So I've been mostly in remission since a bowel resection ~10yrs ago. Past year I started getting obstructions, and they've cranked up to the point where I landed in the hospital last weekend.
I've got 14cm of inflamed bowel, likely a new fistula forming, and severe scarring that's causing the blockages.
GI has put me on prednisone to try to get the inflamation under control, and is suggesting that I wean myself off over 6 weeks and start in on Azathioprine.
I'm kind of unsure what the benefit of the Aza is, or why I'd take it, and even more worried about the side effects (especially that it's a long term plan that I supposedly can't really stop taking once I'm on it). Again, I've been really minimal on my symptoms for the past 10yrs, but things are acting up and I need to start being proactive, but do like to err on the side of minimal meds/side effects.
My question is: For those of you who've taken Aza and can look back, do you think it'll do anything to actually help my current obstructions, or is it just a way to proactively reduce occurence of flareups? Will I be able to stop taking it at any point if the side effects get too messy? Do any of you regret having taken it, or found a better option?
Feeling a little lost and any advice would be much appreciated...
I've got 14cm of inflamed bowel, likely a new fistula forming, and severe scarring that's causing the blockages.
GI has put me on prednisone to try to get the inflamation under control, and is suggesting that I wean myself off over 6 weeks and start in on Azathioprine.
I'm kind of unsure what the benefit of the Aza is, or why I'd take it, and even more worried about the side effects (especially that it's a long term plan that I supposedly can't really stop taking once I'm on it). Again, I've been really minimal on my symptoms for the past 10yrs, but things are acting up and I need to start being proactive, but do like to err on the side of minimal meds/side effects.
My question is: For those of you who've taken Aza and can look back, do you think it'll do anything to actually help my current obstructions, or is it just a way to proactively reduce occurence of flareups? Will I be able to stop taking it at any point if the side effects get too messy? Do any of you regret having taken it, or found a better option?
Feeling a little lost and any advice would be much appreciated...