ulcerative colitis side effects

hi, Ive had ulcerative colitis for the last three years. Its been a fairly rocky road and ive had a couple of bowel episodes which have required hospital stays. Im taking pentasa, immuran, galfer and folic acid. As well as the issue with the bowel, im having other problems as well. At the moment, im having terrible trouble with my joints, mainly my knees, hip and back. Its painful to move around.

Im constantly getting  sore throats, colds and ear infections. Its taken its toll on my skin. Has anybody else out there had similar experiences? Can anyone recommend something I could try?

Im at my wits end?

Thanks

hi, thank you very much for getting in touch. Ive been taking immuran for a while, and its only in the last little while that things havent been working out. I have a check up on monday with the gastroenterologist. Its hard enough with the bowel issue without other health issues too. Would remicade also be an immunosuppressant? Please excuse my ignorance, ive never heard of it before?

Thanks

thank you for the reply. At the moment im on a low fibre diet, but its hard sometimes, when foods I can eat, start to irritate me aswell. Gues ill just have to go by a process of elimination

thank you for that, I was using deep heat ointment, but it wasnt working, I was prescribed ponztan, a strong painkiller, but it left me feeling sick. Im going into the hospital on monday and will ask my gastroenterologist

Yes Remicade does supress your immune system but in a different way than what immuran does. There is good information about Remicade on the CCFA website.

Have you had your blood taken lately to be sure your WBC isn't low? Sometimes Imuran or 6mp can lower the immune system too much and make you much more susceptible to infections. Also too, having an IBD can make you prone to arthritis. If the joint pain continues, please see a rheumatologist.

Just a little story I want to share with you: I am on 6mp and I used to never get rashes before starting this. If you read the side effects of these meds, it says that rashes are a common complaint.

Anyway, I only get sick about once a year and when I get sick, I really get sick. One time I went to the doctor because I was running a fever and as I was in the room with her, I felt the familiar itch/burn that accompanies the rashes. It came on right at that moment so I told the doc and she looked. It was like a red prickly rash that covers my torso and neck. She told me that some viruses can make you rash out. But I know that couldn't be right because the year before that I got sick and I had the same rash - I find it hard to believe that I had the same virus two years in a row. So maybe you are breaking out in a rash because you've been sick while being on Imuran. I don't know what causes it and I wished I knew! Oh and I have a chronic rash below my nose and chin - I use Elidel to maintain it because if I don't it gets super itchy and it drives me nuts!