According to GI, I'm ALMOST in remission!

The GI nurse told my mom that the biopsies & footage looked 10 times better than the one 6 months ago(funny because this scope showed a lot of inflammation/ulcers & the last scope showed none of that). We're going to keep on keeping on with the Humira & after about two more shots I should be feeling like my old self. He is putting me on Sulfazine probably though instead of the Apriso to see if it will eliminate the joint pain. The GI is still going to prescribe me rectal suppositories for the inflamation. I'm very happy but...

If struggling to keep my weight up, stabbing stomach pains, 5+ bowel movements a day, debilitating joint pain, having my rectum be so swollen it closes up & occasional bloody stools is remission than remission freaking sucks!

Despite my clean out, the biopsies showed I had undigested food in my stomach. Which explains my gastroparesis like issues. Apparently he doesn't think it's significant enough. Oh, well.

Post Edited (keepingfaith) : 4/20/2012 3:00:20 PM (GMT-6)

Lol me too. It's just weird because I'm used to constipation & now I have watery "d" with a lot of mucus. I'm sure it'll clear once I get the steroid suppositories. Oh well. As long as it isn't damaging my intestines further, I'll deal with all the pain & other symptoms. Only thing that worries me is how will I know if I'm flaring if I'm alway sick? Hahahha Oh well. Not everyone feels well in remission.

I gotta agree with gumby: it doesn't sound like remission to me either!

Bit hesitant to say this in case it's demoralising, but I had a colonoscopy about six months ago. It was shortly after I'd been in hospital and had been put on steroids and antibiotics (plus I was on Remicade too!). After the scope the IBD nurse made out like it was a really, really good result, that there would be no need for surgery, etc. (Apparently the stricture in the TI had gone.)

Thing is, Crohn's was shown throughout the colon and there was still a severe patch of it. I think that was glossed over in favour of giving a positive report. But, long story short, I was only temporarily patched up. Stricture came back, had more obstructions, hospitalised, had a flex sig which still showed inflammation - consultant said he'd never seen inflammation like that on Remicade before.

Well, I've been patched up again and so far it is holding up, but I am nothing like in remission.

Anyway, I'm only saying all this to demonstrate that endoscopically you can appear to be 'close' to remission and yet you're anything but. In true remission you should have no symptoms or very, very few symptoms. You shouldn't feel ill or be in pain...

Sulfasalazine is meant to be good for joint pain. I hope it, along with the other meds, helps!