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My friend is really really ill now.

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/21/2007 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
A few weeks ago i posted a thread about my friend Linda who has crohns. Well she is really ill and needs all our prayers at the minute.She has been flaring for over a year now without any remission. She was hospitalized onm Friday with extreme pain and major blood loss. They also found that she was suffering from some kind of blood disorder caused by the drugs she was taking(i don't know what it is).

   She has been on pred 150 ml drip since Fr4iday.  She is being started on a new drug tonight(i think it may be INfliximab/Remicade). The surgeons have been round with her to tell her that if this doesn't work she will face surgery as her condition is so severe.Her pain is all in her left side and in her back.

   Linda is best friends with my little sister and the pair where due to go to Spain on Friday for a holiday but there is no way that she will make it. My little sis is so worried about her that she isn't that concerned about the holiday. My poor little sister cried for an hour after she visited her today  because she couldn't believe how ill she was.

  I'm going to go over tomorrow to visit her and offer any help i can. Its so hard when you see a young girl(25) having it so hard for so long. I've always been telling her that she'll gain remission soon and that she'll soon be better. I only wish it would happen tonight for her!!

                           Please send some healing thoughts her way

 

Posted 8/21/2007 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Oh gosh Marty; that is a rough one to hear about. When you see her, let her know that there are many people who have put her in there thoughts and prayers....including me. Take care, and you are a good guy for being there for her too.

Posted 8/21/2007 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear of your friend being so ill. I will pray for her.
Posted 8/21/2007 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry to hear about your buddy. Please keep us updated on how she is doing.
Posted 8/22/2007 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend I will keep her in my prayers.

Posted 8/22/2007 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear that, I will keep her in my prayers

Janice
Posted 8/22/2007 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sad to hear your and your sister's friend is in such a bad state from Crohn's. I hope the remicade will work and help her to start feeling better.

It can be devastatingly scary to see how ill people can get from IBD.

Healing wishes sent her (and your) way.

quincy xx
Posted 8/22/2007 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
Marty,

My thoughts and prayers are certainly with Linda right now.

Take care.

Dave
Posted 8/22/2007 10:59 AM (GMT 0)

My thoughts and prayers are with your friend and your family as well.

Posted 8/22/2007 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
Crohns is definately a scarier disease (sometimes) then Uc thats for sure. My thought and prayers are with your sisters friend. Are they still going to Spain once she is up to it?
Posted 8/22/2007 8:23 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Red:) how are you anyway? Linda will not be going on holidays unfortunatly. They leave on Friday and there are 1o people all going. My sister didn't want to leave her but Linda would be really upset if my sister doesn't go. I didn't get over to see her today but i was able to contact her. She has been started on Aziathroprine and imuran and i think the pharmacist was coming around to explain all the side effects.

   I couldn't believe that she was not already on these drugs as she has been so ill. How long does it take these drugs to work? Is it true that they can take up to 6 months? She had another ultrasound last night and a colonoscopy and they believe that the inflammation has started to respond to the massive amount of steroid drip she is on.

   Is there any other things she could be doing to  promote healing quickly.I'm really worried that she may need surgery,and i'm sure she would try anything to prevent this.What supplements do Crohnies take, are they different from us UCers.

  My sister said that my advice and knowledge has been a great help and that i have helped her more than the docs. This forum has taught me so much and i am so lucky to have you all as friends. Its great that our experience and knowledge can be passed on to others with IBD'S.

  iF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER  ADVICE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

   THANK YOU ALL

                                                  mARTY

PS.I'M GOINGTO SEE HER TOMORROW AND I'LL BE TELLING HER ALL about OUR GREAT SITE HERE. WHEN SHE GETS OUT I'M SURE SHE WILL WANT TO JOIN THE CROHNS FORUM HERE. SHE WILL BE ABLE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS,

Posted 8/22/2007 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, unfortunately Imuran does take a while to take effect. In some, it can start working at about 7 weeks and some it can take up to a year before anything is noticed. Azathropine and Imuran are the same med by the way. Just like 6mp is the same as mercaptopurine. Please tell her that she is more then welcome here on Healingwell any time! Crohnies and Uc'ers pretty much take the same things but if you want, you can ask over in the Cd forum.

Oh and I'm doing ok, getting by and taking one day at a time :)
Posted 8/23/2007 6:27 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry i meant to say Pentasa i know that the others are the same med. Guess my heads in another place at the minute. It is good to hear from you Red are the meds still working well for you?
Posted 8/23/2007 7:50 AM (GMT 0)
Marty,

I'm pleased to learn that Linda has started responding to the steroids, if you can try to mentally prepare her in relation to the Pred side effects, I know when I had IV Pred I felt my whole life was totally pointless but you and I know different than that :-)

Azathioprine for me took about 8 months to have noticable signs that it was working and when I first started it I spent a lot of time vomiting, of course I discussed this with the Dr and because my bloods were checked regularly my Dr and I were confident with the drug thankfully for me it paid off please make sure Linda understands the possible side effects of Azathioprine, and discuss the importance of keeping close contact with her Dr and need for blood tests, I have said it before Azathioprine turned my life around, I could have easily packed it in those early days, but now I am so happy that I had the confidence to stick with it.

Marty I am totally amazed how you continue to support your friends and family without giving a thought to your own problems, you are so loved by everyone here, I'm proud to be able to say I have communicated with you and if it hasn't been said before allow me to take this opportunity to to say I believe you would make an amazing forum moderator.

Take care mate.

Dave
Posted 8/23/2007 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Cheers Dave thank you so much. You all mean so much to me.I have posted the links to these pages to Lindas web page so she can use your advice and i'm sure she will be flattered by your all your kind words.
Marty
Posted 8/23/2007 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Marty,

Maybe surgery is the best option for your friend; I have read that 66% - 75% of CD patients will have surgery in their lifetime. http://www.ccfa.org/info/about/crohns

I do not know if Cyclosporine is available to your friend but is usually faster acting than Remicade; it is also more effective than Remicade for some patients. I had to use Cyclosporine at one point during a very severe flare. http://www.ccfa.org/info/treatment/immunomodulators

--Keith
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