Crohn's is a particularly stubborn disease. In all of my years of having it, not much has worked to curb its symptoms.
For the last few months, I have been feeling pretty good. And that is because of a regimen of Flagyl and Prednisone. Plus, the summer is usually a good time for me. Relatively stress-free, summer is the best medicine for my Crohn's.
When I start school again in the Fall, I usually experience some flare-up. That is to be expected. This year, however, was pretty good.
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Let's back up a bit, as it has been awhile since I posted.
Back in December and January, I experienced a new round of flares as my Crohn's moved to my lower digestive tract. Not only was it excruciatingly painful, but also debilitating. I had to take off work. I had to spend my time sitting in a warm bathtub several times a day.
I experimented with herbs and acupuncture. I gave up dairy. Nothing seemed to help----except the Flagyl and Prednisone.
Flagyl is a powerful antibiotic taken three times a day. And prednisone is a steroid. Both of these drugs work, but are not good to be taken in the long-term. Flagyl can cause nerve damage and prednisone---well, it may help relieve Crohn's but it does a number on bones, joints, muscle tissues and can cause cataracts.
I began to feel instantly better. My GI recommend me to see a specialist at the University of Chicago. So I made an appointment. But I couldn't get in for at least 4 months and finally saw him in August. After a long review of my history and charts, he told me that I needed to be on something stronger. And, like my GI, recommended that I begin Imuran.
Imuran is a TNF blocker. Crohn's is an autoimmune disease in which it is believed that the body's immune system attacks healthy tissue in the digestive system. Imuran inhibits a particular protein called Tumor Necrosis Factor, thus decreasing the body's inflammatory response to Crohn's (it is also used for rheumatoid arthritis).
There has been a lot of success with Imuran and Crohn's; but there are some potentially dangerous side-effects to such drugs as well. Believe me, I have read the list and it scared the hell out of me. But, as the University of Chicago specialist told me, "Statistically, prednisone is more dangerous. We know what prednisone is doing to your body right now and you cannot be on it for the long term."
So, two weeks ago, I started a daily regimen of Imuran. 50 mg.
I was still feeling good. In fact, I started going to the bathroom less. And, for the first time in years, felt constipated once. Hhhmmm. I forgot what that was like.
But then the pain came back. In my right side. Not excruciating, but subtle. It came and went. Some days it was in my lower abdomen, just right of my belly button. Today, the pain is stronger and is now on my side, about halfway up my abdomen. And I have some pain once again in my lower digestive tract. Not much, in fact, barely there but enough for me to notice.
So, needless to say, my doctor told me to stop the Imuran for now. She believes that I am probably having a reaction to that drug. I went to the hospital yesterday for a blood test. The blood test will tell how my body is processing the Imuran and if I should continue.
And then we'll go from there.
If I can't take Imuran, I am not sure what is next. Humira? That is a TNF blocker as well, but is made differently (Imuran is made with mouse DNA and Humira is made with human DNA). Will that make a difference? Don't know.
But so far, the scorecard isn't too good for the drugs that I have taken:
If only we could bottle and sell summer. Then I think I would be cured.
More to come.
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