My GI told me that chronic use of medication or chronic illness in general can have an impact on hair loss. As a woman I never really thought about hair loss until I started to notice crazy amounts...
Two weeks before I landed in the hospital with a Crohn's related absess (2007) I found out that I also have chronic Hepatitis B (thanks to a former boyfriend who cheated on me). Two weeks after that...
Hi Uklass, Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. I've been there. Took me months after my initial diagnosis to come to terms with having to take my medication and that I will have to deal...
I had a rectal-vaginal fistula last year. I started noticing gas coming out of my vagina once in while so I mentioned it to my family doc. But she wasn't too concerned and said it's normal. But then...
I've had 7 infusions so far and cannot stop eating! Thanks to Remicade I'm feeling better than ever and have so much energy. I have been underweight for the past 10 years so I didn't mind the binge...
I've been on BCP for 15 years and have never noticed any difference on my Crohns symptoms. Didn't affect me when I got off the pill two years ago either. My GI has never had an issue with me being on...
Hi everyone, Does anyone know if it's safe to take Oil of Oregano capsules? I've been hearing so much about this natural immune booster/ antibiotic and am considering trying it. But I want to make...
Hi everyone, It's been a while since I've posted anything but I've been logging on here and there. Just wondering if any of you have tried Oil of Oregano (drops or capsules). More and more I've been...
Welcome Mike, As everyone has already said, it works differently for everyone. I started to feel immediately better after the first infusion. Almost 100% after second infusion. This drug can be a...
Had my tonsils removed when I was 7 years old and my wisdom teeth in my last year of university. I was diagnosed 4 years years later. Have never heard of a connection between these three things....
It's perfectly normal to be scared about something you have never tried before. I was completely freaked out when my GI decided it was time for Remicade. I had read about the side effects and the bad...
I've been dealing with Crohns for the past 8 years (officially) and have been on different antibiotics as well as Pentasa over the years. I've been relatively lucky but was hospitalized once for a...
First two colonoscopies I was only given Versed and I was screaming my head off the entire time. Even the nurses were trying to tell the doctor that something was wrong because I should not be in so...
It might sound simple but I've always found that gargling with mouth wash several times a day helps heal the ulcers much faster. And it usually numbs everything for a bit. Hope you find relief soon....
Makes sense to me. I gained 5 lbs the week after my first infusion! And I keep gaining eventhough I haven't changed my diet and continue to work out. I guess the Remicade is working which means food...
I was told by doctors and nutritionists that you are supposed to consume approximately 1500 calories a day if you want to maintain your weight. Those who work out may need a bit more. Those who want...
Sounds normal to me. I can eat pretty much anything I want but during a flare nothing works. I may as well just pour the food directly into the toilet!...
Yes, I remember the hunger would come a few hours after the prep and bathroom trips. A suggestion: don't chew gum if you are hungry. Chewing gum stimulates salivation which in turn stimulates your...
Have been on Pentasa for 7 years. Up until recently, it was the only medication I have ever taken for CD and I never had any side effects. But due to a fistula, I started Remicade two months ago. So...
The scope itself isn't big at all. Didn't even feel it going in. What I did feel was the gas that had to be pumped in. The procedure only takes about 15 minutes but it depends on how quick your GI is...
Everyone is different and can tolerate pain or discomfort differently. For a lot of Crohnnies, the disease causes strictures or inflamation in places that makes it difficult for the scope to pass...
Sorry everyone. A CT Enterography is a CT with IV contrast. A CT Enteroclysis is where they feed a tube either through your nose or down your throat through which barium is pushed through. This is to...
Have been on Pentasa for almost 7 years and it worked wonders for me. No side effects and felt better within a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, my CD seems to have progressed a bit in the last year or...
CT Enterography is considered to be the better test in terms of pictures they can take during the procedure. But when my GI booked me for one I cancelled it and requested a SBFT. I've never been good...
Had my 2nd infusion last week and all signs of my r/v fistula have disappeared. I feel so much better. Haven't had any problems yet. The infusions were easy and like everyone else, I either read or...
Just wondering if any of you have more yeast infections since starting Remicade. I used to get them all the time when I was younger but haven't had one in years. Four days after my 2nd Remicade...
It's common not to get your period if there has been a dramatic weight loss or stress on the body. Lord knows this disease can overwhelm the body. Just have your doctor check everything again. As for...
I'm dealing with a small recto-vaginal fistula right now and just started Remicade a few weeks ago. I'm sure it hasn't completely closed up but I can tell you that all fistula related symptoms have...
Hi there and welcome. I also had to have several colonoscopies when I was first diagnosed and found the prep to be more traumatizing than the actual procedures. Unfortunately, they had to get done to...
I've been on Pentasa for the past 6 years and for the most part, it's been enough to keep things under control. It was only last year after I had an abcess, a fistula and constant flare ups that we...
Thanks everyone! My first infusion went well yesterday. I asked the nurse all of my questions and feel better about my decision to use Remicade....
I'm finally getting my first Remicade infusion tomorrow. Yeay! I'm hopeful that it will do what it's supposed to do and I will tolerate it well. However, I'm a bit nervous after reading postings on...
I'm finally starting Remicade next week after months of waiting for tests, and diagnosis of a fistula. I really hope it works as I started "leaking" yesterday which is so gross. Having said that,...
I'm in Canada too. And I've been calling my GI's receptionist every day since my insurance papers went in (I personally faxed them so I know it was done). Poor woman hates me! But hey, whatever it...
I live in Canada so it's different here but I was under the impression that U.S. county hospitals were free and can't turn people away. You may have to wait forever in the waiting room but at least...
Haven't developed full blown arthritis at this point but have a lot of joint problems. My doc says I have a "pre-arthritic" condition which will probably develop into arthritis at some point in my...
Hi everyone, Well, my GI has decided it's time for me to start Remicade. Thank god I have really good insurance through work and it will be covered. But now I'm waiting for him to get back to me...
Hi Melissa, Sorry to hear that you are feeling so down. Crohns is hard enough without the added depression that come with any chronic illness. I'm also one to avoid medication if possible. However,...
Sorry guys but I need to vent. I've been waiting for my GI to get back to me, as promised, on the next step in treatment which will probably be Remicade. He needed to consult with my Hepatologist as...
Pentasa has a delayed release so that it can work on the last part of the small intestines/ileum/cecum area. I've been on it for over 6 years and have never had any side effects. As far as I know,...
Hope you start feeling better really quickly Celey! I know that after my abcess cleared up I had a lot of throbbing in that area. And gurgling. It took a long time for it to go away. Even now if I'm...
This is the first time I'm hearing of a connection between Accutane and Crohns. My brother was on it and he's never had any side effects. Neither did any of my many friends who were on it. I'm the...
Has anyone heard of a new cocktail made up of 3 antibiotics that can put Crohns into remission? A friend of mine is a doctor and he said he had read about this but wasn't sure of all of the details....
I was right about my symptoms and a recto-vaginal fistula has now been found and diagnosed by MRI (good thing I pushed for a test--don't ever let your doc tell you that you are imagining things!). My...
This is a tough one. Nobody wants to burden or upset their families. But sometimes they may surprise you. I was nervous to tell my extended family; especially my grandmother who was in her late 80's...
I had abnormal paps two years in a row so I had to undergo colposcopies every three months last year to rule out cancer. Everything was fine but the docs are still baffled as to why the paps were...
I'm a domestic violence counsellor and I can tell you straight up that this is abusive. It's controlling behaviour and it is not appropriate at all. As everyone has already said, it's possible that...
Not to scare you, but Hep B is actually known to be 100 times easier to catch than HIV. It is an extremely infectious STD. Then again, I've had my former partners tested since finding out I have...
I saw my GI this week about the increase in gas coming out of my vagina as I am concerned that it may be a fistula. He agreed that it was something we should look into and has scheduled me for an...
Sorry, I'm_Jane_Doe, just read your other posting with your results. Was not aware that "borderline" is ever used on tests. Only thing I can think of is that the results were not clear enough or...