Question about doing injections...

you should call your doctor

I know for my injections i was taught to pull back on the syringe a little before injecting to see if i had hit a vessel, but the nurse said in nearly never happens!

goodluck

Hi-

Imuran and Pentasa worked well for me for about a year before I additionally needed Remicade. At that point, I dropped the Pentasa. I had surgery a few years ago after the Remicade stopped its magic. They did remove my ileum. I haven't had a severe flare up since, but I can't take Remicade anymore and I no longer respond to Imuran. So, now I'm on to methotrexate.

I see you're only on 30 mg of Prednisone, which is relatively low for someone who is recently diagnosed. Pentasa and Imuran are good drugs to also start you out on, and eventually you can probably drop the Prednisone. It's more common now for doctors to start patients on Imuran or 6 MP instead of toying with Prednisone and Pentasa alone.

Are you nervous about needing surgery or some of the medications you're on?

I don't have an ileostomy. The vast majority of surgeries, especially for removal of the ileum, do not require an ileostomy. Cases that might involve removing part of the large intestine or if you're so severe during the surgery, the surgeon opts to do it to give your intestines the chance to heal.

It sounds like your disease is primarily in the small intestine. Now don't hold me to it, but I highly highly highly doubt you'll need one, especially if you go to an excellent surgeon.

I do 25 mg of MTX a week. Only real side effect I have is fatigue, no major issues though. MTX is probably not on the table for you just yet, may wait until you're older.

I sometimes get what they call "Crohn's arthritis", but the MTX keeps that in check. MTX is used for Crohn's when other drugs aren't effective anymore.

I didn't have a temporary ileostomy. I only lasted about 4 months without a flare, but I have a pretty aggressive form that basically hasn't been put in remission since I was diagnosed.

Some people flare quite early after a surgery, some a few years later, and some many years later.

That being said, the flares I have now are no where near the level of pain that I used to have. It's worth it.

I had the last 14" of my small intestine out in 2002 and had only 5 months of remission. No Ileostomy was needed. and finally yes joint pain especially in my hands and wrists get really bad. Once I started Remicade 2 years ago the joint pain was gone for 6 weeks then returned progressively until my next dose at 8 weeks.

i do them in my thigh area, i'm not coordinated enough to do the arm. this happened only once.

how do you like mtx? how long have you been on it?

I had 18" of small intestine removed in Feb 09 and continued Asacol until now. I just had a Colonscopy and my disease has returned in just 10 months. I should have listened to my doctor and went on Metho or Imuran, maybe things would have been different. Next step now is to start Humira. I sure hope it works.

Good luck with the Metho.