Bananagirl, When a Remicade infusion gave me terrible hives, my GP gave me a prescription-strength antihistamine (I can't remember the name though), which helped a lot. Another time, my GI told me to...
I could be wrong about this, but I believe that Remicade is generally more effective for UC than Humira is (at least that is what two doctors have told me). I have to say that this has proven true...
I really hope you don't have UC, but I have to tell you that this exact thing happened to me when I was first diagnosed. The doctor in the hospital diagnosed me with UC, but he didn't accept my...
ActiveUCer, What tests did your doctors run to determine if it was arthritis causing your pain? Do you have a positive ANA? I ask because a couple of years ago after tapering off a long course of...
Faith-- That's funny--I took one shot that didn't hurt and instead of being happy about it being pain free, I was so worried because I was convinced that the shot malfunctioned in some way. You're...
DontScopeMe--Thanks. I looked at the results, but I am really looking for someone who is taking 6MP to tamp down a reaction to Humira. All of the posts I've seen are about people adding 6MP to the...
Hope everyone is doing well. I have been on Humira for a year and a half, but about a month ago I moved to weekly shots (instead of every two weeks). My UC symptoms are completely under control at...
I believe that artificial sweeteners contributed to one of my flares (I was drinking a ton of diet soda) a couple of years ago. Now I avoid them completely....
Faith, The insurance initially rejected the weekly prescription, but it was approved after my doctor submitted a medical necessity form. Since I developed an allergy to Remicade and since I had had...
I've been taking it for 1 1/2 years. I don't think it works as well as Remicade did--I see a lot more flutation of my symptoms than I did on Remicade--but it is certainly easier. I recently had the...
I have had mixed "success" with smoking. I've had UC for 13 years and the first 5 major flairs I had all coincided with quitting smoking (I tend to quit for a while and then go back). In fact, I...
I completely understand what you are going through because I find the mental side effects of prednisone the most debilitating. I second notsosicklygirl's suggestion. Try seeing a therapist and a...
Brian, Believe me, I understand the temptation. I am an ex-smoker who has struggled with flaring when I am not smoking and I HATE being on prednisone. However, I wouldn't recommend smoking, even in...
I put it in Greek yogurt in the evening, and oddly enough, I put it into pear baby food in the a.m. (I used to use applesauce, but I thought it was bothering me, so I switched to the pears, which are...
When I was taking 6mp, I had a problem with frequent urination and bladder pain, an issue I have never had before. I got a sonogram and some other tests, although they never looked in my bladder...
BeatUC, The poster achieved remission taking both Remicade and Imuran and is thinking about going off Remicade to take Imuran alone. Since he achieved remission taking both of these medicines,...
You may want to consider the fact that you could be taking a drug that works for you--Remicade--"off the table" for future use if you take a prolonged break from it. The doctors who I've talked to...
I guess I am also too late! In any case, next time you can ask your doctor to prescribe you an anti-nausea medicine. I can't remember the name of the one my GI gives me, but it works wonders! Good...
Unfortunately, I had to quit using Remicade after about a year because of excruciating joint pain. The pain started after an infusion about 8 months in, and I tried to hang on because the Remi was...
I hope everyone is doing well. I have a GI who I love but am currently have a difference of opinion with. I am on Humira (one shot every two weeks) and am tapering off prednisone. I started the taper...
I'm having this exact problem right now. My doctor has prescribed a proton-pump inhibitor and is having me get an upper GI to check for ulcers. The PPI is helping although I still have some stomach...
Jleath, Thanks for your response--I hadn't even considered whether my insurance would object to weekly injections. I guess I'll have to check on that if I can get my doc to agree. I'm glad you are...
Pink1, That is my feeling also, but my GI, who otherwise I like very much, is pretty resistant. Do you happen to have links to any studies, etc. that I could show him? Thanks, Bridget...
jleath13, My doctor doesn't want me to do the weekly Humira shots either. I've asked him twice, and he said "absolutely not." I am trying to taper off prednisone and I seem to be re-flaring, so I'd...
I had cryptosporidium, a parasite and was given Alinia to treat it. I did not react to it well at all. It seemed to cause a worsening in my symptoms (I was going to the bathroom every hour and was...
Good luck on your graduate work. I'm interested to hear your results. Bridget...
I completely understand how you are feeling. A few months after my second-to-last flare, I started to lose tons of hair--I had to clean the drain after every shower, and I couldn't run my fingers...
For me, it has varied flare to flare, but generally I see marked improvement in about a week to a week and a half. If you don't see improvement fairly soon, your doctor may want to bump you up to 60...
Mom2panda, Thanks for replying. Were the antibiotics for you or the donor? Do you know if there is an extra risk to doing the transplant when on biologics--were you on Remicade when you did it...
My heart goes out to you. Good luck with everything. Bridget...
Thanks for the replies. I feel pretty comfortable with my husband being my donor, but I just recovered from a parasite, which has made me a little leery of doing the transplant. Bridget...
I've read a lot of posts about fecal transplant and have learned a lot--thank you all for sharing your experiences! I do have a few remaining questions that I am hoping someone could help me with....
If it is not a fissure or hemmie, it might be food-related (as odd as that sounds). I had this problem for many years (it was almost unbearable at times!) and found that it was related to what I was...
bananagirl, I take one pack of the VSL DS in the morning. DO you take the DS or the regular? b...
WingZero, I hadn't thought of that--I've had diarrhea from July until the end of September, so maybe it is just a readjustment to firmer stools. Sometimes I can't believe that I actually am typing...
I hope everyone is doing well. I was hoping I could hear some of your opinions on what's going on with my UC. I am tapering off of prednisone (I'm down to 10 mg) and I can't figure out if I am...
Joanna, I am in the exact same position as you are. I'm currently weaning off prednisone and I have added in the following supplements in the hope of not re-flaring (I am also continuing on Humira,...
I believe the manufacturers of both Lialda and Apriso (both which can be taken instead of Asacol) have prescription assistance plans. Ask your doctor if he/she has any of the savings cards (the drug...
Have you tried the savings card? http://www.altsampling.com/asacolactivate/ I have been told that even after these kinds of prescription cards "expire," some manufacturers will extend the benefit. I...
I just went through this myself. Our power was off and on for a week because of Irene, and my Humira sat in a non-functioning fridge for several hours on two occasions. I was concerned that it may...
I'm sorry you are going through a tough patch--I've definitely been there. Prednisone, particularly at high doses, causes me to become depressed after I stop taking it. The last time it seemed to...
Notsosickgirl, I think you are correct, and there just isn't enough information. I just feel like humira is a last-chance medicine for me, and I'm afraid that I'll really regret my decision to quit...
I hope everyone is doing well. After a bad reaction to Remicade, I started Humira in April, and I was doing really, really well on it. I had very few UC symptoms and all was well. However, I went to...
I hope everyone is doing well. I have been on Humira since April, and I was doing really, really well with my UC symptoms. However, I got cryptosporidium, which is a nasty and persistent parasite...
Gavin, I'm sorry you are not feeling well. I am a former smoker who, out of sheer desperation, tried restarting at the beginning of my last flare in the hopes of lessening the severity of the flare....
You are not alone! A co-worker sent me a link to this essay on Salon about this very topic:...
About how long ago did you discontinue the prednisone? I had horrific joint and muscle pain for about 6 months after I stopped taking prednisone for a flare (I was on 60 mg). At first my doctors...
Thank you, everyone, for the information. Alinus--I have thought about the e-cigarette, but I have to say, I'm a little concerned that it would make me want to smoke real cigarettes. I also would...
Primal, I don't "want" to put toxins in my body; as I said in my post, I quit smoking and am not going to start again. However, the "toxins" in cigarettes have been shown to calm inflammation in the...
GriffN, Thanks for replying. I hope my flair is going to be a mild one, something I have yet to experienced. As you suggested, I think I'll cut back on the fiber. As for the smoking, I quit in...