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azathioprine and being healthy

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Crohn's Disease
crohns disease,is it really an auto ammune disease
or to do with M.a.p - 100.0% - 2 votes
or acids and carbohydrates - 0.0% - 0 votes
or severe i.b.s - 0.0% - 0 votes
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Posted 2/15/2012 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
idea
New to this.Im 37 crohnes sufferer.diagnsd 11yr ago after severe flare and right side hemicolectomy.was v.v ill.stayed flare free for nine years,then stressful two years ended up rushd into hospital twice.i.v pred sorted both times,but put on aza 150mg.have been on these for a year and a half.no problems at all.i still have mile issues,bloatedness and get full quickly as going by last colonoscopy,i have inflamation/narrowing in the stamosis,where my bowel was re sected 11yr ago.illium.G.i put me on budesonide,rebleducing by 1 tablet a week.12wks.never had these steriod before,but apparently they work in the illium.also,although pred are the wonder drug for me,they totally screw my head up,as i suffer depression anyway.My question is,iue been on aza for 18mnths.i have to watch diet due to narrowing,but what can i eat or drink that will boost my vitamin levels or multi vit,without effecting what the azathioprin is doing!?ALSO,just quit smking two wks ago.was a 20 a day smkr.is it nrml to get a bit of a flare when quitting?
Thanks! And,how do i add my details?im just finishing budesonide steriods,3mg every mrn.only drug im on is azathioprin,and 1 high dose cod liver oij tablet.oh,and actimel drink every mrning.crhns disease,right side hemicolectomy 2000 ,current issues in re sected illieum.
Posted 2/15/2012 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Big congrats on quitting smoking-takes a lot of strength to do that! You should feel proud of your efforts. I don't tolerate vitamin tablets very well but do ok with cereal that is fortified with vitamins and iron. I have to stay with the few kinds that are gluten free like rice chex. It's surprising how many vitamins they can fit into a bowl of cereal, at least according to the label.
Posted 2/15/2012 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Well,two wks into the no smking,and hoping it does good for my crohns.my g.i said it was v bad to smoke with crhns?yet it can help with colitis?
I havent taken vitamins,but just want to get as much goodness in me whilst not upsetting azathioprin?i have to be careful with cereals,as i have to kind of avoid fibre etc.
Posted 2/15/2012 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Any decent quality vitamin will do the job(cheaper ones tend to be bulked out with fillers) You may also want to consider something like one of the drinks that are used for enteral nutrition(they contain the full quota of vitamins although not always in just one bottle!) I don't know if it is just with children but when they are on steroids they are usually prescribed Vit D and calcium too. Lots also take pro-biotics.
Ds is on Azathioprine/Pentasa, he also takes Vitamin B complex, Vit E, vit D, calcium and a herbal prep for another issue(he rattles after taking them all ;) )
Posted 2/15/2012 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
A book I recently read stated that nicotine can indeed help those suffering from UC, but has a negative effect on the health (intestines/disease-wise) of those with Crohn's. I think if you google nicotine+crohn's, you will probably get some more detailed information.

In regards to azath, I have been on it since last June, and as far as I can tell, nothing seems to interact with it. I take boatloads of vitamins everyday, used to eat whatever I felt like and had no problems, switched to SCD recently and still no problems. I really feel that the limiting factor determining what you can and cannot consume is your intestines themselves. Azath has no real effect on limiting your diet.
Posted 2/15/2012 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for replies!guess my only concerm was,if aza is to surpress your immune system,taking vitamins etc would be doing the opposite?am i wrng there?
Posted 2/15/2012 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
And whats really annoying is ,since i had the right side of colon removd and terminal illeum,ive had no meds at all for ten years,and now,two smallis, flares and im on aza.
Posted 2/15/2012 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
Taking vitamins doesn't boost your immune system, it just helps your cells function at an optimal level. And for what it is worth, I have heard of a few people have pretty bad flares after being off medication for a long time, and that might be happening to you. The aza is probably just struggling to catch up to the level of inflammation and disease in your intestines, so while it may feel like it isn't doing anything, it may in fact be helping quite a bit.
Posted 2/16/2012 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Guess that could be the case.Thing is,last colonoscopy showd narrowing in resection,new illieum,so guess nthng really bar surgery or balloon will change that.So frm what ymddu said,vitamins,or fresh juice for vit c wnt stop aza frm doing its thing?i just want to get apQ much goodness in me while taking these meds.finishing a 12wk course of budesonide in next 5 days,but today,i saw an ent specialist regards loss of taste and smell,and works out,after camera up nose,i have a polyp up my snout,and he wants me to take awload of pred for 3 wks.dnt knw if i can being just finishing budesonide?o.m.g-life sometimes,what to do for the best. How do i put my details at end? ?
Posted 2/17/2012 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Never heard of azathioprine or any other immune-suppressant drug interacting with vitamins. They just do different things: I doubt there's any overlap at all between the functions of aza and the functions of vitamins. The only thing which might be affected is your haemoglobin, a lack of which causes anaemia. If you're worried, it's not a bad idea to get tested for certain common mineral and vitamin deficiences, such as iron, B12, calcium and Vitamin D.

Other than that, though, I would take a multi-vitamin without hesitation. In fact, if your diet is very limited and lacking fresh fruit and veg, it's almost certainly a good idea.

Oh yeah, and if by 'details' you mean a sig, click on 'My profile' (top left of page, next to the Log Off link), then 'Edit profile', then put whatever you want in the signature box and click on 'Submit' to post it.
Posted 2/17/2012 8:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for that!my diet aint bad,just dnt eat much fruit or fresh veg due to low residue diet.aint it so annoying that you can go for ten years fine,then bang,it flares up.i do have b12 injections every 12 wks.thanks again.
Posted 2/17/2012 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Imuran (azathioprine) since 2003 and was taking a One A Day Vitamin w/Iron for years prior to that and since then w/absolutely no problems.

I've also taken a good mixed probiotic prior to and since starting the Imuran. Again, no problems.
Posted 2/17/2012 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thats good to knw!just a question,ive just started 40mg pred for a nasal issue.2 wks at 40 then taper by 5mg a day for 8 days.so,short course.i took 1st lot today,and tnite,hot sweats,flushd.could this be the pred already!.im just finishing a course of budesonide for a flare up,only 3 days left on that, 3 mg tab 1 now a day.on aza,and on 3rd wk of quitting smking with a patch.ahhhh,whats making me so flushd and hot!
Posted 2/18/2012 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Took advice,takinga multi vitamin.is it ok to take cod liver capsules high strength aswell as multi vit? I rattle.and,HATE TAKING PILLS.
Posted 2/18/2012 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. Congrats on quitting smoking. I'm also on imuran, and take B12, iron, B-100s, multi-vitamin, folic acid, etc. I don't find any intereference with the imuran, but I break up everything I take throughout the day.
If you hate taking pills, there are some liquid vitamins available at health stores. You can always talk to your GI or pharmacist about safety/efficacy.
Take care!
Posted 2/18/2012 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Roni. Still only 3 weeks from quitting smoking, but getting nasty side effects and withdrawls. I guess just taking meds after not taking them for ten years reminds you that there is a nasty disease lurking in the background.
I have the b12 jabs every three months, and started the multi vit today. just concerned about taking too much vit b and d as they are int the cod liver capsules and 100 rda in the vit tablets. Oh well, wont kill me. Do you know if starting the pred at 40mg yesterday could be casuing the hot sweats? Thanks
Posted 2/25/2012 7:47 AM (GMT 0)
Taking multi vit,but has slowd me right down b.m. Then again,the fact i have quit smking has prob smthng to do with it aswell.sadly on pred for 3 wks for a sinus issue.great.polyp up nose.it never just rains does it
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