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Posted 5/30/2010 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
The last couple weeks I've been extremely crampy...I just had my 3rd Remicade infusion last Monday and was hoping it would take care of it but no. I'm having no other symptoms except the cramps and some are quite painful. No blood, no mucous, no urgency and only 1-2 semi formed BM"s a day. I've had to take some vicodin to deal with some of the cramps they've been so bad. I don't know what hit me yesterday but I was so tired it felt like I didn't have sleep for a month. I couldn't keep my eyes open for anything and slept my Saturday away even after getting a good nights sleep. I'll have to call my GI after the holiday and see what he says...also have to see my primary as I'm having a burning sensation in my right calf for the last 3 weeks or so which I'm starting to get concerned about...if it's not one thing, it's another, blah! Ok, done venting :)

 

Posted 5/30/2010 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Instead of vicodin, maybe you can get a prescription for a medication specifically for cramps? I know there are some pretty powerful ones. A couple of folks have recommended Bentyl?? (I think) to me.
Posted 5/30/2010 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
I'll try anything...otherwise I feel fine. I've also started to use the rowasa every night instead of every other to see if that will help. I've also started to take two VSL packets a day in hopes that will relieve some of it. I get the feeling that the cramping is probably from me tapering my prednisone and I'm now down to 5mg...I get the feeling my body is borderline steroid dependant which I'm afraid of. I'm sure he'll tell me to raise my dose to 20-25mg when I call him. I've been on steroids since my hospital stay on April 7th.
Posted 5/30/2010 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Bentyl is one of the pills I carry in my purse along with Immodium. It is cheap (under $10 for quite a few) and works great for intestinal cramps. Takes about an hour. Doesn't help diahhrea, just cramping.

It used to be regularly prescribed but now it's an "old" drug not many doctors think about. Good to keep around though. (Haven't needed it in a while).

Vicodin will cause you other problems, like extreme constipation as well as fatigue.
Posted 5/30/2010 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
If all you have is cramping, I'd definitely try an anti-spasmotic before bumping your pred back up to 20-25. If you do end up bumping the pred back up, maybe taper slower the next time? Like 2.5mg/week or so. Perhaps the 5mg bumps are causing the colon to act up? Anyhoo, I hope you feel better! It sounds like you are on the road to recovery! :o)
Posted 5/30/2010 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
     I know what you mean...those cramps are nasty!  I also take hydrocodone for the cramping but it does have a constipating effect.  Good for me though because I sometimes have to go five or six times in the morning with severe urgency.

     I hope the Remicade continues to work for you.  After I came off the prednisone, the Remicade failed. So, in my case, I think it was the prednisone and NOT the Remicade that was working mad .

     I've been on prednisone since mid January and know for a fact I am prednisone dependent.  I had to bump my dose up to 40 mgm last Wed from 7.5 mgm or else I know for sure I would be in the hospital this weekend.  The surgeon's assistant said to bump it up because I have time to taper before surgery and they don't want me in a bad flare going into surgery.

     What is your diet like?  Are you sticking to low residue?  My husband bought some Boost for me yesterday and I had that for lunch and chicken broth with thin noodles and jello for supper.  So far, no BM's today and feel better.  But still that pressure in the rectum.  Sooo, hoping that goes away after surgery.   After almost two years of this, almost constant, I am getting fed up.

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