Hi I am new here, I am male and from Gloucestershire, UK
I developed symptoms in September 2006 when I was working in my first full time job out of university at the age of 23.
I had to give up that job by the January of 2007 because my symptoms (blood in stools, severe pain etc) was so bad.
I was eventually diagnosed with Crohn's in the March of 2007 following colonoscopy.
I went onto Prednisolone to start with which is a great drug at getting your symptoms under control but not so good in the long run (I now have Osteopenia at 27!).
They also tried me on Pentasa which made me worse.
After about 6 months on ever increasing doses of Pred to keep the same level of control they put me on Azathioprine (Imuran). A further 6 months and the Pred doses still going up to 60mg a day I went onto Infliximab (Remicade).
The Infliximab seems to be by far the best thing I have had so far, my symptoms are very much under control. From starting on Infliximab after a few months taper I was off Prednisolone altogether.
I have now been quite stable for around a 2 years overall, and am back in work part time, but I do get blips and side effects of the meds.
One other thing is that I have long been a bit overweight but while I was on Pred my weight went up dramatically to 25 stone (350lbs). I was constantly hungry and just piled on the weight.
Since coming off the Pred I have gradually lost 5 stone (70lbs). I still have had comments from people saying things like how can I have Crohn's as they expect me to be thin! I am in the position of having Crohn's but needing to loose weight not gain, I wonder if they are others out there in a similar situation.
I developed symptoms in September 2006 when I was working in my first full time job out of university at the age of 23.
I had to give up that job by the January of 2007 because my symptoms (blood in stools, severe pain etc) was so bad.
I was eventually diagnosed with Crohn's in the March of 2007 following colonoscopy.
I went onto Prednisolone to start with which is a great drug at getting your symptoms under control but not so good in the long run (I now have Osteopenia at 27!).
They also tried me on Pentasa which made me worse.
After about 6 months on ever increasing doses of Pred to keep the same level of control they put me on Azathioprine (Imuran). A further 6 months and the Pred doses still going up to 60mg a day I went onto Infliximab (Remicade).
The Infliximab seems to be by far the best thing I have had so far, my symptoms are very much under control. From starting on Infliximab after a few months taper I was off Prednisolone altogether.
I have now been quite stable for around a 2 years overall, and am back in work part time, but I do get blips and side effects of the meds.
- I tend to be worse in winter than summer.
- I tend to be very tired in the mornings, more so than I ever was before Crohn's. (think this is a side effect of either the Aza or the Infliximab or both but not sure!)
- I get every cough and cold going and it takes me a long time to shake off bugs once I get them.
One other thing is that I have long been a bit overweight but while I was on Pred my weight went up dramatically to 25 stone (350lbs). I was constantly hungry and just piled on the weight.
Since coming off the Pred I have gradually lost 5 stone (70lbs). I still have had comments from people saying things like how can I have Crohn's as they expect me to be thin! I am in the position of having Crohn's but needing to loose weight not gain, I wonder if they are others out there in a similar situation.
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