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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/18/2018 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I am new to the forums but I don't have much luck discussing with my doctors so maybe you all can help me.

I am newly diagnosed with Crohn's (July 2018) and start Humira. It worked great until about a month a ago when it just stopped because I developed antibodies. Now I'm starting Remicade which I'm fine with. However my doctor wants to put me on Imuran and I'm told it won't raise my risk of cancer anymore than biologics do for at least the first two years. Is that true? How dangerous is Imuran? Also I am a girl and don't want to become infertile and I've read that can be a side effect. Is it better to just risk taking remicade without another drug or take the risk of getting even more complications by taking both drugs? I've already had constant yeast and sinus infections since the humira that my doctors couldn't get rid of. I really need some advice from people more experienced with Crohn's than me please help.

Thanks,
Gracie
Posted 1/18/2018 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome!

I've had two kids since taking Imuran for a year, so I think you're good on the fertility part. smile

I think you should take both since you built up Humira antibodies so quickly. The risk of cancer isn't as much - it sounds scary when you hear things "triple the risk of cancer" but if the risk was only 2%, then tripling is only 6% and isn't as bad (I made those numbers up, but you get the idea).

I'm so sorry about the yeast infections. I get those frequently and it sucks. What have your doctors tried to get rid of them? I also used to get sinus infections a lot and finally saw an ENT. He did a scan and it showed a deviated septum, so things weren't draining properly. I got it corrected and that helped a lot.
Posted 1/18/2018 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice! Yeah I just get very anxious about every side effect I read lol.

For the yeast I've been given diflucan three sperate times and nystantin for my oral thrush because it spreads throughout my whole body. None of that did any eefect. Monistat seems to be the only thing that has worked a little but it always comes back.

I will ask more questions about my sinuses, I have been also blaming it on the dry air which has been giving me nosebleeds which I've never had in the past.
Posted 1/18/2018 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
I switched to remicade from humira just under two years ago. Instead of Imuran i take 6MP, which is another option you could look into. its similar to imuran. I was really nauseous with it at first but my doctor changed it to half a dose and so far so good. I'm coming up to the end of my second year and plan to discuss whether to continue on it or not given that slight rise in cancer risks. I had issues with UTIs and yeast infections during the first year but I'm glad I stuck it out because it has put the crohns in remission.
Posted 1/18/2018 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome!

I've had two kids since taking Imuran for a year, so I think you're good on the fertility part. smile

I think you should take both since you built up Humira antibodies so quickly. The risk of cancer isn't as much - it sounds scary when you hear things "triple the risk of cancer" but if the risk was only 2%, then tripling is only 6% and isn't as bad (I made those numbers up, but you get the idea).

I'm so sorry about the yeast infections. I get those frequently and it sucks. What have your doctors tried to get rid of them? I also used to get sinus infections a lot and finally saw an ENT. He did a scan and it showed a deviated septum, so things weren't draining properly. I got it corrected and that helped a lot.
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