Update and confusion

[ambermeghan]

update and confusion

I just got back from the GI and it is safe to say they are no longer MY GI. It's been over a month since my colonoscopy and I was really looking forward to asking all my questions and finally getting some answer. That didn't happen. She was walking out the door while I was still asking questions! :ymad: I took that to mean that she doesn't have time for me which is fine. I already have an appt next week with a new GI.

Here's where the confusion comes in. Right now I'm on Pentasa, Flagyl, and Pred. She said that I should have been taking Imuran the entire time. Okay, so why didn't you write for that? When she handed me the script today it was for 6mp not Imuran. I know they are similar, but come on.

So do I go ahead and start the 6mp now, knowing that I see a new GI next tuesday? Doesn't it take awhile to see results? Or do I just keep taking my current meds and start fresh next week? I'm more confused than ever. What would you do?

 

[Jennifer]

Going on and off medications like 6MP quickly wont harm you like getting off steroids. Meaning there's no need to taper so there isn't much harm in starting it and if your new GI wants you off, then go ahead and stop taking it. I don't know what your symptoms are but for me, I'm on 50mg of 6MP and I think it took about a week for me to notice a significant difference.

What I would do, if you haven't already, is contact your new GI and tell them what happened and ask them what they think. Give your symptoms to the nurse who answers and the dosage of the script and they should get back to you and let you know what they think.

When I drop a doc that isn't worth my time though, I generally don't do what they say to do. I go by what the new doc says (if they are any good and know what they are talking about). It's up to you really. I don't know how bad your symptoms are so I'm not gonna say ya or nay if you're seeing a new GI soon anyway and you aren't in an emergency type situation.

I am curious as to what dose they wanted you to go on for the 6MP.

 

[ambermeghan]

They want me to start at 50mg this week and go to 75mg next week. I'm not at all in an emergency situation. As I taper on the pred (5mg every 5 days) things are getting worse. The pain and cramping is increasing as is the D. I think I can tough it out for a week. I will call the new dr. and see what he has to say.

Thanks!

 

[Starla86]

I had to do some extensive blood work to see if I had the right chromosones to handle 6mp and I dont, do you know if your dr tested you before she wrote you the script? If not I would definatly hold off on starting that since from what my GI told me if your not compatable it can possibly cause death. Im not a dr and Im just sharing what mine told me....good luck with the new GI.

 

[Jennifer]

I suppose death could be a possibility although rare as many medications have that listed as a "side effect" but it could make you very sick or cause other problems like Pancreatitis which I believe someone on this forum was diagnosed with because they were on 50mg of 6MP and the doctor decided to double their dose to 100mg. That's such a high dose. I've never taken more than 75mg and when that didn't work, we did a bowel resection.