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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/10/2009 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone, i am a 23 yr old female. i was diagnosed with crohns disease in July of 07. for the last two years, i have been struggling to keep my symptoms under control. I started using the remicade and it seemed to work for me. that was in july of this year. however, due to my insurance company denying to pay for the remicade, i had to switch to humira. to be honest, i am deathly afraid of using this medicine due to the high rate of cancer possibilities. i find myself becoming more depressed each day and don't know how to deal with these feelings. i would just like to hear some opinions and thoughts from those of you taking this medication, how you felt about taking it, and if you felt the same as how i do now. any insight would help me greatly. thanks a bunch

~anna~

Posted 11/10/2009 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
lilwitch - a study just came out which followed 10 years worth of data on infliximab (remicade) and adalimumab (humira). The results are inconclusive, but a large cohort study in Great Britain found no link between the tnf blockers and increased incidences of cancer. Other studies have found an increased incidence. Bottomline, the improvement in quality of life maybe worth the biologics. For me, I started Remicade a week ago and I am doing much, much better. I can now participate in life again - be a daddy and husband. If this drug increases my risks of cancer, so be it, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. For now, I will focus on living again!

Hope you find what works for you.
Posted 11/10/2009 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
The company that makes Remicade has a financial assistance program.  If you like the way Remicade works, maybe you should check into that.  You can find the info on their website.  I have been on Humira since May 09 and haven't seen any real improvement so I am going to the dr today to switch to the Remicade.  I hope it works better than the Humira did  :)

Posted 11/11/2009 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW lilwitch,
I just started Humira and like you was scared to death of the TNF blockers due to the increased risks - that was until I realised my quality if life was so poor I needed something to help. I agree with Former58D - its about quality of life and I will deal with whatever this may bring down the track.
Good luck with the Humira - keep us posted.
Jo
Posted 11/11/2009 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Add me to the just started Humira Group. I started last week. Had the 4 doses. So far, so good. I havent noticed any adverse side effects, yet. Hope it continues. How are ya'll doing on it? Hope all goes well for ya'll. Julie

Diagnosed  Crohn's, 1998..Gangrene Small Bowel,1998..Ostomy Take Down,1999..TPN for 5 1/2 months..Adhesion Removal,1999..Abdominal Hernia Repair,2000..Kidney Artery Bypass,2001..Diabetes,,Sleep Apnea,,Silent Heart Attack,,Blocked Kidney Artery after the Bypass..Bulging Disks, Pinched Nerve..MEDS--,Purinethol,Folic Acid, Fish Oil,Humira,,Bentyl,Anamantle Cream,Cortifoam ,Tramadol, .and many more. 26 meds..

Posted 11/15/2009 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone who has responded to me. to be quite honest, i think CD sucks! everytime i start to feel just a little bit better, something in life goes wrong and makes symptoms worse. i am from Boston, and i would like to know if anyone is part of a support group in the area?!?!?! I am very interested in taking part in one. i think it would help alot! any info would be greatly appreciated!
Posted 11/15/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hey lilwitch I'm in the same boat you are. I actually just got approved for Humira and I am both excited and scared to start it up. I too have read about the increased cancer risk and that in itself freaks me out let alone the long list of potential side effects. On the other hand when I am having moments of pain on a daily basis and I find myself questioning my sanity due to this disease, the decision isn't so hard. I want my life back and after dealing with this bs for the last 13 years I'm ready for a change. I can't do the pred anymore and the entocort just isn't cutting it. So it's either surgery or one of these heavy duty drugs.

Daily pain and depression vs a chance at a normal life makes for an easy decision. Let us know how you do since it is easier to have someone going thru the same situation at the same time. Good Luck.

JAB
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