Hi everyone. I have a question about medications after surgery… I will be having Resection of the small intestine on August 13... I was talking to my GI doctor and she's not too keen on me having the surgery so soon but it really is that simple resection and the surgeon says he will remove probably about 10 inches of the small intestine and it's a best case scenario where I will basically be cured. for a period Of time- or forever! - and well so I asked my GI doctor about that AZA drug, the three little pills I take everyday (azathioprine/Imuran), and how I thought well I won't need to be taking those anymore right?... the disease will be totally gone and she kinda got upset and said “..oh no this is a chronic disease you'll have to take those drugs for the rest your life and the Remicade as well…” -you know I understand the Remicade infusions will continue for a time after the surgery… thats OK... but I'm not too happy about having to take an immunosuppressant everyday for the rest of MyLife when all the Crohn's disease has been literally cut out of my Body... what do people think about this? my understanding was I would be on a different type of drug... I would be taking something that starts with an F... and no more immunosuppressants ...any insight on changes in medications after surgery? I'd love to hear. thanks. peace.
Will medications change after surgery
- Thread starter SArren
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DJW
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Hi. The recurrence of crohns post surgery is quite high. It could be a year, it could be ten years. You may not experience any more problems. The best case senario. This is why surgery is a last resort. Remicade (biological meds) and azathioprine are standard meds. I'll be on them the rest of my life or until something better comes along. Meds provide the best chances of long term remission.
I hope you get long term remission post surgery.
I hope you get long term remission post surgery.
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I had my resection 2 years ago in June and I feel like I'm back to square one. I don't mean to alarm you and some patients are in remission for along time after. Your doctor is right this is a chronic illness meaning it will never go away, there are times of remission some short , some long. Unfortunately I will be seeing the dr again in Sept and probably going on more than just Imuran. It sucks but its the reality of this horrible disease. Live life a day at a time and enjoy every moment you can! We are so lucky to have such a great forum to unload on! Good luck with your surgery!
DustyKat
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Your GI is right SArren. :ghug: Whilst surgery will remove the diseased part of your bowel it doesn’t remove the root cause of the disease. Therefore the potential will always be there for it to return as Crohn’s can manifest anywhere in the GI tract.
Long term medication needs to be viewed as a maintenance medication just as it is in a raft of other diseases. Take Asthma as one example, maintenance puffers keep inflammation under control and greatly reduce the occurrence of acute and potentially life threatening attacks. Asthma isn’t gone because there are no symptoms or inflammation but rather, like Crohn’s, it lay in wait for the right opportunity to strike again. What you need to do after the surgeon has done his handy work is to do your utmost to keep the disease in check and in remission by whatever means is available to you. For some people remission lasts a remarkably long time but unfortunately for others not so long and it isn’t through want of trying, it is just the nature of the beast.
My own two children have had small bowel resections and thankfully for them they have had very good outcomes thus far. They have been in remission 8 and 3.5 years respectively. They are on Imuran as a maintenance medication.
I’m not sure of the F medication you are speaking of but could it be Flagyl? My son was on it for three months post op as there are studies out there that indicate that taking Flagyl 3 months post operatively increases your chances of gaining and maintaining remission for a longer period of time.
Above all else, Good Luck!
Dusty. xxx
Long term medication needs to be viewed as a maintenance medication just as it is in a raft of other diseases. Take Asthma as one example, maintenance puffers keep inflammation under control and greatly reduce the occurrence of acute and potentially life threatening attacks. Asthma isn’t gone because there are no symptoms or inflammation but rather, like Crohn’s, it lay in wait for the right opportunity to strike again. What you need to do after the surgeon has done his handy work is to do your utmost to keep the disease in check and in remission by whatever means is available to you. For some people remission lasts a remarkably long time but unfortunately for others not so long and it isn’t through want of trying, it is just the nature of the beast.
My own two children have had small bowel resections and thankfully for them they have had very good outcomes thus far. They have been in remission 8 and 3.5 years respectively. They are on Imuran as a maintenance medication.
I’m not sure of the F medication you are speaking of but could it be Flagyl? My son was on it for three months post op as there are studies out there that indicate that taking Flagyl 3 months post operatively increases your chances of gaining and maintaining remission for a longer period of time.
Above all else, Good Luck!
Dusty. xxx
