Crohns Flare Here We Go

Well, I went to the doctor's today. I am fixing to move, but I have been getting great care. I think the 1 1/2 hour drive may be worth it. I am having a CT Scan series on Monday. I have not had one since 2009. I just got off a long stent of flagyl/cipro. I am still on levsin/phenegren still. I have been a long term predisone user since 2008-2009. There was the talk of biologic options if predisone was not holding anymore. I have fought this for years. The side effects and cost scare me. The doctor was right one board with no surgery unless it was a last resort due to fistulas, leaking, tissue build up, and the inflammation just popping up somewhere else. I have found the best thing I ever did for myself was to educate myself and not just be at one doctor's mercy. You should always be an active participant in your disease treatment and be able to talk with your doctor and feel comfortable. Unfortunately, crohns is one of those things for me over the years that comes and goes and can have different escalations. I have the extra manifestations of this DD along with crohn's gastritis when flaring. Of interest this time, I also have a nodule on my thyroid (having an ultrasound for that). Wish me luck! I have been really watching my diet or lack of one. My first crohns symptom is always nausea that won't go away followed by a snow ball of different things at varied levels.

*Hugs* Good luck for the CT Scan

sorry to hear that cindy. I've been on remicade for around 10 years with little side effects. And honestly has given me a quality of life never experienced with previous drugs. That said I don't see it as a forever option and have been doing as much as I can to repair immune function and unbalanced microbiome. Cannabis oil may be a viable option for you, look up Coltyn Turner in Colorado. A teenager who acheived complete remission with cannabis oil, which is less surprising when you look up studies showing THC and CBD reducing TNF production (similarly to remicade). If you're dedicated enough I truly believe with time we can take control of our bodies again without these heavy prescription drugs. Look up the SVD study(semi vegetarian diet) where Japanese researchers retained %92 remission in 16 patients for 2 years without meds. This was after obtaining remission through medication and surgery though. I'm also looking into starting Bravo Probiotic (more like a super fermented colostrum probiotic) and Russian Peptides. Both look interesting and potentially could produce good results. If not FMT is another option to try but seems a little messy. Hope you're problems are all resolved quickly and painlessly. You can see my natural protocol I'm using in an attempt to eventually get off remicade if you click on my name, I made a post last night. It's good to be skeptical about starting a new treatment, and with serious dedication and research you may find an alternative that works for you. Goodluck on your journey, you're not alone.