Is this remission?

misspriss82

Regular Member

Joined : Mar 2008

Posts : 221

Posted 9/19/2010 10:35 PM (GMT 0)

I was on 6-MP for about 3 1/2 months, before my dr. bumped up the meds to 100mg a day and I started getting really sick, so he took me off and then wanted me to restart on it again, building back up. While I was off of the meds for two weeks, I started to feel better! I had much less "D", no stomach pain, no nausea or vomiting and I actually had energy!

When the dr. wanted me to start on the meds again, I didn't. I have been off of them for almost 4 weeks and I have to say, I feel great!!! While I still have some "D" its not NEARLY as bad as it was and I've actually had some solid bowl movements (first time in 3 years!).

Is this what remission feels like?! I have no idea how I ended up here and on no medication! I'm terrified that it will go away and I'll be back to where I was.

Veteran Member

Joined : May 2006

Posts : 1177

Posted 9/19/2010 10:42 PM (GMT 0)

I've heard people on 6-mp,Imuran and MTX say it takes a few months to get used to it; that they suffer from nausea etc. for a couple of month until your body adjusts to it. So, quitting the drug if you haven't given it a few months, and without consulting your doctor may not be the right course of action.

6-mp may not be the right drug for you. You maybe feeling better off it, and all that probably means is that it isn't the right drug for you. But you do need to be on a maintenance med permanently. Some people who don't do well on 6-mp do better on Imuran. Some others do better on methotrexate. But the best thing you can do for yourself is to talk to your doctor, and figure out the right course of action for you.

I am a strong believer in being on a maintenance med. So, I encourage you to go back and see the doc, and get back on some maintenance med. Lots of people on this board have had remissions without medication, but have also ended up in the hospital needing emergency surgery because the Crohn's was doing insidious damage to their bowels while they weren't on any medications.

Remission is basically the absence of symptoms, and clinical normal levels of inflammation in the body. So, I think you maybe close to remission, maybe not quite there yet. Because Crohn's is an auto-immune disease it can wax and wane even without medications.

PV

rlsnights

Regular Member

Joined : Apr 2006

Posts : 449

Posted 9/20/2010 7:33 AM (GMT 0)

I agree with PV. You need to talk to your doc, even if it's just to say - I feel better off the 6-mp than when I was on it.

The thing is that you may be feeling better because the 6-mp had started to work.

It takes several weeks to 4 months for 6-mp to kick in and the effects last for several weeks after you stop taking it. Since the effects on your immune system continue after you've stopped taking it, it seems like you're feeling better because it started working.

But you may have also been having a reaction to the medication that was helping to make you feel bad. Were you having problems with your liver when the doc took you off and then reduced your dose?

If 6-mp works for you but it is too toxic for your liver, you could ask your doctor about using a combination of Imuran and Allopurinol instead. Imuran is converted to 6-MP in your body and Allopurinol changes the way it's processed so it causes less stress on your liver.

Anyway, I'd strongly suggest you call your doc. If the 6-mp is working and that's why you're feeling better it would be really helpful to know that right? Then you and your doc can work on how to keep you in remission without problems with side effects.

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