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Lialda only???

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/24/2015 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on 6mp and Lialda prescribed by my gastro for a while and it's going okay except for the hair loss and fatigue. I was never thrilled about the potential cancer risk of 6mp, but understood that colon cancer without it is also a risk. I recently went to a new primary care doctor that did some hormone level testing on me and says that hormones regulate a lot of functions in the body and that mine are way off. I am post menopausal. She believes that by taking bio identical hormones and remaining on Lialda I should be just fine without the 6mp. Has anyone had any experience with this? I have not had a flare since my diagnosis in June and so I have no way to measure any results either way. Any experience, strength and hope from the community on this would be appreciated.
Posted 11/24/2015 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
The potential cancer risk on 6mp is 4 in 10,000 ( or 0.04 percent) compared to 2 in 10,000 (or 0.02 percent) for a normal, healthy person. I'd stay on the 6mp.
Posted 11/24/2015 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
The risks of inflammation are far greater than risks for lialda and 6mp

In majority of the cases medicines are not causing the hair loss but inflammation is. A couple minutes after the inflammation stats hair falls out and often it's timed with a change in medicine or a medicine starting to take effect.

Look up telogen effluvium hair loss related to ibd.
Posted 11/24/2015 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Talk with your gastro about this. It's possible your PCP is correct, but equally as possible she isn't. Hormones can be a factor in many illnesses, but not so sure about autoimmune diseases.

You said you were diagnosed in June. Have you been on Lialda & 6MP the entire time? Were there any other meds you tried? Also, what dosage of Lialda are you on? Have all your blood tests while you have been on 6mp been ok? You should be monitored regularly on that drug.
Posted 11/24/2015 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
I would listen to your doctor. Mesalamines like lialda not only reduce inflammation but are proven to reduce the risk of cancer.
Posted 11/24/2015 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
It's an interesting idea. What I find a little odd is that some random PCP thinks he can treat your UC with hormones. I guess there is only one way to find out but it doesn't seem too likely. Please let me know what you decide to do. The cancer risk with 6mp is pretty minimal, but of course, it is there so you need to balance your emotions and the reality.

I believe Faithmac was trying hormones at one time.
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2681958
That thread will give you hope. The reality is that I saw Faithmac here the other day and she's progressed up the medical ladder, so please keep your reality hat on. it's definitely a topic I am interested in and for a while I thought it was helping me but I went on to have surgery...
Posted 11/24/2015 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hormones can help regulate immune system. It could allow you to reduce your meds. BUT, there is a growing industry of marketing BIO-IDENTICAL hormones - especially implants. Bio-identical can classify as a supplement, and has escaped FDA approval, including required clinical trials proving efficacy. Implanting these natural extracts is a large cash cow for primary care docs - some limit their practice to doing these implants.

The implant tablets and the implant surgery are not typically covered by health insurance. There are some FDA approved implants that are more pharmaceutical in nature.

You might what your hormones regulated for general health reasons. You might want to discuss the approach with your GI. I would not proceed just on the limited information and urging of a primary care.
Posted 11/24/2015 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
My pcp is an md but also practices holistic or Chinese medicine. I saw her today and chose to take the bioidenticals and stay on Lialda. I am going to reduce the 6mp until I see my gastro because he increased my dose and I started getting chest pains and losing gobs of hair and was fatigued. With the lower dose my blood work was fine. I need to do more research and think carefully before discontinuing anything. I will report back when I have more info or experience
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