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Posted 2/22/2015 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone! I'm a 25 year old male who has been battling JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis) ever since I was 2 years old. I was recently diagnosed with Crohn's disease in September of 2014. Tried Asacol and it failed, tried Entocort and it helped for about 2 weeks then failed as well. And since November I started Humira which has been helping, except this past week I've been flaring pretty bad (Diarrhea 15+ a day, no appetite, very painful abdominal pain). Keep in mind that I'm 5'6 and now weighing around 93lbs. When I used to be 120 lbs. I noticed that a few days before I'm due for my next shot of humira my symptoms start coming back. So I might need to speak to my GI and see if I should start taking Humira more frequent than every 2 weeks (perhaps start with every 10 days).

Now my question in the meantime is: I still have some Entocort EC left, can I take some (9mg daily) to help manage this painful flare?

Thanks ahead
Posted 2/22/2015 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
If you feel the Humira is working to control your symptoms, other than the last couple of weeks between shots, then maybe you just need to alter the shedule as you suggested.

If Humira is right for you, then you shouldn't need to resort to any other immuno's. Definitely discuss it with your GI. Have you already tried Remicade?
Posted 2/22/2015 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Ok I'll get in touch with my GI next week about the dosing schedule. Nope, never tried Remicade.
Posted 2/22/2015 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
My GI switched me to once a week instead of every 2 weeks. Talk to your Dr. see what they think. GL.
Posted 2/22/2015 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, you may need to switch to more frequent dosing. You might also consider adding an immunosupressant such as imuran. This can make Humira more effective and also decrease your risk of developing antibodies to Humira.
Posted 2/22/2015 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
As for the Entocort, don't start it without asking your doctor first. It might help with your flair, but sometimes it can take at least a couple of weeks taking it every day before it really starts to help (and sometimes it kicks in faster).
Posted 2/22/2015 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the input first of all :) secondly is there a chance that this current flare up may perhaps be a bacterial or viral digestive issue where something like cipro or flagyl help calm things down?
Posted 2/22/2015 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
If it's viral, it shouldn't last long. Usually 12 to 24 hours, but sometimes maybe up to 3 or 4 days.

If it's bacterial, yes, you would likely need antibiotics. But first it would need to be confirmed with stool cultures. In fact, many IBD doctors do stool cultures any time a patient shows signs of a new flareup, because sometimes what they think is a Crohn's flare is actually an infection. The infection c. diff should also be tested for. I would not take antibiotics without testing and confirmation that it is indeed a bacterial infection.
Posted 2/22/2015 6:34 AM (GMT 0)
Can C. diff be determined within a few hours if I go to the ER? Or does the stool test require a few days to show the results?
Posted 2/23/2015 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
The c.diff test results come pretty fast. I heard by the evening after I dropped off my stool culture last time. You may not need an ER visit. If you call your GI's office, they can order you stool cultures and you can bring it to an outpatient lab
Posted 2/23/2015 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've been hospitalized since yesterday because my symptoms were unbearable. They did stool cultures and I'm negative for c. Diff but they are awaiting the other results to come back as those can take longer. The very weird thing is that my stools are pure YELLOW in color and completly liquid (20+ a day eating nothing for the past 24 hrs). They started me on Prednisone and will also add Levaquin and Flagyl...this is by far the sickest I've ever felt :(
Posted 2/23/2015 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I would contact your GI about everything.

Is there a reason for the entocourt vs prednisone? I know entocourt is supposed to be safer and have less side effects, but if you're flaring really badly the prednisone would probably get it under control faster.

[edit]

just saw your last post about being on pred. hope you feel better soon
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