In a bad flare Remicade?

I've had terrific success with Remicade. I too was very sick when I started; could hardly even function. Remi has given me my life back. I don't take any other meds but that at this time.

I haven't had any horrific side effects, and there are lots of new meds out there for all sorts of problems; I figured the alternative was to either go on flaring and being very sick or seeking some sort of relief. The question I asked myself, "Is flaring all the time better than meds?" At that point the meds were a better option for me. I'd tried every other med, every diet, every natural way to take care of this since I've never been on any meds before. Yep, that's right. I've always been the person who watched what I ate, taken the holistic way. People were very surprised when I was dx'd with this, thought I was too healthy to have it! When it came to making a decision I must say it was an easy decision for me. And I've never looked back. I cannot determine what tomorrow will bring; I've had friends die from cancer that were trim, fit, and were vegans. I cannot worry about something I don't know.

I do know that I feel excellent, have resumed my life, work out regularly and can eat all the good food I want. I stress good food, because I've never been a junk food junkie. When I was flaring I could only eat peanut butter, applesauce and yogurt. I think making a list of the pro's and con's might be a good way to sort things out. Since I work a full time job, have a husband, and aging parents....I live a fast paced life and flaring constantly wasn't an option for me.

I was also nervous when I read all the side effects, and I work closely with animals so I was afraid of fungal or bacterial infections, but with my July infusion I will have been on it for two full years with no illnesses or infections (some respiratory issues that hang on longer than they used to, but nothing too bad). I tolerate it very well and my health is much much better on it. My remission is still a little iffy and I am also taking four Lialda a day as well as Canasa suppositories, and I have to have my infusions every six weeks (more typical is eight weeks), but right now, four days after my last infusion, you wouldn't believe I have UC. I'll feel wonderful until about five to five and half weeks from my last infusion, then I will start to flare, but with my next infusion I feel better the very next day.

I have had no side effects whatsoever from the Remicade, but Prednisone left me with long-term side effects and two weeks on Imuran almost killed me.

I am concerned about the long term effects of all the medications I am on and will likely have the jpouch surgery at some point, but for now I am doing well and happy to have my colon (which an October 2008 colonscopy showed was almost completely HEALED).

The side-effects of Remicade seem to be rare and certainly other meds for UC have terrible side-effects without being nearly as effective.

The process will take three or more hours the first time, but as your tolerance is proven they can infuse faster, I am usually out in about two and half hours. Bring something to read, perhaps an iPod, Zune or other device to keep yourself entertained. I like to bring along my breakfast and my needlepoint project. Some people report fatigue afterward, but I always feel GREAT.

If you feel you're going to obsess about the medication however you may want to explore the surgical options, most posters report high satisfaction with their post-surgery lives.

Meesh

I'm interested in the answers to this question too.  I'm pretty much in the exact same boat.  I am in the process of tapering from the prednisone.  It hasn't gotten me into remission.  I have been on 40mg since March 4th.  I am also having problems with the sugar now too.  I have a few questions:

1)  When you stopped the prednisone did you still have problems with sugar?

2)  I saw in some information on Remicade something about not using Remicade if diabetic.  Is this true?

3)  If given the option between imuran, 6mp or Remicade which would you do?  All see pretty scary to me.

Same case as Katmom's daughter here. Bad case of unresponsive UC.  I have been hospitalised 2 weeks ago (this is my 1st post since.. hi everyone :) ) and my decision was to have surgery since no meds seemed to work.  When I got to he hospital I was so weak I was in shock, dehydrated, with weird muscle spasms. I was too weak for the surgery and I decided to give Remicade another try. They gave me a 10 mg / kilo (double dose) and it seems like I am on my way towards remission (miracle! yay!).  I am on Imuran too , and as Katmom said, my doc also told me that recent studies show that the combination of Remicade + Imuran (or 6mp etc) is helpful in maintaining the effect of the Remicade treatment. 

I had nausea with Imuran a couple of times, Remicade doesn't give me any side effects. 

I have been on Imuran and Remicade for about 2-3 moths now...

Hope it helps, I know taking new drugs is scary, especially immunosuppressants. Pharmacists are very well informed on the topic, maybe you could have a chat with yours :)

Has anybody swithched from Humeria to Remicade and had good luck doing it.