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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/3/2010 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently on Azathioprine and Remicade, and although my blood test results have for the most part come back fine with no signs of anaemia, does this mean my immune system is still really very compromised as a result of the medications still? And doubly so because I'm taking two immuno-suppressants?
Posted 6/3/2010 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi qwerty1
It's good that you are not anaemic but from your full blood count(FBC) they are mostly looking to see what your white cells and platelets are doing - if they fall too low that then leaves you open to infection and bruising/bleeding. From your liver function tests(LFT) they are checking that your liver is not being stressed - if it is not copeing with the drugs you can get enzymes that are normally locked inside the cells leaking into your blood. The white cell/platelet count and the liver enzymes will recover well if caught early and that is why they keep checking when you first start the drugs. As your results keep comming back OK you have not dropped into the difficult zone and so should be safe enough.
Sue
Posted 6/4/2010 8:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply...so as long as my blood tests come back ok am I not any more susceptible to getting ill (even just to a cold or bug etc) than I would be if I wasn't on the drugs??

Posted 6/4/2010 11:19 AM (GMT 0)
I can only speak from my own experience - my blood tests have always came back ok but when I get sick it takes longer for it to go away, however, I do not get sick any easier then before. And in fact I hardly ever get sick now.
Posted 6/4/2010 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
My immune system is not a good one.First i lost my spleen playing football in 1977,i got colitis in 1985.Last year i got my first major flare since the eighties,i was taking either Asacol or Apriso,folic acid,multivitamin.My Dr put me on Prednisone first[last spring],it helped somewhat.Then last August i started 6mp,was up to 150mg.Twice in the past 6 months i've had to stop taking 6mp because my W.B.C was low[2.4].In Sept of 2008 i was in the Hospital with a bad case of pneumonia in both lungs[104 fever].I have been very lucky that since i've been on the pred[still on 2.5mg] and the 6mp[NOW ON 50MG] that i haven't gotten anything besides a cold[and i have a 14, 13 and 10 year old who can bring home whatever is going around the school].I'm 51yo now and i try to be careful with my health,because if i don't i might not get a 2nd chance.GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL
Posted 6/4/2010 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
While I was on prednisone, I got a case of shingles from my immune system being affected. It was awful because it was on my scalp and face. It affected my left eye and I lost most of my sight in that eye for awhile until I found a good corneal specialist who is now treating me. I guess you have to take risks when you take drugs like steroids etc, but the alternative at the time would have been to lose my colon, so it's benefit vs risk, as they say. I wonder if it's okay to get dental work done on these medications. My GI told me not to go to the dentist while on prednisone because of the risk of infection, but sometimes it's necessary to see one. Just wondering because I know I need some dental work and have been putting it off.
Posted 6/4/2010 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
That's funny because i need dental work also.I feel better if i put it off a bit.I'm in remission just in the last few months,and i don't want to chance any problems with infection,or the antibiotics[if i need them] messing up my colitis.I have a bridge where one of the post is not there anymore,so hopefully if i get it taken care of soon i won't have a problem.GOOD LUCK  
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