Don't give up hope - I'm proof that remission can be just round the corner

Happy New Year to you all. I haven't posted for a long while as I've been in complete remission for a year, working full time, and generally catching up on life.

I hope you find what works for you in 2017. I had a small miracle at the end of 2015 / beginning of 2016 and went from being about to have my bowel removed to total remission within a week. It is amazing how fast the bowel can heal when it has the chance.

I was on Humira (which wasn't working so they doubled the dose, and it still didn't work), then faced with having my bowel removed I went back onto slippery elm twice a day, and started taking turmeric capsules daily. A friend also persuaded me to smoke some MJ through a vapouriser. The remission was almost instantaneous - like I woke up one morning with a formed stool. My faecal cal was down from a high of over 6000 to 50. Normal. Complete remission.

I must add that I wasn't smoking MJ daily! I did it once or twice over the year, and ingested some before bed a few times, but getting stoned doesn't fit into my lifestyle so I'm going to try cannabidoil.

I stayed on Humira throughout but I'm getting quite a few side effects so I'd like to stop, but really don't want to risk flaring up again. I don't know how long this remission will last but it has been great to poo like a normal person every day for a whole year!

Try different things (drugs, diet, supplements, alternatives), keep your anxiety levels in check, and I hope you find what works for you.

Thanks iPoop! I'm amazed I dodged surgery (for now at least). For anyone feeling sceptical about my turnaround, this is what I posted on 12th Nov 2015:

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Posted 12/11/2015 10:25 AM (GMT -7) Edit post Delete post
I'm edging closer to joining you all in the surgery camp after 6 months of Humira which was positive in giving me loads of energy, but didn't put me fully in remission.

I thought I was on the mend but I took a turn for the worse last Friday. I thought it might be gastro but my Calprotectin levels are 5000 today and I'm running out of options. I'm scared to face the decision to have surgery in case I regret it, but I'd rather elect to have surgery than end up having emergency surgery due to bowel perforation.
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I don't know if / when I'll flare up next but I am trying to grab life while I can. It's so good to be able to live a pretty normal life for a while - I'd forgotten what that's like after a 4 year flare up of pancolitis.

I'm not sure if the side effects are from Humira. I've been on it for approx 18 months now - didn't put me in remission on its own but it gave me more energy. My hair has thinned on my head and eyebrows and I reckon Humira is probably the cause as it's a known side effect.

Also since April 2016 my face has been swelling up, particularly in light, but I wake up often with a swollen face. I've been tested for chemicals and a few things came up but I still suspect Humira is part of the problem. It looks very similar to lupus swelling and I'm sensitive to sunlight so I suspect it could be drug induced lupus.

Time will tell!