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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/17/2009 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Need a little advice.  I have been on 6MP 50 mg for the past two years.  The doctor wanted me to increase to 75 mg to see if it will help in the relief of issues of flares etc.  I started the 75 mg on Sunday.  Since then I have become exceptionally fatigued, sore throat, fever, difficulty sleeping because I am getting up and down to go to the bathroom and diaharrea.  I am not sure this is from the 6 MP or maybe I have caught some type of "bug" or "cold".  My glands in my throat feel swollen.  Debating weather to go to local quick doctors office but... dont' know if I should just go back to the 50 and hope this wears off.  My GI is off today (Friday) so I will not be able to talk to him until next week.

Any advice???

Thanks

 

Posted 4/17/2009 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
I am not a doc, but our experience has been that going up or down from 50 to 75 of 6mp has not been noticed. Hasn't helped, hurt or caused new symptoms. Sounds like a bug of a different type to me. Keep an eye out, as all kinds of crazy things happens. have you had your blood work done lately---is the 6mp at therapeutic levels and steady? My daughters numbers tend to fluctuate a bit.
Posted 4/17/2009 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you got a "bug". I have never heard of increasing a dose of 6mp to cause enlarged lymph nodes. When was the last time you had your CBC checked? 6mp can lower your resistance to illnesses and you should go to the doctor to A) have your blood checked and B) to see if it's infection.
Posted 4/18/2009 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your comments.  I do get bloodwork regularly.  Last one was a couple of weeks ago.  Everything was normal except my hemoglobin level was low (10.3) which is actually good for me (I normally am around 9-10 whether I am flaring or not)

I think you are both right... just a bug.  Seems there are alot of schools in my area that are closing down due to some type of viral infection with symptoms similar to mine.  (I saw this on the news last night)  I am a teacher...guess it was my turn to catch it.

Thanks for your input and time.

Posted 4/18/2009 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
     It can lower your resistance to infection and that is what you probably are suffering from, an upper respiratory infection.  I lowered my dosage from 75 mgm to 50 mgm one day and 25 the next for the reason that my white count was 2.4 while on 75 mgm and that is WAY too low.  It is now 2.9, not great, but better.
Posted 4/18/2009 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Talked briefly with 27 yr old girl who had her leg amputated 1 month ago. Said she was taking 6MP and feels that it is the culprit along with her EX-GI Doctor. She will also be having her colon out soon. Be careful with these drugs people. Not trying to be an alarmist, let's just keep each other "on our toes" and we need to continue to be our own advocate with our doctors. There are probably many success stories w/6MP as well, just thought I would share this tidbit...wish I had more details...
Posted 4/18/2009 7:49 PM (GMT 0)

Not getting alarmed but wondering how do we know - assuming our routine blood tests are ok - what might be coming in the future.  I feel, at age 69, not as threatened as you young people.... BUT - I would like to be here to be say 80 in fairly good health.  I am obese and that will be against me.  Maybe when I get off the prednisone I can lose some weight - once again!

As for me, I have to trust taht my doc is doing for me what is necessary for the UC.  He certainly has been trying. 

ElaineNY

Posted 4/19/2009 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
The symptoms you're experiencing might be attributable to a mild bacterial/viral infection, or myelosuppression. I would request blood work and a throat swab as soon as possible just to be cautious.
Posted 4/19/2009 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
     Deacon Blues....blaming 6MP for leg amputation?  What happened to this girl?  I saw a GI surgeon last year in addition to my regular GI doctor, just for another opinion because I was so darn sick.  The surgeon was totally against my having my colon removed, said I had mild/moderate ulcerative proctitis and was really pro 6MP.  He said in his years of practice (and I assume it must be over 30), he has seen a lot of positive results with patients on 6MP.  I was very concerned about developing leukemia or lymphoma but he assured me that he has only come across one patient who developed lymphoma while on 6MP and who was to say this patient wouldn't have developed lymphoma anyway?  I know at least four people with lymphoma and NONE of them ever took 6MP.
Posted 4/19/2009 7:47 PM (GMT 0)

Christine1946 said...
</b> Deacon Blues....blaming 6MP for leg amputation? What happened to this girl? I saw a GI surgeon last year in addition to my regular GI doctor, just for another opinion because I was so darn sick. The surgeon was totally against my having my colon removed, said I had mild/moderate ulcerative proctitis and was really pro 6MP. He said in his years of practice (and I assume it must be over 30), he has seen a lot of positive results with patients on 6MP. I was very concerned about developing leukemia or lymphoma but he assured me that he has only come across one patient who developed lymphoma while on 6MP and who was to say this patient wouldn't have developed lymphoma anyway? I know at least four people with lymphoma and NONE of them ever took 6MP

Well I tried to make sure that I had an implied disclaimer in my assertions...I WISH I HAD MORE INFO about HER CASE! I was just sharing "what I had been told" by the young lady. I have not done my own research on 6MP, I was just offering a tidbit of info for any of us that might be taking it or thinking of taking it. NOT trying to insight fear, just encouraging extensive research. No harm intended. I did mention that there are many success stories as well...:-)
DB
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