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Humira users...how is your CD?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 10/17/2011 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi....I wanted to see how all you Humira users were doing? How long have you been on it and how drastically did it improve your CD symptoms?

My husband has been on it for 4 months and also is on 6mp for 3 months. His symptoms have improved a lot. Going to the bathroom 25+ times before and now maybe only 5. Also he has gained about 30 lbs.

So....for those that are on Humira/6mp...are your symptoms completely gone? Like your normal or is it too much to expect to be "normal"?

Thanks for your answers!
Posted 10/17/2011 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Humira for 6 mo. My symptoms improved gradually – First belly pain/cramps went away, then dria. Now I “go” only after each meal, so 3 to 4 times per day. Still have some joint pain, but it is not as severe as before and does not last as long.
I have however developed hives this summer, if I am outside in a heat for any period of time, hives that look and feel just like mosquito bites appear on my legs and arms. Very itchy. They go way if I stay indoors or in cooler weather. I am in NJ so the weather has been a lot cooler and they all disappeared.
Posted 10/17/2011 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
I've been under Humira since January. My symptoms improved very very quick, no more toilet runs and I am eatling many types of foods.

The doctor decided to increase the dose to once per week since I have a small fistula that won't go away. I must say I am very happy with Humira, the only downside was putting up weight. I guess more kilos are a blessing though ... I used to weigh 100 kg, and suddenly dropped to 70 kg in 3 months. That was really scary. Now I'm back to 100, fat'n happy :-)

Hope it helps!
Posted 10/17/2011 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
I stopped after 6 months due to bad joint/muscle/nerve pain side effects. I couldn't say whether it was the Humira or restarting the azathioprine that put me back into remission, I restarted azathioprine last December and Humira end of January. Still on the azathioprine and will stay on it from now on. Was on azathioprine for 15 years and kept me in remission pretty well so it works for me, unfortunately Humira has done something screwy to my system, doesn't take much as my immune system is knackered and already have 5 auto immune conditions so once they decide what this new 'thing' is will probably be another one tto add to the list. Ho hum. :)
Posted 10/17/2011 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
According to my last colonoscopy, there are NO signs of active CD! The first time since diaganosed in 1988. I have been taking it since it was FDA approved for CD in 2007. That being said, I am now trying to figure out if odd symptoms are side affects of Humira or something else. Muscle & joint pain - my biggest complaint right now. It seems to have gotten worse over the last several years. Constant swelling/tenderness in my finger/foot joints and low back, muscles knotting up/tender somewhere different every day, dropping things..., vision is worse, now getting red/white bumps on hands/feet that itch/burn/peel...Humira is the only med I am taking for my CD.

I know my CD is better because of Humira, but when do you draw the line? Is it possible to stop Humira, then start again later?
Posted 10/17/2011 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your answers! Love to hear some more!
Posted 10/18/2011 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I have stopped and restarted Humira. 1st time it worked really well and quick, complete remission and the scope I had after being on it about 5 months showed very little active disease almost totally healed colon. I stopped it at 9 mos because I started having some skin issues and then went into a flare.

For a year I was ok on just Sulfasalazine and then got pretty sick again. I have a new doctor and she wanted to retry Humira since I respond so quickly to TNF meds. Restarted it 5 weeks ago and all my symptoms have stopped, I am down to 10 mg on Prednisone and eating most foods, only going 2 x a day, no blood. Hopefully it lasts with no complications because I feel better than I have since stopping Humira the first time.
Posted 10/18/2011 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Does Humira help with strictures? Or are strictures only helped by surgery? I've heard that strictures that are really low in the colon cannot have surgery?
Posted 10/18/2011 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
My understanding of strictures is that it depends on if the stricture is caused by current inflammation or by scar tissue. Medicine could help inflammation but not scar tissue.
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