venting session

Hi ya'll
I think I just need a forum to vent and talk to others who relate to me
Right now I am feeling annoyed and scared

I was diagnosed with UC in 06 and right away went the drug route and tried countless rx like Imuran, and Prednisone which after periods of time had to stop. I then bit the bullet and went on Remicade which scared me but surprisingly afterwards it was a good decisions as I finally had constant relief. now flash forward a year later and about 9 infusions later i am finding its just not working anymore...it this common? have others noticed this too?
about a week or two after an infusion I am getting urgency in BM's again and they go from being narrow, to soft to diarrhea . I have even noticed small amounts of blood which isn't too good as I am also anemic.
On top of this, I am not getting aches in my wrists and forearms and even down my legs to my ankles. My gpa said that arthritis is a symptom of UC and can be a sign I am flaring up.

So until my next colonoscopy which is coming up I guess I really won't know much or what my next course of action is but was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else? Does Remicade sometimes just run its course?

Also not to bring up the big C but after having the disease for a few years now It is something that is always in the back of my head but is it something I should be fearful of? I get my colonoscopies every year/year and a half and try to keep my Colitis under control (just not right now)
Just wondering if anyone else shares my frustrations and fears

Anyways thanks for everyone who reads and responds
:)

I was diagnosed with UC about 7 years ago.  At first Prednisone did the trick for my moderate symptoms but as is common, things steadily got worse.  I eventually started Remicade which gave me complete and blessed relief for one glorious year.  Then it just stopped working and I went into a deep depression.  In Nov. 2011 I began biweekly shots of Humeria, along with oral Imuran.  It took at least 4 months for me to see any changes and even those were not much.  My GI put me on weekly shots of Humeria, along with more Predisone this past April.  Though I did get better relied, still nothing close to remission.

Now after consults with ColoRectal surgeons at the Mayo and in the Twin Cities, I have decided to

have colon & rectum removed and have an ileostomy.  Given my age, 60 years old, it seems the best choice and the best chance of getting my life back.  I'm not scared and actually look forward to getting the chance to live the life I so desperately miss.  Yes, there will be adjustments and special needs in

certain situations, but for crying out loud, so is living with UC.

So after my October surgery...no threat of colon cancer, no more meds, no more colonoscopys and best yet, no more UC.  I might even get my bone density back which Prednisone robbed me of.

Wish me luck and a successful outcome.

Eric, I was on Remicade too and my experience was nearly identical to yours. Blissful relief in the begining but eventually it started wearing off. Apparently your body builds antipbodies to something to the Remicade which stops it's effectiveness. I was then put on Humira which did not work and now am trying Cimzia. Hoping for the best but I'm not overly optimistic about the Cimzia.

Hey butte1, yes I believe Humira is next for me although I can't say I have even heard of Cimzia!? I am optimistic that I know i still have options out there but its just the roller coaster ride that is frustrating, you know . Anyways thanks for the reply :)

Probiotic, question: what is LDN?