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Remicade concern

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/25/2017 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Similiar to Fletch in a recent post I have had incredible results with my remicade. I have been symptom free for four months after being hospitalized for 3 weeks with severe pan colitis. Anyways, on Friday i went for oral surgery where they had to sedate me with fentanyl. Thereafter, i was given an antibiotic to deal with any infections. Anyways, yesterday and today i have had a trace of blood in my stool and visible on my toilet paper. I am concerned it may be related to the antibiotics i am taking or perhaps the trauma of the oral surgery and sedation jolted my system. I am due for my remicade 6 week infusion this week but I have not in the past seen any increase in my symptoms as i get closer to the infusion. Any advice?
Thanks,
Posted 9/26/2017 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Hugo!

I have had two "maintenance" infusions - one on July 7, one on September 1. At the end of both 8 week periods I was having a bit of symptom increase. Our most recent plan was to increase either the dose or frequency, and GI and I agreed to do same dose, every 4 weeks.

I'm having other issues (I foolishly restarted birth control pills which created inflammation, and I think gluten is causing problems also, and some liver issues too), so my calprotectin was up and I am having symptoms about 3 weeks after the last infusion. But GI and I are talking tomorrow to try to sort it all out.

I would recommend talking to them about either adding azathioprine (or 6mp) which has higher remission rates than Remicade alone, or increasing dose, or frequency. Good luck!
Posted 9/26/2017 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Ditto what fletch said. Also, on remicade little blips will happen as you approach your remicade infusions and figure out proper dosing and timing. You may still flare on remicade. I started remicade after a month long hospital stay with pancolitis as well. I will tell you that I have had a flare on remicade but it was shorter lived and not as severe. Stay on course and positive.
Posted 9/26/2017 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your response,
I am on MYX as well as Remicade. I actually went for my infusion a week early today, which is at the 5 week mark.

What freaks me out is that I was perfect until I had this dental surgery three days ago and I wonder if the antibiotics I am taking is impacting my colon. My BMs frequency is still normal but trace amounts of blood really scare me. I guess I need to see if it is transitory or a real flare.
I had my CRP tested as well today.
Thanks again,
Posted 9/26/2017 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Are you taking a probiotic? If you are double up for a couple of weeks to get you balanced back.
Posted 9/26/2017 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Antibiotics always mess with our system some. I'd try not to worry about a single day of blood. Finish your course of antibiotics, give yourself 3-4 days to bounce back and see where your uc stands. Sometimes a course of antibiotics is uneventful, we just look closer at our poop than we normally would and get anxious for no reason.

Ditto probiotics while on antibiotics.
Posted 9/26/2017 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks ipoop. I think i need to relax and just realize the antibiotics will impact my gut in some manner. No doubt my recent hospitalization has made a full on "Nervous Nelly".
Posted 9/28/2017 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
I am happy to say that my CRP came back at below 1, and hence pristine. I took the CRP bloodwork prior to the most recent remicade infusion. On a different note and thread i wanted to ask anyone on the forum if they know of a good reputable centre that is doing FMT for UC patients. I note with interest the recent studies out of Cornell-Weill
regarding positive outcomes. If perhaps my remicade is wearing off, which I don't know that to be the case, I would love the opportunity to try FMT.
Any thoughts,
Posted 9/28/2017 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Here's a link from clincaltrials.gov, it is an area of considerable ongoing study. So, it's possible there's a study ongoing near you. Especially, if you live near a big city and/or teaching hospital:

/clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results/map?term=FMT
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