Absolutely agreed. I can't believe some of you are getting by with only a bottle or so a day. The only times I EVER get headaches or migraines are when I haven't had enough water for the day. Also,...
I can't say I've been having very much luck with remistart. They do cover all but $50, but that is just for the medication. It does not cover the cost of the office visit or the cost of administering...
I was just going to suggest the same thing, dunny. I think it's definitely something to look into. Numbness and tingling in the appendages is pretty much the first sign of a B12 deficiency and B12...
Well my lab work did not show anything except a whole lot of inflammation. My rheumatologist keeps talking about playing around with my TNF meds again, but without a diagnosis, I'm pretty much just...
I can't say I've heard of anyone with that problem, but how about maybe switching to flax seed oil? It's also a good source of omega 3. I use it as a vegetarian alternative to fish oil....
I’m new to the RA forum (usually over at the Crohn’s board), but I’ve been struggling toward an AS diagnosis and I wanted to see if anyone over here had any input. I’ve been having severe upper back...
I'm afraid I can't offer too much besides sympathy. I have had belpharitis, but it was an acute case, and it sounds like yours is chronic. I'm sorry you are in pain; I know how bad it can get. I hope...
Also, what other meds have you tried? If you had had three flares, maybe you weren't actually responding well to other treatments....
I'm always a little wary about doctor's reasonings, too. Not long after my diagnosis, I wasn't able to get off prednisone with Lialda alone, so my GI immediately recommended Remicade. Even though now...
I wouldn't get too caught up on the cancer side effects, those are supposed to be really rare. I don't know the requirements for the drug companies listing side effects, but I imagine there can be a...
The way I've always understood it, the older they are, the less effective they are. So I would think that after their expiration dates, drugs will tend to not work as well. If I were in your...
Thank so much, medieval_peasant!...
Sniper, if you have AS, do you think it's possible you are getting some fusion? Maybe you should go in for an X-ray....
Everyone's right about it taking a couple months. Usually when you get down to around 7.5 mg, your side effects should be pretty minimal. I was stuck there for about a month and then I started an...
PV, thanks for the response. Yeah, I was mainly curious if anyone knew of any studies done, as I haven’t heard of any either. I’m actually seeing a rheumatologist in a few weeks, so I’ll ask him if...
1asalsa, I’m sorry to hear your vision is not back to normal. Did you need any treatment during your flare? Some of the treatments can cause a change in vision themselves. I had a problem with focus...
Hey, Ides! Just wondering how you are doing... How's the vision lately? Any more improvements?...
I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not using two TNF-alpha blockers simultaneously was ever explored as a possibility. Like, if one immunosuppressant alone (or along with other kinds of...
The only kidney stone I have had was before my diagnosis and likely the result of dehydration (Crohn's-related). Everyone's right about the water; stay hydrated! There are a whole bunch of foods...
They both have their pros and cons. In my opinion, the pen hurts more than the syringe because it goes in so quickly. With the syringe, you can control how fast the medicine goes in. I always...
You didn't need any treatment for the hemorrhage? Consider yourself lucky. When I had my vitreous hemorrhage, I needed cryotherapy, which was definitely not pleasant (it's essentially the same...
I just started taking it about a month ago and recently I noticed my hair coming out by the fistful. I've had to unclog my shower drain every week or so and clean out my hair brush every other day....
I think "topical" is a good word to describe mesalamine. Think of it like a blam or a lotion for your intestines. It's a pretty mild drug with virtually no side effects and though it didn't put me in...
champagnekindofgal: They probably suggested it at the ER, but are you taking any sort of acid reducer? I always take Pepcid or something like it whenever I am on prednisone (just make sure you take...
I didn't have that strong a reaction on my first injection, but my rosacea flared up pretty bad. And that was pretty much the only time that happened for me (I think it happened once or twice more...
Lialda was the first thing my doctor put me on. I was only on it for three or four months as it didn't really worrk completely for me. It was definitely doing something, though, as I went about a...
I just wanted to comment on the immunosuppression. I have not started Remicade yet (I'll be starting on the 22nd), but I have been on two other TNF alpha meds and I noticed an increase in upper...
Don’t even get me started. I wouldn’t say I have a love/hate relationship with pred; it’s more of a hate/hate relationship. I will refuse up and down to take it. My GI has offered many times to put...
For me it is more of a cold sweat and it's pretty much associated with prednisone....
I have problems with costrochondritis also; it's a real pain. It probably is related to CD in a way because we tend to have higher levels of inflammation. I know my costochondritis has been flaring...
Yeah, I just nix the shirt most of the time. Pred blows....
I got all that Cimzia stuff too... Plus they'll send you a free medication travel bag, which was nice. I haven't had a problem with prices, either; UCB'S CIMplicity program covers 100% of my copay....
Thanks for your responses... Saw my eye doctor today. He passed the buck to my GI. Getting pretty tired of all this....
lol, CrohnnieMan. I'm the same way with Gatorade now....
Hey Habs, Thanks for your concern. I’m in regular therapy and it’s been a lot of help. Sometimes it isn’t quite enough, though, and I have considered antidepressants a few times, but never committed...
Nanners: Gelatin is made from animal collagen. Pectin (plant-based) is usually a suitable replacement, but it's not as common....
That's a really good idea! Just wish I ate Jello lol (yet another reason why it's not always easy being a vegetarian with Crohn's)...
Thank you guys so much for your responses. jesse's_girl: I didn't mention in my post, but my ophthalmologist is actually a retina and vitreous specialist. I have had steroid injections in my eye, but...
By the way, I’m trying to get in to see my doctor sometime this week to talk about it… I’d just like to hear from anyone who has been through this in the meantime (I’m sure you guys understand…)...
Haven't posted in a while... been in a bit of a rough patch. Back in October, I lost 90% of my vision due to Crohn’s-related intermediate uveitis (pars planitis). I couldn’t drive or do much of...
Just a quick note: When I saw my doctor last week, he said that in his opinion, the proper dosage for Humira to really work should be 80 mg [i]weekly (two shots a week). And I am more than willing...
Well, my intermediate uveitis is getting worse and yesterday I noticed I can barely see through my left eye. With my right eye closed, I can only make out vague shapes and you can forget about[b]...
Hey Ronyan, That hunger pain sounds like how I would describe my gastritis pain. Unfortunately, Aciphex was what worked for me, but I also had success with Pepcid AC. My PCP once suggested twice...
I never noticed it myself at the time, but apparently everyone else did haha. And I see pictures like that one now and can't believe I wasn't more self conscious. I was on it for 7 months also, but...
I was just going through some pictures and found one of me from last year when I had some major moon face. Yay for being off prednisone!! (I just needed to share with someone and my family is way...
I've had pain after a scope before, but usually it was just trapped air that went away that day. I'd say if you're still in pain, it's probably whatever was causing your original pain upping the...
I agree as well that you need to find the time to get yourself checked out. All you need to do is find a way to spare a day and a half. At the most, you'll need an afternoon and evening for the prep...
I'm sure it isn't an exact science. Especially since I definitely threw a good deal of mine up lol. Just too much sugar....
Thanks, Sniper. I like to think I'm a pretty clean person, but I know that I don't put as much of an effort into keeping the germs out as I probably should. I'll try to get into the habit of keeping...
I have to honestly say that I'm with you, craizy_daisy. I've never had to have a resection myself, but I have had surgery for other issues (hyperhidrosis, breast lump) and while I'm not ashamed of...