There is a lot of information around on the internet about this great new drugs being used to treat crohn's disease - remicade. But what I am wondering is whether there are any people on these very boards who have tried remicade, and what your experiences are with the drug? Please share!
I am so sorry I did not see this sooner and reply. With the way us Crohn's patients go through treatments I'm sure you have either gone on it or something else instead. If not, here is my story...
Diagnosed in 2003 with Crohn's Disease. Went through 10-12 different kinds of meds over the next year until I actually just went into remission (the greatest 6 months of my life). Came back with a vengance though and after a 50 pound weight gain on prednisone over a three month period I said to hell with it and tried the Remicade.
By day three after the first treatment I was feeling like a million bucks. I was able to eat without having 10-20 BMs a day. I was actually down to 1-3. I was also eating fruits and vegetables and some dairy again - something I hadn't been able to do for at least a year. I was on Remicade for 4 full years. The only reason I went off was b/c I got pregnant. Even then I had to go back on during my second trimester b/c I ended up in the hospital with a flare.
I'm on this new drug, Humira, that you administer to yourself but I'm not sure it's working. It's a shot every two weeks. I had a lot of problems with delivery and stuff and developed a really bad case of hemorrhoids and ended up having a hemorrhoidectomy all in the time I started the Humira so I'm not sure if that has complicated things or if I'm going to need to go back to Remicade.
The only downside of Remicade is having to go in every 4-8 weeks for your treatments. I'm off on Fridays though so I don't have to take off work and I can have the whole day to get the treatment and relax afterwards. The only reason I am hesitating to go back to it is b/c I am a really hard stick for the IV and they were also talking to be about getting a shunt in my chest. Which I didn't want to do!!!! With the Remicade I felt like a normal person finally! I didn't want to get the shunt - I think it will just make me feel like a sick person again.
Anyway, I'm sure Remicade works different for everyone but it was the best thing since sliced bread for me!
Diagnosed in 2003 with Crohn's Disease. Went through 10-12 different kinds of meds over the next year until I actually just went into remission (the greatest 6 months of my life). Came back with a vengance though and after a 50 pound weight gain on prednisone over a three month period I said to hell with it and tried the Remicade.
By day three after the first treatment I was feeling like a million bucks. I was able to eat without having 10-20 BMs a day. I was actually down to 1-3. I was also eating fruits and vegetables and some dairy again - something I hadn't been able to do for at least a year. I was on Remicade for 4 full years. The only reason I went off was b/c I got pregnant. Even then I had to go back on during my second trimester b/c I ended up in the hospital with a flare.
I'm on this new drug, Humira, that you administer to yourself but I'm not sure it's working. It's a shot every two weeks. I had a lot of problems with delivery and stuff and developed a really bad case of hemorrhoids and ended up having a hemorrhoidectomy all in the time I started the Humira so I'm not sure if that has complicated things or if I'm going to need to go back to Remicade.
The only downside of Remicade is having to go in every 4-8 weeks for your treatments. I'm off on Fridays though so I don't have to take off work and I can have the whole day to get the treatment and relax afterwards. The only reason I am hesitating to go back to it is b/c I am a really hard stick for the IV and they were also talking to be about getting a shunt in my chest. Which I didn't want to do!!!! With the Remicade I felt like a normal person finally! I didn't want to get the shunt - I think it will just make me feel like a sick person again.
Anyway, I'm sure Remicade works different for everyone but it was the best thing since sliced bread for me!