Weird symptoms question

[Robbie-181]

Hi everybody,
I was diagnosed with Crohn's-Colitis back when I was 13. I am 20 years old now. The medication that I am currently taking is Sulfasalazine, Purinethol 6-mp, Vitamin D, and Minocycline for this past month. Recently, I've constantly been tired and nauseous and I've been suffering from what seems to be Insomnia. On top of this, I've been having a lot of upper abdominal pain that seems to be related to my digestion. This is most probably due to the fact that I haven't had much of an appetite lately. Regarding Crohn's symptoms, I've had blood in my stool for probably around a year and a half now.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks in advance for any advice,
Rob

 

[Pipergirl]

it seems you are having a flare up. maybe make an appointment and see whats up. watch what youre eating and hopefully things improve!

 

[David]

Hi Rob,

Did they put you on folate or a complex B vitamin along with your Sulfasalazine?

And why are you on the minocycline? Acne? Does your GI know you're on it?

 

[Robbie-181]

Making an appointment with my GI is like winning the lottery. Things continuously get rescheduled due to the fact that I don't live in my hometown. I am not on folate or a complex b vitamin to my knowledge. My dermatologist put me on minocycline because of recurring inflamed lymph nodes in the groinal region. I don't believe that my GI knows because my dermatologist only figured out the cause of these flare-ups last appointment, my Crohn's. (...) I went to see a doctor about being on minocycline and he said that it couldn't hurt to finish the bottle of pills to at least help subside the lymph nodes. The issue with that, though, is that if I weren't on minocycline, it would have never discharged. Last January, that was the case and I ended up in the hospital five days in a row to undergo minor surgery because they thought it was an infection.

 

[David]

You may want to tell your GI that you're on Minocycline as it is shown to cause all sorts of problems for the digestive track. In fact, print that up for him just in case.

As for the folate question, folate is usually prescribed in conjunction with sulfasalazine as it inhibits absorption (source). It and other B vitamin deficiencies could be the cause of your symptoms. I'd ask your GI:

1. Why you weren't prescribed folate along with the sulfasalazine.

2. To check your folate and vitamin B12 levels.

 

[Robbie-181]

Will do when I next see him. Thanks!