Xeljanz

We've had a few success stories with xeljanz. Here's one that comes to mind:
/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3600816

I don't want to say much about it, it was not good for me. Everyone is different.

My husband is still in remission with Xeljanz. He knew within a very short time that it was working and has had no apparent side effects. You will probably know one way or the other pretty quickly.

Insurance will reject it the first time and then for us they approved it on appeal. Blue Cross/Blue Shield. It is approved for a year, and we had to go through the same rejection / approval after a year.

For me, I knew within 5 days, I felt like I had the flu, cold in my chest and I couldn't breath well. Everyone is different as I said. Biologics just don't work for me and I won't ever try them again.

You might have a better chance of getting Stelara since it is already approved by the FDA for Crohns. Xeljanz is not approved YET for Crohns or UC.

Stelara is much more expensive than Xeljanz so if your insurance runs the numbers they may be more interested in approving Xeljanz.

My experience is similar to yours: failed remicade, failed entyvio, failed 6MP, failed AZA, etc.

Then I started Xeljanx (double dose) over Labor Day (US) weekend and things have been great. I've only had blood a handful of times since then and it's usually a one-and-done. The urgency and frequency are down to quasi-normal (3-4x/day, my healthy normal is 2-3x/day). I haven't experienced any side effects that I know of from Xeljanz.

The hardest aspect of this medicine was going through the insurance and prescription companies to get it covered. That part took 6 weeks of almost daily phone calls to get ironed out.

Good luck!

Congrats on getting it approved! That was the hardest part, actually getting the medicine in my hands.

I knew within a week or so that it was working. I take 10mg 2x per day and felt a decrease in symptoms very quickly. I started tapering off prednisone a few weeks after starting Xeljanz (and in hindsight, probably too soon), but in the end everything is working out. Between Xeljanz and the Isatis Cooling I started after being hospitalized last summer I feel like I have my life back.

They will want to monitor you for cholesterol for the first few weeks. Mine jumped from a low level to the middle of normal range, but, like everything else, you may experience different results and so far that has been the only side-effect.

Good luck!

I haven't noticed anything bad since I started taking it. None of the side-effects I got with Remicade/Entyvio/AZA/6MP/etc. Just a slow and steady decrease of symptoms.

My diet changed last summer, before starting Xeljanz, since I was in such a bad flare. I've been able to add back the things I removed as I've healed. I'm no longer scared of salads and other veggies and can eat nuts and other things I've stayed away from.

They can do it in 2 steps, 3 steps or 1 step. 2 step is probably the most common, but if you're on prednisone, or you're sick, you may not be a good candidate for 2 steps. I've actually heard 3 steps have better outcomes in some cases, so if that's your situation, better to take a little longer than to have problems. 1 step is uncommon, and only done by certain surgeons. You would have to seek someone out if you were serious about 1 step.

2 step means you will have the external pouch for at least 8 weeks. With a 3 step, you will have it for 20 weeks. 12 weeks after the first step, 8 weeks after the 2nd. I don't think the incisions are generally very different in 2 or 3 step. I didn't want any of course, but having the ileo for longer didn't give me more or less. It did however let me try out the end ileo, which is actually easy to live with. The loop (after step 2) is not cool at all though.

I wouldn't say you're wrong to think it's trading one set of issues for another, but for me, the issue of pooping my pants was so much worse than the issue of going more often. I'd rather go a lot, than not be able to control when I go. I'd say, if you're okay with urgency, don't have surgery,

I don't track trips at all, but I can go 5x or 8x, depends on the day. I don't take imodium though, if I did, i could probably keep it on the low end every day. The thing about a j-pouch, is that going is more like going #1 since you can empty on command. You just sit and push and the pouch empties. You can always wait until you have to go of course, you get the same feeling you get with a colon, but you can go anytime you're in there. You can make it convenient if you go when you have to urinate. Sometimes I go more often than I need to because I am in the bathroom and I figure, why not. I hope you continue to improve with the xeljanz. Maybe we will be celebrating your remission soon. As great as that sounds,, I have to say, I don't miss the ups and downs, or the drugs and doctors. I love the freedom of being a person without health considerations on the forefront of my life.