Time to get a 2nd opinion?

Sorry you are feeling so bad. Any reason you don't want to try Remicade? I know alot of folks on this board have had great success with it. Hope you get some answers and help soon.

Hi,
the (partial) obstructions are from a stricture. Even if medication keeps your intestine free from inflammation, you have to be careful what you eat. I have the same problem myself. I haven't been to the ER, but I have been close to go a lot of times. (Was there the first and second time, but not later).

Inflammation results from the production of prostaglandin and other materials are produced keeping the intestines inflammated. A stricture is not flexible as the intestines or the bowel, and when you eat food that has hard pieces such as bits of nuts, seeds of fruit, or even coarse, undigested brans from cereal, this can irritate the intestines and make the stricture pull the opposite way than the normal movements in the intestines. Your vegetables should be cooked to death, and should never be fried, and apples, potatoes and similiar food should be peeled. Even meat has to be soft and with no hard parts or slices.
All persons with IBD needs to have good food selection, sensible supplementation and ongoing stress control.
I.

Is it possible the stricture is from scar tissue and that is why the Imuran isn't helping? Have you had any scopes to take a look at where the obstuctions are happening? I had one stricture from scar tissue. I spent months having to live on full liquids while the doctors tried to decide if it was active disease or scar tissue. I would go for a second opinion and I would want to have some testing to see if they can find out what is really going on. If it is scar tissue, no medicine is going to make it better. It will continue to obstuct if you eat things it doesn't like, or until it is removed. I do hope that they can figure out what is going on and try to get you some relief.

When was the last time you had a scope to see what's going on in your intestines? In my opinion, a second opinion from another GI might just start you over at square one...they may want to try the same Rx you've already tried, run same blood tests, etc.
I agree with frankj, this is your body-your life, you need to tell you GI how much pain you are in, voice your frustrations until he takes you very seriously. If you have been in the hospital several times because of obstructions it's time to try something drastic. I alot of CD sufferers have had great success with Remicade, it might just be your saving grace. If nothing else is working it just might be worth a try...maybe the Remicade with a low dosage of steroids might control the inflammation enough to give you relief.
Talk openly with your GI, it's their job to help you, make sure they do.
Please take care and know we are all here for you!