Remicade infusions start tomorrow :-(

[Victoria816]

Hi All,

Ashley starts her infusions tomorrow. I am strong up-front, but am sad inside. Ashley startes tapering her Prednisone, now at 30mg, and started 6MP, and starts Bactrim today.

Ashley has had severe leg/ joint pain. She said her feet feel like they are on fire. How many suffer from that as well. Since starting the 6MP she gets hot and was sweaty the other day, also normal? I'm sure I will be a pro at this in no time, but it's tough getting through the scary stuff.

How many of you have experienced side effects from the immune suppressants? Get sick easily/ infections?

Again, I can't thank all of you enough for your support. ♥

 

[Clash]

My son was on both remicade and methotrexate(another immunosuppressant but not a thioprine like 6MP) for nine months, we didn't notice that he got sick easier nor did he battle with infections.

He also experiences joint pain although his is an EIM(extra intestinal manifestation) of his Crohn's disease, which can be quite common. There are EIM's that run concurrent with active flares and EIM's that run independent of active disease. Once we got his flare under control his joint pain subsided. It is a good idea to see a Rheumatologist to determine the source of the joint pain and let them handle that aspect of it. If the pain started after the start of a med then I would also contact the GI with the symptoms as well.

Hugs and support, I know it is hard. I hope the Remicade appt. goes well and she is feeling better soon!

 

[DanceMom]

My daughter is also on 6-mp and Prednisone. Recently she has started having muscle pains in her legs and I read that can be a side effect of the Prednisone. Same with the night sweats she's had lately. We were pretty lucky that we didn't have too many side effects from the Prednisone until we started tapering.

As for the 6-mp, it made her very nauseous the first few weeks but it doesn't anymore. She doesn't seem to catch viruses/bacteria any more than she used to but does have trouble fighting them once she is sick. Her GI took her off the 6-mp for a few days when she was last sick and he suspected a virus.

We are still new to everything too. Still learning!

 

[DustyKat]

I hope all goes well today Victoria...:ghug:...sending loads of luck and healing thoughts your way.

My two are on Imuran and they have not suffered with any side effects or increase in sickness/infection. TBH (touch wood!) if anything they seem less so given their level of exposure, especially Sarah who attends a very large university and uses public transport quite a bit.

In my thoughts, :heart:
Dusty. xxx

 

[Tesscorm]

Good luck today! I hope all goes well at the infusion.

My son has been on remicade since February - so far, he hasn't gotten sick any more often than before (and, since February, he's travelled to Dominican Republic, visited a hospital there due to a shoulder injury, has gone camping, etc.). Our GI told us being on an immunosuppressant (or biologic) doesn't increase the risk of catching a bug but
may make it a bit more difficult to fight off. Having said that, he said he very rarely sees any complication due to an infection while on a biologic. :ghug:

 

[Jmrogers4]

Good luck today, hope all goes fab with infusions. Keep us posted on how it went.

 

[Victoria816]

Thank you for all your positive thoughts and words. Ashley is 30 minutes into her infusion, no reaction Just keep praying this is the best treatment for her. Ashley's boyfriend came to support her today. I couldn't be more proud of him.

One more question for you. My daughter is on birth control and they prescribed Bactrim to prevent infection. Has anyone had a negative reaction, example yeast infection with mixing the two? Also, doesn't being on an antibiotic while taking birth control make the birth control less effective?

 

[Jmrogers4]

Yes, I was always told to use a back up plan while on BC and an antibiotic. Way back before I had my children, I would get horrible sinus infections every year and put on antibiotics and was always told to use a back up plan.
I've heard yogurt helps in regards to yeast infections while on antibiotics. Maybe a probiotic?

 

[DustyKat]

The issue with antibiotics is if you develop diarrhoea...a fast transit time through the gut will mean it isn't completely absorbed. This then leads onto to how Crohn's affects when flaring, if diarrhoea is a normal symptom for you then you should consider taking extra precautions. If you have extensive inflammation present in the small bowel then it is possible you may have trouble absorbing the pill especially if it is enteric coated,which many are, so again extra precautions should be used.

Dusty. xxx

 

[CarolinAlaska]

Thank you for all your positive thoughts and words. Ashley is 30 minutes into her infusion, no reaction Just keep praying this is the best treatment for her. Ashley's boyfriend came to support her today. I couldn't be more proud of him.

One more question for you. My daughter is on birth control and they prescribed Bactrim to prevent infection. Has anyone had a negative reaction, example yeast infection with mixing the two? Also, doesn't being on an antibiotic while taking birth control make the birth control less effective?

Yes, antibiotics make oral contraceptives less effective. It may not go across the board, but I would talk to her about always using a condom anyway... I don't think it increases the risk of yeast infection though any more than just being on antibiotics in general...

 

[Victoria816]

Thank you all again, and again! I am truly blessed to have found this forum and all of you. I'm a tired Mom tonight, been a long few weeks.