I feel for you because I have the same issue. My citrate level is extremely low and I have had countless stones. The medicine is brutal for me too. Are you taking the tablets or the liquid? Maybe one...
I had two children following my first bowel resection and everything was fine. My son was born 3 years after my surgery (small and large bowel). I was in better health having the diseased portion...
Hopefully, you will feel better soon. I am sure the kidney took a good "hit" and it might take a bit to let it heal. Take care!...
I am having lithotripsy on Friday. I have done it several times before . . . lots of stones in my history --I have low citrate levels due to Crohn's/resections. I usually do real well with this and...
Don't rule out education . . . I am a full-time Kindergarten teacher in a public school. I have had two bowel resections and am currently on Remicade every six weeks plus imuran. I have a seton due...
I had the test done several years ago. My husband handled the insurance company (I get it through him), the dr.'s office, etc. and it was a hassle, but it eventually got covered. I hope you can get...
So sorry that you are going through this!! I have had too many stones and have lost count now. I took Flomax this past Spring and it actually helped or at least the stone (@5 mm) passed. Strange drug...
My seton was put in last June. I am doing much better on a large dose of Remicade, but am reluctant to have it taken out (my gi is fully supportive of keeping it in for now). I am worried that if I...
I had two children following my first resection (20 inches of small/large removed) . The first was born 3 years later; the second 3 1/2 years after the first. No complications- not high risk-perfect...
Bring food--I always did. They might have some snack stuff there--really depends on where you are having yours done. I did mine in a hematology/oncology office so I was usually the only having iron ....
My g.i. referred me to a hematologist when I was having trouble tolerating oral iron. Over a period of several years, I saw 3 different ones and they all agreed that infusions were the way to go....
I had mine out about 6-7 years ago, laparoscopically. I previously had a bowel resection and this was a piece of cake. I went in early in the a.m. and was sent home @2:00. I recall not being able to...
That is terrible that you have to go through all of that over and over again. I have had periods of time when I have had to do the iv iron thing. I had a horrible adverse reaction two years ago and...
You are definitely not alone! Lots of us have/have had them. I have had so many, I have lost count! Mine are due to resections/poor absorption and I actually deal with a stone specialist now (my...
Thank you for your responses! I have been reading a lot of posts about setons, but I was curious to know how many of you did actually have some success with removal. My surgeon was talking about...
Has it drained at all? If so, that would probably make the pain diminish. I also noticed that the more that I was on my feet, the worse it was. If I was lying down a lot, it helped. Good luck!...
I had a seton put in last week. It is not terrible to live with, but I would like to be done with it sometime. I need to think about some end in sight! How long have you had one in/kept one in before...
I used to go through DHAT in Plano last year. Jennifer is the infusion nurse and she is great! They are attached to the Plano Medical Center right on Coit. I used to see a DHAT dr. and am now with...
Thanks for all of your responses! It is good to hear some good news stories, too! I hope I can be one of them, too. Take care!...
jlove-Wow! I am so sorry to hear what you have gone through. I hope the humira works well for you! At least you can do it at home with the injections. I did the pens last year and they were easy to...
Thanks Lavender and Ivy! I am a bit fuzzy today--had a seton placed and am still reeling from the anesthesia : ) I had a resection in 1991 --20 inches, slightly more small vs. large intestine and did...
Wow! Thanks for such a quick reply! She is not a fan of steriods, but will have it ordered to dispensed if needed during the infusion. She said we'd do the antihistamine and tylenol (which I have...
My doctor and I made the decision for me to go back on remicade after stopping it in Feb. 07. I had a resection in June '07 and was technically in remission so it seemed the right thing to do at the...
Thank you both! I go back in two weeks and really don't have time for this right now! Of course, no one does! But school is about to end and I am a teacher! In 2 and 1/2 weeks I will be more ready to...
I have had Crohn's for over 17 years and had two resections (all right side-terminal il. area) and am now dealing with something totally new! I had an abcess totally out of nowhere--had it drained @2...
Have they ever talked to you about Remicade or Humira? I think you are wise to be open to all avenues (whatever they may be). I have had 2 resections (one in 1991 and the other in 2007). I lived many...
I see Dr. Kimberly Persley in Dallas (Dallas Presbyterian) and she is awesome! She specializes in Crohn's. I was referred to her by my regular GI who felt I needed someone with more expertise in...
I had a resection in June and was told to stop with my last dose 2 weeks before surgery. I did not resume it since I was considered in remission after surgery. Good luck!...
Your ferretin is really low and I think your dr. is right to go with the infusions. Two different hematologists told me the same thing when I was that low. They can give you iron dextrose (longer to...
An infusion is IV iron. It drips slowly over a period of hours. It typically takes 1-2 weeks for your body to absorb it fully and put it to work. A transfusion is blood. I have had both, although the...
I am glad that I am not the only one enjoying the nasty stuff! Are any of you able to take it in pill form? The liquid is vile to me (not the "pleasant tasting" it claims to be)- especially when...
Could it be a kidney stone and/or urinary tract infection? I have had them with back pain and pelvic area pain. . . the fever could be due to an infection. I would call the dr. if I were you just to...
I am sure you have heard that the prep is the worst part! Talk with the anesthesiologist beforehand and let him/her know if you are feeling apprehensive about it. Then he/she can reassure you and...
I've had two resections and it took some time after both to get a more predicatable bowel schedule! At first, I was constantly having "run-as-fast you can diarrhea"! Talk with your dr., though....
This is so interesting to me! I had my second resection in June and the dr. told me I could eat anything. While it is true that nothing will get stuck (all that narrowed strictured area is gone), I...
I just did the Osmo-prep two days ago and found it much preferable to the Go-Lytely "jug." It is a lot of pills, but you don't have the nasty aftertaste. Be prepared to drink a lot to wash them down!...
I can't speak for pet allergies, but my hayfever greatly improved when I took imuran and remicade/humira. I think it is because it suppresses your immune system and you don't react so strongly to it....
I just received my paperwork in the mail for a colonoscopy next week and the dr. prescribed osmoprep. I am thrilled to NOT have to drink the jug of stuff, but wonder how this will work. Any thoughts?...
Definitely get a small pillow and take it to the hospital with you. The travel size works well. If you can press it into your abdomen when you move, cough, etc., it seems to "brace" the area and keep...
I am guessing it is the same thing if he was talking about viewing the upper GI tract, not the lower part. An upper GI is a barium x-ray. The "with follow through" will take a tad longer but lets the...
I would talk to your surgeon before you go in . . . I was on Humira and they made me stop 2 weeks before and said that if I had still been on Remicade, they would have made me stop at least a month...
The doctor can order a Prometheus (that's the lab) test to figure out your optimal dose. Ask about it if you are concerned....
I feel so bad for you! If the gall bladder is the cause of it, then surgery should do the trick, right? Did your dr. give you any indication about how soon you should feel improvement with the...
I had mine out several years ago due to lots of stones, though no symptoms (I was told I was a "time bomb" waiting to go off . . . done laparascopically and outpatient. I went home several hours...
I am not a student, but the teacher! It is even harder to be in the middle of teaching (and I teach first grade) and need to make a dash to the bathroom. I can't leave them unattended. For years when...
Bring a good book to read in between while you wait to do films. Also, I hold my nose when I drink the barium. It seems to help my gag reflex. The stuff is so thick and chalky. Good luck. It really...
wbisme-- Our stories do sound similar. Although I certainly wouldn't wish this type of situation on anyone, it is comforting to know that I am not alone in this situation. Mine was too complicated to...
wbisme- did your ureteral scar tissue heal on its own? The reason I am asking is that I had major surgery in June to remove a section (damaged by a stone, compounded on the outside by inflammation...
Your ferretin level is also very low. That shows your iron stores--not a lot there with a level of 4. I see a hematologist for iron deficiency anemia and that is what he looks at. When that number is...