New here

[ihatecrohns]

new here

Hello everyone..
I'm new here and have been reading everyones post for a few months. I just thought I'd pop in and say hello.
I was diagnosed in 2000 with crohns in the small intestines. It took the doctors 5 months to diagnose me and I had lost 44 lbs. I was down to 102 lbs when I went into the hospital. It was really sad cause I looked like I was dying. Anway, I was put on pentasa and steroids. Weaned off steroids after a few weeks. Stayed on pentasa for 2 yrs. and they stopped working. So, Dr. put me on Imuran. That has worked for me for almost 9yrs. now. besides the few flares I get and have to take the steroids. I moved to San Antonio almost 3 yrs. ago and I have been sick ever since. I wanna go home and my husband doesn't want to take on a new job in Louisiana. He had to transfer here after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and his place of work had to shut down. We came here for him to work but I don't know anyone here and I'm so home sick I know its part of the reason I'm stressed out and it makes me sick. I'm after him to move back home all the time.
Anyway, my doctor wants to put me on Remicade and I'm so stressed about it after reading all the bad side effects.
What can y'all tell me about it??
I' m also trying to find out if anyone is in the San Antonio area on here??

 

[imisspopcorn]

:welcome: Ihatecrohns......I am on Remicade. I started taking it this summer. So far I love it. I totally understand you being weary of the side effects, but you need to look at the risks versus the benefits. I had to have surgery 2 years ago. I really think that if I would have been put on more aggressive meds like Remicade and Imuran sooner, I could have postponed needing surgery.....

It is really nice to have you here. I know VShirey is from the Corpus Cristi area so hopefully she can say "hey" to you.

Also, check out the Remicade club thread in the treatment section. There is a lot of info regarding our personal experiences with Remicade. Mostly positive.

Good luck, and welcome again.

 

[Jennjenn]

Hi Welcome I am currently taking Remicade and like IMP said the benefits versus the side effects are important. It is worth trying to see if the drug will help you. I hope you feel better and try not to be too stressed out from being home sick. I hope it all works out well for you

 

[Nic]

Hello Ihatecrohns..I know how you feel about being away from home and it making you sick. I'm in the same boat. My hubby is in the Army and we just moved to NY in Sept, ever since we got here I have been sick We just turned in paperwork to try to get them to let us move closer to family.

My doc wants to start me on Remicade also. I freaked out after reading all of the bad side effects and told my hubby that I refused to take it and to make sure the docs didn't talk me into it. Then I found these forums and looked through the Remicade club that IMP is talking about, it changed my thoughts and I am now thinking it might be a good idea! Everyone seems to have a really good outcome with it!
Good luck, hope you get feeling better soon!

 

[uab grad student]

Welcome IHC! I am on Humira, but have heard great things about Remicade. Like IMP, I think the most important thing is to weigh the benefits and risks. Also, Remicade could delay surgery which has its own set of risks as well.

Best of luck and hope you start feeling better soon.

 

[pain in the butt]

Welcome so sorry to here your stuggling I don't know much about being home sick but i hear its really bad not good for Crohns hope you can find some friends out there for now it might help a bit . Hang around here helps too. Hope you read some.. remicade threads too . Hang in there . we care

 

[Crohn's 35]

I hate Crohns,,, good name btw! So do we! Moving, deaths and divorces are the hardest on any healthy body let alone a autoimmune disease. Stress doesn't cause Crohns but aggrivates the symptoms. It is hard to adjust. I am in the North part of Ontario and vowed I'd never be here, but I have adjusted, somewhat and lots to do just on our property. Perhaps you can join your local CCFA chapter and meet some people that way and or volunteer. It is start in the right direction. I hope you dont shy away from Remicade. I was allergic but everyone is different, and they have to state all placebo's and medications listed, just as a precautionary measure, but we are like snowflakes, not two are exactly alike... try it and maybe your life just may turn around. Welcome to the forum!

 

[farm]

Welcome, I hate crohns also!

 

[Brian]

:welcome:
Sounds like you've been through a tough time.
I just had my first Remi infusion last week. It went very well - nothing to it - no bad effects. I can't say I'm noticing any positive effects yet either, but I understand it may take a little while. I guess time will tell if it works for me.
The possible side effects are indeed a bit frightening, but I feel the potential benefits out-weigh the risk. It's important to feel comfortable with your dr.'s knowledge of proposed treatments and his/her personal interest in your case. Communication of any negative side effect is key so that a change in treatment can occur before any damage.

Good Luck!

 

[Nancy Lee]

Hello! And welcome to the Crohn's Forum!
We're all in the same boat as far as hating Crohn's...
but at least here at the Crohn's Forum you are among friends
and will always find someone to talk to.

Healing hugs~Nancy

 

[shazamataz]

Welcome aboard

 

[Mountaingem]

I'm new too, just wanted to say hi and share...

I had been going through a really stressfull time about 2 years ago and all the previous treatments (Pentasa, Rowasa, Pred, Methotrexate) did nothing to stop my flares. My GI told me that until I could manage my stress that the meds wouldn't work, and sure enough, when I was able to relax things improved. He encouraged me to try stress relief techniques first before moving on to Remicade. Just my experience everyone is different but thought it might help.

Hello everyone..
I'm new here and have been reading everyones post for a few months. I just thought I'd pop in and say hello.
I was diagnosed in 2000 with crohns in the small intestines. It took the doctors 5 months to diagnose me and I had lost 44 lbs. I was down to 102 lbs when I went into the hospital. It was really sad cause I looked like I was dying. Anway, I was put on pentasa and steroids. Weaned off steroids after a few weeks. Stayed on pentasa for 2 yrs. and they stopped working. So, Dr. put me on Imuran. That has worked for me for almost 9yrs. now. besides the few flares I get and have to take the steroids. I moved to San Antonio almost 3 yrs. ago and I have been sick ever since. I wanna go home and my husband doesn't want to take on a new job in Louisiana. He had to transfer here after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and his place of work had to shut down. We came here for him to work but I don't know anyone here and I'm so home sick I know its part of the reason I'm stressed out and it makes me sick. I'm after him to move back home all the time.
Anyway, my doctor wants to put me on Remicade and I'm so stressed about it after reading all the bad side effects.
What can y'all tell me about it??
I' m also trying to find out if anyone is in the San Antonio area on here??

 

[tamesis]

Welcome Ihatecrohns! i hate Crohns too!
Seems like the diagnosis is always difficult, takes a long time for doc's to figure out what the heck is going on! Glad you have a diagnosis now though, and hopfully you can find yourself in remission soon!

 

[Astra]

hiya I hate Crohns, I hate it too! It takes a while for docs to find out wots up, doesn't it? I'm having a really bad flare up after 3 years in remission, I've left my husband, divorcing him, moved into a new house with my kids at Xmas, so I believe stress certainly triggered this one! Now I'm on these horrible steroids called prednesolone for a coupla months and gonna stay off work and stay chillaxed! I'm also gonna research the Ramicade meds and think about going on it, can't cope with the prospect of more surgery (hysterectomy nearly saw me off)
Best of luck xx

 

[Nyx]

I had throw in my "I hate Crohn's" too! Welcome to the forum

Cindy