Humira users

Hi IMBourne, welcome to the site - although apologies that you have to be here! I'm a 24-year old female diagnosed with severe pancolitis in June 2011 - having been sick since Feb 2011. Have had 8/9 rounds of pred - currently off pred since Jan (my longest yet!) and I am on Mezavant XL, 100mg Imuran and 1 Humira pen fortnightly! However, I started seeing symptoms again in April of this year. When they for worse in May (17 - 20 bms daily) , I started the Specific Carbohydrate Diet out of desperation which set me back to 2-3 BMs daily after 4 days on the diet! I did the intro diet for 5 days and the 2nd and 3rd day I felt horrific, like I had the flu (later discovered that's due to the toxins leaving your body so it's normal!) I started to cheat on the diet after 3 weeks as cheating turned into the diet going out of th window! I'm now flaring again and today, my doctor prescribed me double-dosage Humira. Rather than weekly, I will be doing two injections fortnightly. I am also back on the diet since Sunday but I didn't really start the intro diet so I'm not seeing as good results as last time so I may have to restart the Intro diet and start again! I will start my double Humira next Weds.

Other than my meds, I take 3 organic peppermint teas a day, 3 tablespoons of extra Virgin olive oil and 2-3 probiotic tablets a day. Before I started the SCD diet I avoided (as much as i could) onion, spice, fast-food, black pepper, corn, popcorn, milk, chocolate, fizzy drinks and tea/coffee and definitely avoided alcohol!

I had my first 4 shots last week and will be taking 2 shots this Tuesday. I can't wait as I'm flairing still. I was on Remicade for 1.75 years and it worked great until it stopped working. I spent 3 days in the hospital last week and just want to stop with the cramps and blood. I am tapering off of Pred (30) this week and then 20 the following plus I take Canasa morning and night.

How fast until the Humira puts me into remission? Today would be the normal day for my Remicade but the doctor cancelled it as I can't have both. Fortunatly my insurance covers everything 100% now that I've hit my annual deductable of $5K. I'm hoping I can get him to double my shot order so I can stockpile for next year when my deductable starts again.

Minners, what is this diet that you speak of? I have just recently been upped to once a week with my Humaria, which I start weekly this Saturday. I have been waking up with lately very swollen in the face and feeling like do-do. I haven't been eating much because i just can't get a great appetite.

I hope this works because i can't afford to miss work or feel like this anymore.

IMBourne, the diet is called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet - of you google it, it will bring up the website. I bought the diet book 'Breaking The Vicious Cycle' online! It took me over a yr of having researched the diet to actually starting it. It is very restrictive but effective for many people with IBD - it is specifically designed for IBD and intestinal issues! It is no gluten, no lactose, no sugar, no grains, no oats, no wheat. You can google the list of illegal and legal foods. In short, it is only meat, fish, veg, fruit, nuts, eggs etc. There are similar diets such as the Paleo Diet and the GAPS diet!

Wow, rguyer, 48 hours - that must have been amazing!

Pity it was only short-lived! My GI said these drugs are more so 'time-buyers' for most UC pancolitis patients!