Remicade + Imuran combo...

So it looks like I'm headed down the biologic road which quite frankly terrifies me, but I don't seem to have many options left. This last pred taper has produced absolutely brutal side effects which I just cannot live with any more. They are worse than the UC at this point ( severe cystic acne all over my scalp and back for which I cannot find the words to accurately describe the 24/7 pain ). Yes the pred does bring temporary relieve from the UC, but the side effects are now intolerable. I've failed asacol, uceris, etc.

GI wants me to start Remicade and Imuran concurrently as he feels that it gives me a higher chance of remission and the Imuran would stop / slow down my body from building anti-bodies to the Remi. From what I've been reading it seems that the odds of having bad ( deadly? how much more "bad" could it get ) increase when these two drugs are taken at the same time.

I know that many here are on or were on Remicade at some point, and was wondering how many of you also take/took Imuran at the same time?

Also, in preparation for beginning these drugs I took a Quantiferon Gold blood test to detect latent TB, and it came back as "indeterminate". Lovely. So I have to see an infectious disease specialist to figure out what that's all about before I do anything. Anyone else come back as "indeterminate" for this test, and if so, what we the ultimate outcome?

Thanks in advance.

Your doctor is right, starting immunomodulators and biologics simultaneously produces the best results and the least risk of antibodies.

The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America has some great resources about risks and benefits that's well worth the read.
Webcast:
programs.rmei.com/CCFA139VL/presentation/player.html
Transcript:
http://www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/risk-and-benefits-transcript.pdf

There's a little elevated concern for adolescent males when taking both immunomodulators and biologics simultaneously as 2 individuals of that demographic received a lymphoma during the clinical trials. Those patients were on both medications simultaneously, so often doctors say don't take both if you're within that demographic. Not sure you're age or gender. It's an increased risk but far from certain.

Thank you all for the replies. I sincerely appreciate it.

@iPoop........ I've noticed from your signature that you are only on Remicade ( and in remission - happy for you! ). Have you run any other UC drugs along with it or just by itself? Have you experienced any side effects?

Thanks for the detailed reply iPoop. Hopefully the Remi + Imuran will bring me to the promised land.