Lol. Mine believes in bloodwork and doesn't sell any of the things he's recommending I get. I hope that's good! Zoolander, I hope you're wrong too since the heavy drugs haven't done anything for my...
I just saw one Saturday, so I can't report on results. I think they have their place (ie, writing scripts your md won't), but most of what they'll tell you is stuff you can do on your own-diet mods,...
Thanks Gary-and I do need to remember this. Same for supplements. I think I'm pretty hyper aware of what's going on, so if anything feels slightly off ill reevaluate. I'm also not starting the ldn...
I'm still up ten pounds from 15 months of prednisone hell :) so weight loss, while not a priority, isn't unwelcome. I'm sort of at an inbetween stage with UC. No solid stool in 18 months. 2 rounds of...
Only juice for 3 weeks-mostly veggies with a little sugar (berries, carrots) to sweeten as needed. I don't know that I have to be super strict, but avoiding meat/grains I believe is what he was going...
Hello :) I finally saw an osteopath this weekend 18 months into my best flare yet. Obviously the mds aren't working. I'm quitting the remicade (my last mainstream uc med that I'm taking) regardless...
Per that link, my current blood results line up nicely with AIH. Anyone know how often these things come up in blood work while on remicade but then clear up when remicade is discontinued? I guess...
Thanks Q! My anti smooth muscle antibodies are 25 (should be <20), ANAs +. Don't know about AMAs. They said they're looking specifically for PBC or AIH. Obviously I'm jumping some guns by learning...
Thanks guys :) I'm not pulling my hair out or anything, I just don't appreciate the unknown! I know autoimmune diseases aren't the end of the world, but my uc has been flaring for over 17months now,...
I have not had an MRCP scan yet. I don't know the enzyme levels, but I know they rose between early Sept (first abnormal bloodwork) and a week later when I had bloodwork again. I may be prematurely...
Yes, just making sure the readily available brands are good. Really appreciate it. I know my doctor would never mention an herb as helpful :)...
Thanks, babe! Any chance milk thistle sold at regular pharmacies is worthwhile, or is this like vsl#3 is in the world of probiotics?...
Thanks-the waiting is definitely difficult, as I know from waiting on all my uc drugs to work. I'm hoping someone will say it'll be fine, is probably med induced and will clear up, but I guess then...
Hi guys! Below is my post from the UC board (had it for just under 5 years). Nothing's been diagnosed liver wise, but anyone who's been through this or can tell me what to expect please chime in:...
I will post there too. Put it here because of the strong ties of PSC to uc (not even IBD since it's less prevalent in chrons!). Surely statistics aren't failing me so badly that I'm the only one ;)...
I've had some unfortunate results in bloodwork lately that's leading to a liver biopsy in a few days. I'm trying not to google too much until I know what's going on, but I've found psc has a strong...
It's good to hear other people think he's a moron too. I will look into doing it at home-didnt even realize that was an option....
Adventure, 2bms a day with every med possible sounds like a dream. I think my confusion lies where everything I've read says FT is for recurrent cdiff vs my doc saying it's for someone with one...
I have mostly a hate relationship with my gi. Basically not many other options. Anyways, he's my second doctor that's been trying and failing to get me out of a flare since march 2012. I had cdiff...
I am an avid runner/walker. When healthy I run 5-6 days a week and walk the others. I've been flaring for quite sometime now, and while prednisone was working I was able to keep exercising almost...
Thanks guys-I'm definitely drinking enough. I haven't noticed a connection to the anti-biotics. The dizziness is listed as a rare side effect of the amitriptyline. Since I've had reactions to several...
Ok, I'm calling dr tomorrow so may as well get another stool sample. It's not like they're hard to come by, lol. I take an OTC probiotic, florastor, twice daily. Thanks for all the suggestions!...
How long ago did you stop the prednisone? Could it be leftover prednisone bloat? I thought uceris wasn't supposed to show typical steroid symptoms (although I could be wrong)....
I do know this. My first cdiff was early feb-mid march. It literally took a month and a half for them to even take a stool sample (I had no clue, just assumed I was about to die or something). I...
No, I'm not sure the cdiff is gone. I was hospitalized in July, took I think 20 days vancomycin and finally Had a negative stool sample. I was shocked because I was so sure it was still there. The...
Interesting ::grabs banana:: I know it's not normal, I guess I just feel like my doctor is annoyed with me at this point and wants me to go away. I would be annoyed too with a fancy medical degree if...
Current meds: remicade, amitriptyline, Immodium, hydrocortisone enemas failed meds: humira, purinethol (slight reaction) asacol (just stopped after 4ish years for a new intolerance), imuran (severe...
Yep. Started 5 or 6 days after birth and still going strong over 16 months later. Got slightly better when I quit bf-ing at 12m, and slightly better after my first dose of remicade. Asacol,...
Could you just send him to the forum? It's easier to ask questions/relay experiences hiding behind a keyboard. I'll talk about IBD now with anyone who cares to ask, but I certainly wasn't like that...
Interesting-I may look to switch once things calm down a bit for me. I started at 10mg (did nothing) and take either 50 or 75mg every evening. I am always exhausted though, which started when I...
I use amitriptyline as an antispasmodic. It is for ibs though, not IBD. Doesn't help with the diarrhea, only the urgency. Also had to play with the dose a bit. Quincy did nortriptyline help with...
amitriptyline? non-generic is elavil I believe...
I've had similar experience with mesalamines not being the best. I have never tried meditation for a flare but I feel like I read something recently about that-look in the recent posts something...
Very well written :) My story is eerily similar as well. I first had symptoms during my last semester at college, while pregnant with my first at 21, Dx shortly after delivery. Throw in reoccurring...
Robert-that may be the case. My info is from my former gi who I have few good things to say about. His info was give it 3-4 months, and during that time I showed no improvement whatsoever and he kept...
I don't know if I'm going to add much that hasn't been covered, but it is so frustrating waiting to see if something might work. Humira and Imuran both can take a few months, but I have also heard...
I agree with the rule of thirds, and there's no way to tell where you'll fall. Lots of meds are considered safe in pregnancy-most mesalamines, prednisone (slight risk in early weeks of cleft...
I've learned two things from this thread: everyone holds it a lot better than me, and my husband is a saint. Who needs a service station when the side of the road is calling your name? :) Hang in...
That is a long time for test results!! I know how you feel though. I'm a few months into remicade and saw great improvement with the first infusion and it's been stagnant since. Stagnant as in still...
Did you ever get answers on the potential cdiff/bacterial infection? Looks like you've been off pred for several months, but when did your symptoms come back? Do you think the humira is working well?...
Yes, it's main use is as an anti-depressant I believe. It doesn't actually do anything for my uc (as far as healing/reducing inflammation/getting out of a flare), but it supposedly slows down and...
Elavil/amatriptyline? I don't see many people with uc on it, since it's more of an ibs med, but I use it to slow everything down a bit when I'm in a bad flare. I've been on it several months (only...
You're doing well if you're hanging on to a few scraps of dignity :) Good luck finding some answers!...
My first time I was tested by my gi, and this second time in the hospital only because it was a weekend and I was so dehydrated my body was giving up on me. Even if it's not cdiff it could be another...
I just got out of the hospital with my second round of cdiff along with campylobacter. Cdiff is no joke, and since I had it before I knew I had it again. The cramping is unbearable but as far as...
Ks-the only reason I'm not totally on board with this being steroid withdrawal is because I'm having none of my regular symptoms. Usually I have headaches, joint pain, mood swings, etc when I even...
Good news all around :) Don't have to bump up prednisone but he wants me to keep doing 2.5mg every other day for another week. Starting hydrocortisone enemas tonight, starting imuran tonight as well...
I totally agree ks-I'm my mind the return of blood could be just as much needing remicade 2 weeks sooner as it could be the prednisone. Haven't heard from nurse yet so I just called and left a...
not so sickly: I dropped from taking 2.5 mg every day, to taking 2.5 every other day. not 2.5 drops daily! that would be fast :) I am expecting to hear from the nurse today, and will ask about the...
I just posted today about the return of symptoms one week into 2.5mg every other day. Blood and all! I've been on it for 15 months now. I can't really answer your question but I sympathize with you :)...