What does remission look/feel like to you?

[tiredandsick]

Interested to know how you and your GI make the determination of remission. Is it based solely on tests, if so which ones and what are the parameters or is it based on symptoms as well? As a newly diagnosed patient, I'm trying to decide my next step in my treatment. Entocort has for the most part stopped the pain, I only have one bowel movement a day (but that was the case before I was diagnosed) I haven't gained any weight (although Ai'm not pounding the calories either) and my fecal-cal levels are at 209 and my CRP is at .2. One doctor seems to think biologics is the best approach to keep me from progressing from a mild stage, the other doctor is comfortable with weaning off Entocort and trying Pentasa. Since there is no cure for this disease just trying to figure out what remission really looks like and how soon I should use the big guns to achieve it, thanks for any input.

 

[malsykescarter]

I've never actually had this conversation with anyone else. So, I'm glad to share what remission looks like for me... as well as hear what it looks like for others.

For me, remission is being able to have regular bowel movements, not having to run to the bathroom unexpectedly, an absence of pain (WOOOO), and the maintenance of vitamins and minerals in my body due to supplements. In the past, I've felt just OK, but found that my body wasn't keeping enough iron... and that wasn't ok. Now, as long as I take my medicines regularly, I feel great!