Remicade + Wild Oregano Oil + Probiotics

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but have been reading several of the topics and feel relieved to find such a great support group and see that there are lots of folks who have a variety of experience and knowledge on UC and how to manage it.  I'm hoping for some help as I am in a dilemma about what to do.

My husband has UC for about 9 years, and has been on a variety of the standard meds for this illness which haven't really helped, other than prednisone initially.  He started remicade a few months ago and is scheduled for his 4th infusion this week. 

So far, we haven't seen any improvement with remicade.  After his second infusion, he did have to go on Fluconazole (Diflucan) for a fungal infection which was a side effect of the Remi.  For the 2 weeks he was taking Fluconazole, he slept through 2 nights (about 2 days after starting).  This was the first time in years that he's slept through the night.   This seemed encouraging to me, so I started doing research on antifungals and UC.  I am amazed at all the information that is out there, especially in this forum (thankfully).

Since doing this research, I just got him started yesterday on Wild Oregano Oil and Probiotics, as well as L-Glutamine.  With his next remicade infusion scheduled in 2 days, I'm not sure if I should stop the WOO or keep using it.  Or maybe we should stop the remicade.  Is it safe to take these together? 

Any thoughts or suggestions?   Thanks.

Thanks Quincy for your reply and welcome message.  I'm really glad I found this forum.

I wish we had thought of trying something along the lines of WOO sooner, so we would know if it is really helping or if we happen to get lucky with his next remicade infusion (I made a mistake in my original post, the next one will actually be his 5th infusion).  I know most say that they feel better by the 3rd infusion, but we've had no luck so far.  He was given 10mg last time, and we're guessing the doc will say to increase the dosage (if that's not the max).

If there aren't any contraditions, maybe we'll just go ahead with the infusion and also keep going on the WOO + Probiotics + L-Glutamine...  if he feels better by either, it'll still be a good thing!  We can't really tell the doc about the WOO because he's very opinionated against any alternative treatment unfortunately.

Hi InSoFla, thanks for the welcome message.... I am looking forward to be able to share, vent and learn on this forum.  I think you are right since the folks here have real life experiences, they are likely more knowledeable than docs in many instances!!

Or doc is a good GI and is good at the standard methods of treatment, but anytime something alternative is mentioned he makes a face, so we haven't really pushed it (yet).

Hubby was diagnosed with moderate to severe UC years ago.  We've been "managing" it with different combinations of the following: Aloe pills, Fish oil, probiotics, cocunut oil, tumeric.  We've also tried some homeopathic and ayurvedic medicines in the past.  The problem is that these work for a while and then go down hill, so he gets frusterated and stops all or some.  My hubby isn't great at staying on a consistent dosage of anything, so we haven't really had a specific dosage of each of these.  Depending upon the day and how he's feeling at the moment, he'll take some of these.  We've been on this cycle for years now.  His GI very sternly told us that he's the one that has seen his colon and that our options were Remi or surgery which of course scared us... so we're on this journey now, but 4 infusions done and still no improvement.  

For the diet, we are not following anything specific.  We try to restrict sugar, raw veggies, bread, lentils.  I am vegetarian and he eats chicken and fish, so he mostly gets those grilled from restaurants once or twice a week (I'm too scared to cook them since I don't know when they're done).  He also does try to incorporate yogurt and bananas in his diet.

All this has been going on for years, and he has been a real trooper in dealing with this disease.  He's starting to get worn out though, mentally and physically, so I'm desparately trying to find something which will help him.  Typically he has about 8 BMs during the day and 3-5 BMs at night.  When I saw how he finally slept through 2 nights while on diflucan, I got excited and did some research.  At that time I didn't know about the need to follow it up with probiotics.  I hope this is our breakthrough, but time will tell I guess.

Good to know about the GSE and WOO rotation.  How much of each would you recommend? 

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it.