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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/11/2010 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi!

I would like to introduce myself.

I am a 42 year old F living with Crohn's and colitis since I was 16, I was fianlly diagnosed at 18. I spent a few weeks in the hospital in my 20's and at that time I spent close to 6 years on stroids. I had 2 children with easy pregnacy but hell on wheels after delivery and recovery.  I was very lucky in my 30's with only a few short flair ups. I got off all hormones including birth control.

This past Feb. I had a really bad flair up. Unfortunatly since I had not seen the GI guy in MANY years my GP was some but not enough help. I finally was able to get an apt with the GI guy. He gave me a medrol pack and put me on 8 500mg pentas daily. I feel a million times better BTW and truth is if I was not taking meds I would say I am feeling just fine with little symptomes.

Anyway, I had my colonoscopy this morning with, well less than stellar results! I have ulcerations in the large and small intestine, I supose not a suprise BUT I really am felling well.

anyway, my next journey will begin as I have to catch up on the new meds, tratments and figure out how to move forward into living with active C/C.

Posted 8/11/2010 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome! though I'm sorry you have to be here.

Does your doctor have any plan for treating your disease yet?
Posted 8/11/2010 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the welcome Ivy,
The plan is to continue on the pentasa (8 500mg) which works for me to calm the digestive tract also I begin Mercaptopurin 50mg. I don't know much about it or its generic name. I came here to find some more information as it seems to be an active board with some very knowlagable people.

-DC
Posted 8/11/2010 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dixie's Chick and welcome to the best Crohns forum out there. You will find alot of love and support here. Sounds like you did what many of us have done in the past, and that is get feeling better then think you no longer need the meds. I did the samething! My remission ended with an emergency resection, which was quite traumatic as I am sure you can imagine. So even though you are feeling better, my biggest suggestion to you is, make sure you ALWAYS stay on some kind of maintenance med at all times. While you are busy getting on with your life, the crohns is always in there doing its damage on a microscopic level without you even knowing it.

As for the medication Mercaptopurin you asked about the brand name is Imuran or 6mp. They are basically the same med but process differently in your body. I personally prefer 6mp over Imuran as it gave me less side effects. You will have to do regular blood tests with these meds and its important to get them done. We have quite a few members on these meds and they have a pretty good track record for most. We have members who have been on them for up to 10 years. But....if the Pentasa is working well for you, that could be a good maintainence med for you. I am maintained solely on a sister med to Pentasa called Asacol. I prefer to use the least med possible, but will tell you if the Asacol stops working, I am not adverse to going back on 6mp.

Hope that helps!

Hugs
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 8/11/2010 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much fo the post Nanners.

I too have taken asacol but for me i just can't break it sown so the pentasa works better. I feel so new at this because it has been so long and really feel like a newbe.
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