HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Blood Tests w/ Remicade Infusion

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/27/2016 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

My private hospital in China has been ordering blood tests that need to be done days ahead of my Remicade infusion every single time. Is this normal?

Mainly I ask because the hospital is 1.5 hours away and I am constantly having to take time off work to go to the hospital. If the blood test was right before instead of requiring a separate trip it would be different. If they are doing extra tests or doing them in an unnecessary way I think I want to look into switching hospitals.

Also they are doing Prednisone with every infusion. Is this common? They seem a little bit aggressive in ordering/doing extra things since my insurance is paying 100%.

Thanks
Posted 12/27/2016 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
That's weird that they do the labwork days ahead. Mine is always done at the same time as they put the IV in. I don't think pred is common unless you have had a reaction in the past. It IS common to do tylenol and/or claritin/benadryl. But they might do the pred just to avoid any reaction even more so.
Posted 12/27/2016 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Cloud, back in the day when I was having Remicade infusions, I was given an IV steroid & Benadryl prior to the infusion to ward off any possible reaction. I can't offer anything up on the lab work.

Take care.
Posted 12/28/2016 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Cloud,

My GI likes to have the prometheous answer test to check the remicade and antibodies done at 4 weeks after infusion and the day of my infusion. (right before) The same with regular blood tests. When I questioned him we went over all the labs together, he explained what he was looking for, and how it impacts his decision on how to treat. Once I am stable and the perscribed treatments working he eases off the tests....until I have an issue.

I get a large quantity of IV steroid and benedryl before every infusion. It wards off reactions.

Clo
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply