Yes, I believe they are thinking about putting me on Humira or Remicade. I'm very concerned about going on these medications given what I've been reading about them, but if they can heal the fistula and help me avoid surgery down there it might be worth it. Any thoughts on this? I could also go back on methotrexate, but I don't know if that will help with fistulas.
Typically when I have a Crohn's flare up my sed rate and c reactive protein levels will go up, I will have pain and swelling in my abdomen, specifically on my right side and through the lower back where most of the crohn's damage took place a few years ago. I will also get swelling of the gums and along my fingernails that is quite painful. And of course diarhhrea. I was on methotrexate and more or less in remission (I thought) for the last 3 years. I stopped taking methotrexate in May but had only been taking it sporadically for a couple of months prior.
Last summer I started having more joint pain, and began having dental absesses. I had another root canal, an apioectomy for an infected root canal and another tooth with a vertical root fracture that had to be pulled. No clue if this was related to the methotrexate or to crohn's but it seemed unusual all at once.
Then in February I got achilles tendinosis and began having severe knee pain along with the joint pain I was already experiencing. (I'm a dancer so this sucked extra bad). In May I started having pain and bleeding with bowel movements, they thought it was a hemmorhoid, turned out to be an absess, fissure and fistula. Had exploratory a week ago, they removed the absess (thank god) and am referring me back to my gastro guy for follow up. I see him a week from Thursday.
But still no bowel problems other than constipation which seems to be related to when the fissure came along. I am dealing with it through a prune concoction I make myself and take twice a day.
So still no clue if this is all related to Crohns or just random bad luck/damage from constipation. Unfortunately the surgeon did not take a biopsy.
I sure don't want to take biologics if I don't need to, but with all these inflammation related issues going on I feel like I need to do something.
Also I can't take calcium as it causes burning diahhrea, so I need to find a way to get some calcium and iron as well, cause I'm super low on that from all the bleeding.
I feel bad for everyone who is dealing with this and appreciate any suggestions that would help. I am currently off work and doing everything I can to get this fissure to heal. I think a new prescription cream I got is helping a wee bit
