Hi guys, was just wondering if i could get some advice please?
I was diagnosed with Crohn's about 5 years ago, and it seems as though my main problem is a stricture about halfway along my large intestine. For the past 18 months I've been taking Remicade, and this has for the most part left me absolutely pain free (bar a couple of flare ups in the lead up to a couple of infusions).
My GI consultant has told me that I should potentially consider surgery to chop out the stricture. He says that the stricture is not getting any smaller, so the remicade is just acting to maintain my current 'wellness', but is not improving my Crohn's. He has just upped my infusions to one every 6 weeks (from 8). He has booked me in to have a chat with the surgeon in a couple of weeks time.
Now my personal situation is that I have recently had to turn down a job in Australia, because I would likely have had to pay for my own treatment, which I just couldn't afford. I was absolutely gutted that I couldn't make the move, but I felt I had to stay in the UK to carry on with the excellent (free) treatment I am receiving on the NHS (which I am ever so grateful for!).
I'm wondering whether I should have surgery or not, as I'm hoping that this might be a magic cure for me, would stop my requirement for Remicade, and ultimately enable me to make the move to Oz to start a new life with my beautiful wife!
It seems as though I could continue with Remicade, which would not allow me to move to Oz, or I could go down the surgery route, which would potentially enable me to move, but would leave me without half my large intestine and any potential issues this may lead to further down the line.
:sign0085:
I was diagnosed with Crohn's about 5 years ago, and it seems as though my main problem is a stricture about halfway along my large intestine. For the past 18 months I've been taking Remicade, and this has for the most part left me absolutely pain free (bar a couple of flare ups in the lead up to a couple of infusions).
My GI consultant has told me that I should potentially consider surgery to chop out the stricture. He says that the stricture is not getting any smaller, so the remicade is just acting to maintain my current 'wellness', but is not improving my Crohn's. He has just upped my infusions to one every 6 weeks (from 8). He has booked me in to have a chat with the surgeon in a couple of weeks time.
Now my personal situation is that I have recently had to turn down a job in Australia, because I would likely have had to pay for my own treatment, which I just couldn't afford. I was absolutely gutted that I couldn't make the move, but I felt I had to stay in the UK to carry on with the excellent (free) treatment I am receiving on the NHS (which I am ever so grateful for!).
I'm wondering whether I should have surgery or not, as I'm hoping that this might be a magic cure for me, would stop my requirement for Remicade, and ultimately enable me to make the move to Oz to start a new life with my beautiful wife!
It seems as though I could continue with Remicade, which would not allow me to move to Oz, or I could go down the surgery route, which would potentially enable me to move, but would leave me without half my large intestine and any potential issues this may lead to further down the line.
:sign0085: