Flex Results - Sigh

My flex this morning indicated pretty severe inflammation. He could only go in about 10cm, as it was too uncomfortable. Certainly explains all the urgency, bleeding and increased frequency.

Amazing that when he did my last flex 6 months ago, he was able to get 50+ cm and didn't see a single bit of inflammation. Of course I was on pred on the time. I love pred, it works so well for me.

He is trying to figure out the best next steps. With the government here, they make it really difficult to change the standard protocol in terms of Remicade. He'd like to get me in for a 10mg/kg infusion (rather than the standard 5mg/kg) asap, but the government is not likely to approve that. They will say no to the increase dosage, and the early administration.

So for now, he has put me on a quick round of pred - 60mg for 3 days, and 30mg for 3 days. He is going to continue to try and work out a plan for me in the meantime.

He said that I have an unusual case, and he seems very intrigued and invested in finding a solution for me that doesn't involve surgery. I really like him.

I asked him if I should have a surgical consult and he said no. He really thinks he can figure out a way to help me.

Honestly, I am so happy to be back on pred. It works so well for me - even though I know it is bad for me. It is only a short round, but hopefully it will help get me a better in the short term.

Thanks, Sherry. Me too.

notsosicklygirl - I was thinking along those lines myself, but for the moment, I have decided to just put myself in my GI's hands, and follow his advice. I feel like I have been fighting - trying this, that and the other thing - for so long. And, all of these other things I have tried haven't worked - and he never thought that they would. So for now, I am sticking with him.

Plus, I think that the surgeon would just try and talk me into surgery and away from drug treatments. In fact, I saw the surgeon I want to use if necessary, speaking last year at a symposium, and he said in no uncertain terms that "Remicade is a complete waste of time for UC, and you should just have the surgery." Maybe he's right, maybe he's wrong, but I am not ready to go down that path yet. I am more like-minded to my GI to "do everything possible before surgery"