stomach &/or esophagus there could be bleeding in severe cases. In regards to my son being on a high dose he was having really bad stomach pain & nausea. Thinking it was a flare in a new area the GI Dr. prescribed the high dose. Weeks later we found out he had strep throat! That's what was causing the extra pain & nausea. No other strep throat symptoms! I Know the med is used for acid reflux in pill form & some of the meds for Crohn's like the prednisone can cause tummy upset for some people. It sometimes is a catch 1 / 22 situation! But the CD meds are very important & the GI Dr's knows the combos that work together to help! I hope I didn't confuse you more! But the whole CD is individual per patient with a delicate balance. Good luck with your son let us know a little more about your son if you can!
Julz

 

[AZMOM]

Hi Chris - Glad you are here. I think that they often use Ranitidine as a pre-treatment for meds that are given by infusion.

Claire is on it in pill form also. When her Crohn's is active, which unfortunately, it is right now. She randomly vomits unless she's on an acid blocker. The Ranitidine really helps us over here.

Thinking of you and Ben. Let us know if we can help!

Hugs,

J.

 

[Ohiomom]

Thanks for your very kind welcomes.

I guess I am a bit confused on the meds here. . . . Here is what he is on:

Azathioprine, Prednizone and Ranitidine.

So, I guess the Azathioprine irritates the stomach so that is why he is on the Ranitidine?

My DH just made me mad so I am a bit frazzled to say the least and no sleep.

Thanks again,
Chris

 

[Dexky]

That does make more sense. My son had to have an acid blocker(Nexium, I think) while on pred. Maybe he can stop the Zantac after his pred taper.

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Chris and :welcome:

Sorry you had to find yourself here but it is a fab place for support and info!

Anyway, we were very relieved to have finally found our answer and looking back so many things all make sense now. We took him to the dr. OFTEN and they never found it. Anyway, feel a twinge of guilt there but we tried and came up empty so many times.

Oh boy, been there done that Chris! With both the hindsight and the guilt. :eek2:

So great to hear that the school is on board, what a relief for you and Ben. So all is going okay with Ben?

Both my children are on Azathioprine and have not needed Ranitidine. My son has recently been on Pred as well and did not need Ranitidine then either. Does Ben have symptoms of stomach ulcers or stomach involvement with his Crohns? If not perhaps the doc has put him on it as some sort of precaution with the Pred, like Dex's son.

IV Ranitidine is just another method of delivery and would generally be used in a hospital setting. For example, if Ben was admitted to hospital and placed on Nil By Mouth then any meds that could be administered via an infusion would be given that way.

I hope you stay around 'cause we would love to have you here. Good luck and welcome aboard!

Take care, :hug:
Dusty. xxx

 

[Zoodles]

My son's stomach would get irritated whenever he took prednisone. So he took Ranitidine at same time.

What part of Ohio are you from OhioMom? I'm in NE Ohio.