Treatment?

[Diana]

Hi everyone,

I am 20 and newly diagnosed with Crohn's. From what I am learning, I am in the minority because the only symptom I have is abdominal pain...so bad that I have been to the ER several times. I have had these occasional attacks for years, although I had 3 in the last month. I have 3 strictures and a fistula forming to my bladder. I am on budesonide now, and my doctor wants me to start Remicade. But this scares me...and I wonder how will I know it is working since my attacks tend to be infrequent? Does it make sense to treat my intermittent attacks with such a powerful and expensive drug "indefinitely?" Shouldn't there be another option?

Does anyone else "just" have incredible abdominal pain? How do you know you feel better when you start the treatment?

Thanks if you can help me get my head around this!

 

[thisisme]

Hi Diana!

Although I don't have very many answers, I definitely know where you are coming from. I am newly diagnosed as well, and also am pretty asymptomatic. My main symptom is bad abdominal pain, and I also have a fistula developing to my bladder. I am currently on Prednisone (My doc wanted me on budesonide, but apparently i have active crohn's in my large colon, and budesonide does not work on the large colon).

My doc is also putting me on Remicade to start with as well. Her explanation was that there are 3 main tiers of drugs, with remicade/humira being the highest tier. Typically they start at the bottom and do the step-up approach, but the main issue is the bladder-bowel fistula. She said these are pretty difficult to deal with, and can get quite "messy" to handle. They put me straight to Remicade (well, once it all gets started anyways), because the top tier of drugs are the ones that treat the root issues, and can deal with the fistulas, whereas she said the lower tiered drugs just wont do anything with the fistulas.

Im guessing this is similar for you???

I pretty much JUST have the incredible abdominal pain myself. I am feeling MUCH less pain now that I am on pred waiting to start Remicade... but as I haven't started Remicade yet, I have no idea how it will effect me! The side effects from the Pred pretty much suck though.

It's good to know Im not the only one here! lol

 

[traci0531]

I fit into this as well. I'm newly diagnosed and have had a lot of abdominal pain. My dr had me on Entocort and Lialda but then I ended up in hospital for an abscess at the bottom of my colon (ouch). Hoping it heals soon. This being sick at any moment is frustrating. I wonder if Remicade would work for me.

 

[Earnellzwifey]

I am on remicade. I actually was on it before my dx because of having Behcet's Disease. I can not really say how it has helped my CD but I am assuming it is working to some degree. If you want more details read my recent post linked here. warning it is kinda long.

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=41605

As for the Behcet's disease it has been wonderful. I was scared to start it also because my dr did the lets start from the top tier approach with me. I have regained a lot of functions that I had lost since starting it.

hope this helps.

 

[crohns0249]

i was also recently diagnosed with crohn's disease. i have several more symptoms; however, my doctor started me on pentasa (mesalamine) oral capsules. This medicine REALLY worked. I was very hesitant about starting remicade as well and the pentasa was amazing! I am not saying this is for everyone because I know everyone will respond differently, but maybe you could talk to your doctor about this form of medication. Maybe? Hoping this'll help!

 

[felipe]

I am also suffering from abdominal pain from several years but i was not suggested so. I am under treatment and with the grace of god responding well to the treatment that is given by my doctor.

---------------