When is it time to bag it?

Remicade, Entyvio, and Humira failed. Failing Cimzia, on Flagy and Cipro since May 30, 2016. I think I'm having side affects from Antibiotics, like neuropathy. Went to see my Colo surgeon and he suggested that I think about Stool diversion. He said GI Dr's just want to push every drug your way. He is an old school surgeon, and doesn't do surgery anymore but he suggested that I look into this considering the meds aren't helping. What are ya'll thoughts. Quality of life can be better for sure.........

I second getting off flagyl, gave me neuropathy too. Cipro isn't much better in my opinion as it caused me tendonitis. Both personally worked well on the crohns though.
How contained is your crohns to the large intestine? If it's all over the place you might have trouble with it returning right away and having additional issues though it's very localized then maybe worth considering seriously.

My GI told me that there are a number of promising new meds coming out in about 2 years including at least one pill, so I'm personally holding on to that hope if more meds fail for me. Not sure you want to wait that long though.

I didn't know the TIES implant, it looks very interesting.

I'm really in no rush bagging it, but if none of the meds are working why continue taking them when they are only hurting other things in your body, like the liver for example. The one Dr. that suggested stool diversion would cut @ the end of the transverse colon. He thinks that diverting stool for a while might promote healing to the colon. I feel so dumb to this disease. All the reading and posting I do, doesn't clarify anything to me. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel, when I'm only not feeling myself. I hate pestering the Dr's with complaints only, but from the day or two that I feel at least ok during a week and the rest pretty crapty is all confusing. Am I supposed to be feeling this way cause Im sick, or am I supposed to feel as close to normal as possible. So confused....... I know I ramble and sometimes I don't even make sense to myself or even others but I find it extremely hard to describe how I feel or am feeling, better yet to explain to someone else that is not going through what I'm going through how I feel. When I do explain it to Dr's and then replay it in my head, I think that the Dr thinks that I'm mental. I'm shocked that none of the big hitter drugs haven't worked. Considering my first GI took the approach of tackling this hitting it hard, top, down approach with the big hitters. I'm so disappoint in the outcome. Not much more of drug options for me until Stellar becomes approved, and considering my past I don't have much faith in it. Is it just the GI's pushing more drugs on a patient, or is it going to be for me just more confusion on how I'm supposed to feel. This is one of some reasons why I would bag it. Thanks for all your responses, I do really appreciate all the feedback.

So it sounds like he would be giving you a colostomy to let the remaining portion of your colon heal? Diversion does work well at healing the colon it is more an issue of what happens when stool starts passing again. In my case the disease came right back.

If you seek a second opinion I would also ask about a loop ileostomy. That is what was used in my case and then your intestines are not cut but everything is diverted from your small intestines and entire colon rests. Not sure about your whole story so there maybe good reason for a colostomy instead of an ileostomy.

The above advice is spot on. You will know when it is time for surgery. But never hurts to see another surgeon and have a plan in case things get worse and you want to act fast.

My first surgery was an emergency situation and I didn't have a choice but it showed me how much better my qol was with a bag. So when my disease came back after takedown I knew what I wanted. My GI wanted to try xeljanz off label but I had decided I was done and wanted a more permanent solution. My CR surgeon agreed with me and I said goodbye to my colon!

You can consider Stelara (+ immunesuppressives) as another option maybe.

It was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's.

Difference is the mode of action of these drugs.

Remicade, Humira and Cimzia are anti-tnf's.
Entyvio is alpha4beta7 integrin antagonist.
Stelara is anti interleukin 12/23.

Practically, this means there are 3 different kinds of biologic drugs which specifically supress different part(s) of the immune system in our body to prevent inflammation from increasing. If one kind of drug doesn't produce good outcome for you, then it is a good idea to consider the other kinds of drugs to treat your disease.

In studies, Remicade has been found to be the most effective for the treatment of Crohn's. While Entyvio is the weakest for Crohn's (but showed good results for ulcerative colitis).

Remicade and Entyvio are given by intravenous injection in a hospital. Humira, Cimzia and Stelara are Subcutaneous injections. You can do the injections by yourself in any place you want.

If I were you, I would consider trying Stelara (and, maybe with an immunosuppressant like 6 mp or imuran).

Well I saw my GI yesterday and he wants to stop the 6MP and start me on weekly Methotrexate to see if that helps with continuing Cimzia. He said that Metho should help with the aches and pains. I will go back to see him in 1 month to give an update on how I feel. Next step is to replace Cimzia with Stelara but he said I would be the first of his patients to be on that. Crossing fingers.............. Anyone seen improvement with Methotrexate?

Starting off with injections first. Got to say I got off the Flagyl and I dont have that burning feeling in my feet that was keeping me up all night so thats a plus. Still taking Cipro, and the Dr. wants me to continue it as well.

Good luck with the methotrexate; I hope it helps.