Starting Remicade today.

I have my first Remi infusion today. I know the stats so I am rather pessimistic about what it will do for me, but am really hoping this brings me some relief, even if temporary. I have been reluctant to go to a biologic for many of the obvious reasons, but I also liked knowing that there was something else out there. Anyway, I have to do something. I spend way too much time in the bathroom, have tremendous cramping/pain, and have lost 15 pounds in the past month... and I didn't have that much to spare.

More than anything, I fear it won't work.
How long have you been on it, and how long did it take for you to notice improvement?

I started April of this year... I've had six infusions since and I've gone from hospitalization to today being my first day back at work since March.

It definitely takes a few efforts to take effect - or it did for me anyway. The first one got me out of the hospital though. The fifth one put me in a place where I could actually start comfortably fending for myself again.

Haha I understand. Don't think too many people on this board have malicious intent... But ya, it sucks when you get on a high dose of the steroid and figure out they're barely doing anything and still have to stick with them for such a long period of time. I've been on the steroids since March as well and the taper has taken this long due to the hospital visit and having the IV Solumedrol... etc, etc.

I'm so close to being off of them and that makes me pretty happy. My first taper went negatively as well, so we had to jump back up and try again.

I started Imuran around my fourth Remicade infusion... Remicade was definitely doing something positive for me, but just needed an extra push to get over that last little hurdle. I felt like my body was fighting it just enough to not make me feel 100%, but it was potent enough in my system to make me feel better. Imuran was one of the only things left I hadn't tried. Hearing that it had good synergy with the Remicade, I put quality of life ahead of potential risk (for the time being anyway).

I understand your fear of 'what if this doesn't work either'... unfortunately, the first few years of dealing with UC - I've been told anyway - are a learning process. It's sort of one of those situations where you throw a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks. That's why I didn't want to try Imuran for so long even though my GI was suggesting I do so... I had the mind set of 'what if this doesn't work and I'm putting my body at an increased risk of ...' - but there comes a point, a breaking point if you will, where you bite the bullet and give things a try for sanity's sake. But now having been through it all, knowing that steroids don't really help that much, I can avoid them in the future... and I also know that I am not heavily affected by the foods that I eat, which is nice to know as well... I mean, I'm on a specific diet right now easing foods back into my routine, but that's only because my flare was so severe back in the late spring... we're playing it safe.

Had the 1st infusion yesterday afternoon. Benydryl made me drowsy, but other than that, it was rather uneventful.

I don't know if it is wishful thinking or even possible, but this morning... my pain was definitely less (still hurts... but I wasn't crying).

IV was on the top side of my forearm... the nurse said the first vein she tried was "rolling" so she stuck another one. Actually, I did ask about it for future visits and she said they can really put it anywhere. I just have a small red bump at the sites with no visible bruising, which is hardly noticeable since I am covered with mosquito bites right now!

She said for the first few infusions they do the benydryl and tylenol, but for future ones it may not be necessary.

Worst part of the whole deal was the girl in the chair next to me that wouldn't shut-up! lol