When Is a Drug Considered Succesful?

[crazycanuck]

I've had Crohn's for two years now and I'm embarassed to say I've never really known what is considered a succesful drug for you? I'm onto Imuran now and I'm wondering what should happen for me to continue use of this drug? Would it be considered only going to the bathroom 2 or 3 times a day? Not having the cramps and aches in the abs? I few times in these 2 years I've had periods of times where I've been pretty much free from symptoms but then all of a sudden I will eat something and I'm incredibly sick. Should a succesful drug allow me to eat a Mcdonalds hamburger again? I only dared that feat once in the last two years and paid for it dearly so I'm just looking for your guys opinion because I know that it was years before I was diagnosed that I had many of the symptoms and since I'm only 18 I don't really remember what it was like to be "regular" with these things. Thanks.

 

[imisspopcorn]

My only remission where I was completely symptom free was the first one I had after diagnosis. By symptom free I mean, normal bowel movements, no pain, regular diet. I was only on Asacol at the time. I quit the Asacol because we were going to have another baby, and I didn't want to be on any meds during the pregnancy if I could help it. In about 2 weeks the diarrhea and aches came back. I had to go back on Prednisone to get things under control. That was about 9 years ago. Right now I am close to remission, I am kind of at the point where I have diarrhea no matter what i eat or don't eat. I consider it close to remission because there really isn't much pain. I don't think I will ever be normal again. So I take next to normal...That's just my personal experience thus far. I think everyone has their own definition of successful drugs.

 

[Peaches]

Hi CC - my only remission was a short lived one pretty much shortly after my surgery. I was only on Asacol then - but it didn't last very long and I was back on Pred. I have been pretty quiet while on Remicade for the last 5 years (much more so at the beginning than now though) - but I wouldn't consider myself ever fully in remission. Most of our drugs except for Prednisone are considered maintenance drugs - meaning they put you on them to get your disease quiet and keep you quiet. Pred is used to get you to the quiet stage and then get backed up by the use of a maintenance drug long term. Some people are ok with the maintenance drug idea - some people are not. My twin is only on Pentasa at present and wants to come off of it after having a month or so of relative quiet with her symptoms. I know how my body works - if I come off my maintenance drugs - I have a flare - no fun. So while the choice is yours - I'd say make sure to do it under a GI docs supervision just in case your symptoms come raging back.

As for food - it is kinda laughable around here with the variation of what people can or can not eat. Search the threads and you'll see what I'm talking about. Some people can't eat any junk food, some people do very well on junk food and not on healthy food (think veggies with fiber). It is unfortunately just something you have to do trial and error with for yourself. So - I think you have found one thing to mark OFF your eating list

 

[CrohnieCarolyn]

I think it is different for everyone but like imisspopcorn I have never really felt normal and probably won't ever again - I still have diarrhea and cramps and fatigue but I don't have a fever or chills or vomiting and I can function and go to school so I consider that MY remission - I think it all depends on where the disease is and how much you have - The longest and best I felt was while on Remicade and that lasted almost a year - ALMOST felt normal - As for food I agree with Peaches and everyone is different - I can not tolerate a lot of fiber as I have a pretty long stricture and as long as I take Questrin I can eat the odd junk food - just not a lot -

 

[crazycanuck]

Thanks a lot guys so I guess it varries for everyone. And I wasn't sure if when people said they are happy with a drug that meant they would have no problems with any foods or drinks and not having diarrhea regularly. I'm hoping my new Imuran will help me get to the point where I won't have to worry so much about going to class, finals, and playing sports. Thanks for the help again.