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humira with a draining abscess?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/23/2011 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, another question- I'm scheduled for my Humira shot today, but my abscess is still oozing ***** stuff, the glands in my groin are still a bit swollen & tender, I feel "off" overall.... but no fever this AM, after running a low-grade one for a few days. Not sure if the Humira will help heal the abscess, or cause the infection to go full-blast. Any feedback? I suppose since I'm seeing my GI tomorrow, I can always do the shot, tell him about it, then go on antibiotics tomorrow. Ugh....
Posted 2/23/2011 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
You can get humira shots and remicade infusions while having an abscess. The abscess is part of your disease and isn't considered an infection that would stop you from taking your shot. I have been on remicade for over 6 yrs. and have had numerous abscesses until my seton was placed, and I still got my remicade.
Posted 2/23/2011 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Whew, that's a relief! I kind of thought along those lines, but was leery. I had gotten a Remi infusion years ago with pneumonia- too early for any symptoms to show, didn't know I had it, etc. And wound up in ICU for a week! It was awful. Ever since then, I've been paranoid about infections & biologics. But I figured if anything, maybe the Humira would help the abscess. Especially since it's already burst. Thank you for the reply.
Posted 2/24/2011 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
cry  This reply goes out to anyone on this post: Does anyone out there know if a person has a UTI infection, can they still take Humira. I had a CT scan done about a week ago and showed no bladder fistula, which was good, but the last go round of antibiotic for 3days showed blooed still in my urine. That was over 2weeks ago. After meeting with my primary care doctor about the results of my CT scan, they took another urine sample. Thry said they were going to culture it and should take 2-3days. I'm hoping that there isn't any infection. My doctor said if there still was, that he might refer me to a urologist, which I cannot afford right now!! Thanks alot!! I sure would appreciate any input you may have on this!!--Silvergriz
Posted 2/24/2011 7:58 AM (GMT 0)
I have had my doc's tell me even after a visit with just a cold telling me I can use it however I judge myself now since in that instance my GI said yes and 1 week later I ended up with strep =(
Posted 2/24/2011 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
for what it's worth, I did do my Humira shot yesterday, & saw my GI this AM re. the abscess- he gave me acrips for Cipro & Flagyl (what else...) & examined the abscess site. It's doing better, so hopefully the antibiotics will clear it up for good. If not, then it's off to a surgeon. But my point is that he didn't think I should've held off on the shot either. I have learned to go with my own gut instincts on this too- along with feedback from forum members!
Posted 2/24/2011 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Good! Not trying to discourage but I think you will have to end up going to a surgeon for your abscess. Unless an abscess is surgically drained, cleaned out, and then left open to heal, it will only come back in a matter of time. What happens is, the external opening ends up closing over with infection still in there and the abscess will grow again unless it heals from the inside out. It is a simple outpatient procedure.
Posted 2/24/2011 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
silvergriz...an uti is a whole different story. I personally wouldn't take it until it is cleared up.
Posted 2/24/2011 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
My humira shots cause a tiny pocket of infection to become a major absess, I'd be careful, my GI said that, that is a side affect of humira, it cause absess's to grow, I don't know, i'd definately be careful, I had to go off mine until they removed my absess :/
Posted 2/24/2011 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
cry  This reply goes out to Ruthy: Thanks for the advice, I have waited so long to try and get on this Humira to see if it would help my Crohns, trying to fight with the drub company, had to appeal their decision to see if I could get my medicine either for free or low cost. I thought there was some way to take the Humira and at the same time takr an antibiotic for the UTI. My primary care doctor only gave me 3days worth of Cipro and I personally don't thi nk that was long enough. I ended up going back on on Tuesday as they did a CT scan to check for a bladdrr fistula and thank goodness it was okay, but at the same time they did a urin test and the doctor said they owuld have to culture it. I asked him, what if there is still blood in my urine, and he said he didn't know that I may have to go to a urlogist, which I cannot afford at this time as I'm out of work. So I'm just hoping for a good outcome with this and also I don't end up getting a bad side-effect from this. Thanks so much!!- I absoultely HATE THIS DISEASE!!!--Silvergriz--
Posted 2/24/2011 7:10 PM (GMT 0)

I'd hold off too, silvergriz- stinks, but....  And to crohniemom- I practically expect this one to come back! Another one I had was pretty "clean"- it burst, made a fistual, drained, healed & that was that- still have the fistula, still leaks stuff, etc. But this one is different, I can tell already- it doesn't appear to have drained fully, it's itchy & irritating, & the glands in my groin are swollen & sore still. Not horribly so, but it's a nuisance! I have also heard that Humira can actually cause perianal abscesses...???? Huh?!?!?! I'm not too concerned about this one groiwng huge all of a sudden, since I will start the antibitoics this wknd (going out to dinner tomorrow, & darn it, I want a green tea martini with my sushi!  :-)  )

Posted 2/24/2011 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Silvergriz: I was put on cipro also through a PICC line and they wouldn't pay for both Humira and Cipro :/ so I just held off on the Humira until the absess was gone, they had to surgically remove it because it was solid as a rock (how you have a solid absess I still don't understand lol) anyways I'm back on it now but I'm still a little paranoid that the Humira will cause another absess but its better than nothing.
Eva Lou: I know I don't understand why it triggers the absess but my GI said it would, she's the top Gastroentorologist at Duke to so she knows a few things haha but she said the pro's are better than the possible cons so I'm back on Humira twice a month!!
Posted 2/25/2011 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
The thing with remicade and I don't know if it is true for humira as well (but might be as well since you were told that it can cause an abscess), but remicade can work so well and so fast at closing fistulas, that it can actually cause an abscess in the track. Just making sure that you know that you can't drink alcohol with the flagyl. Yay for sushi!!! YUM!
Posted 2/26/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
This reply goes out to chroniemomx2: I just found out this morning that my urine test came back fine, which is good news!! Now I'm just waiting for Humira drug company to accept me in their assistance program. Actuallyt they denied me because of my high deductible, but I told them I still couldn't afford it, so I had to appeal their decision. I sure will be glad when this is all over and I can finally take Humira. I'm still kinda scared of side-effects, but I think after the 1st initial dose and know that I'm going to be okay, it won't be so bad!! P.S. My GI's doctors staff are always rude and I hate having to deal with them, but u fortunately this is my 2nd GI doctor I've been to in 10years and is supposed to be a specialist in this disease. Oh Well-I guess I'll just have to deal with it I guess. Thanks alot for the advice!! You all have been very helpful!!--Silvergriz
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