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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/18/2007 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
I'm brand new here, and want to thank you all for what I have learned so far.

I spent 12 days in hospital a couple weeks ago.  Diagnosis is Crohn's.   I hope to return to work in two weeks. 

I am taking Azasan 25 mg, Prednisone 30 mg, and Asacol 2400 mg., along with a prescription iron and some other supplements.

I just started the Azasan 5 days ago.  Dr. explained it will hopefully enable me to come off Prednisone.  I had bloodwork done that same day.  Today, Dr. told me that my Hemoglobin came  back at 10.2, which is where it has more or less been.  But, he said my White Blood Cells dropped to 3100.  My concern is that he said this might cause me not to be able to increase the Azasan, and the Prednisone is really what I want to get off of.

I am wondering, have any of you had experience with a lowering White Blood Count with Crohn's? 

I went back this afternoon for more bloodwork, and will get the results tomorrow.

Posted 12/18/2007 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
I do not have much experience to share, but I did want to say welcome!
Posted 12/18/2007 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW I have had CD for 20 years and have never heard of Azasan is it a new drug? Is it some other form of a steroid like entocort is? Does it have another name I may know it by ?

I have had the low white count. Mine occured when I was on the combination of Remicade and Imuran. Mine went down to 2300 and was told if it went down any more that I would need a bone marrow biopsy. Luckily it started to go back up when I had some stress reduced...basically I got divorced and found another great guy and moved to the other coast for a year since my ex was harrasing me. Since I am unfamiliar with that med you are on I cannot give advice as far as side effects from it etc. Imuran also scripted which is similar is 6MP was what got me off of Prednisone and I was on Imuran for 13 years.

The blood count as far as low wbc typically is from meds and not the disease itself or that is what I have been told. Typically with CD you woud see a low RBC, low folate, low iron, and sometimes a high WBC related to infection.

I hope you get good results with your lab results
Posted 12/19/2007 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Nice to meet another person who understands, Dragonfly.

The generic, I guess, name of the drug is Azathioprine.  It is the same thing as Imuran.

I just became ill the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and did not start any of my Rx's until the following week.  I am 51, and was not ill until this fall.  The symptoms I attributed to stress, and had never heard of Crohn's disease.  I'm so glad to have found this group.

Posted 12/19/2007 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HealingWell! Sorry you neede to come here..
You fall into a certain category of IBD patients that have their first flare in late middle age. I learned about this because many in my old support group fit into/had similar experiences.
I don't know much about the blood issue ( except I had a GI several years ago that DID test my blood count & other things a couple of times.). Of course, being on the med you are on, they will test for that.

Sincerely,
Matthew
Posted 12/19/2007 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW Georgiabeach! I was on Azasan for a year and my WBC never went below 7 ish. It didn't really help me either, despite being on 125 mg. You might want to speak with your doctor about Entocort. I've always felt my best while I was on Entocort. It's a type of steroid, but considered "local" even though you take it orally, because it targets the small intestines.

I wanted to comment on Matthew's comment - he said that "You fall into a certain category of IBD patients that have their first flare in late middle age." Having just turned 50, I don't consider the early 50's as "late middle age." I would say that doesn't apply until your reach about 70! (70 is the new 60).
Posted 12/19/2007 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Georgiabeach,

Welcome to the forum! I'm sorry to hear about your recent illness and diagnosis. However, it does help to have some answers and treatment options.

FYI, stress can make your Crohn's worse, so watch the stress levels. :) When our immune systems gear up from stress, it just causes all kinds of good times with the Crohn's!!

I hope that you can have a great holiday season in spite of this. We're here if you need us!

~Sway
Posted 12/19/2007 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Georgiabeach,

I was diagnosed with Crohn's last year.  I was put on 6-mp and ended up with bone-marrow suppression, low white & red blood cells along with platelets.  Landed in the hospital in isolation for a couple of weeks and they had to check to make sure I didn't have bone-marrow cancer. Had a bone marrow biopsy. Turns out I couldn't tolerate the 6-mp.  Your doctor sounds like he's on top of everything.  I had read somewhere that about 3% cannot tolerate those immunosuppressants.

Posted 12/19/2007 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forums
Posted 12/19/2007 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome GeorgiaBeach!

Glad you're here with us but wish it was under better circumstances! Can't help but be curious and inquire...do you live in Georgia? I am in the southeastern part of NC. I was also diagnosed in "late middle age" per Matthew's description! Always helps to know there's someone close by should you need 'em! Can't answer much on the blood count questions except to say a slightly elevated white count would not be uncommon for CDers. Just make sure you doctor's do a CBC, Sed Rate & CRP on you about every 4 months whether or not you have symptoms. This will help you keep an eye on the inflammation and help you converse with your GI about your therapy. We'll be here if you need us!
Posted 12/19/2007 12:28 PM (GMT 0)

Broomhilda,

Yes, I live in St. Simons Island, GA.

But, I am from NC.  Wake County.  What part of SE NC are you in, because I graduated from college in that area.  St. Andrews.

Posted 12/20/2007 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Small world isn't it! I'm in New Bern. Have a son in recently married & living in Clayton...near Raleigh..but you knew that I'm sure. Also, another son recently graduated college & is living in Greensboro. So.....I'm through Wake County all the time! Wow...St. Simon's...lucky dog!
Posted 12/20/2007 12:26 PM (GMT 0)

Yes, St. Simons is wonderful, but New Bern is gorgeous also.  My inlaws lived in Morehead City for many years, so we visited often.  They moved to Georgia about 13 years ago to be near all of us.

Summer before last, we had a vacation at Emerald Isle and a party for their 50th anniversary, so it was good to go back.

My dear stepfather is still living in Raleigh.  He graduated from NC State, class of 1949. He is a great support to me during this time.

I am fortunate to be a Montessori teacher here and love my job.  I hope to return to work Jan 2.

So nice to meet a fellow North Carolinian here!

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