I had my surgery and all went well. (Except for the fact that I think I was given a bit too much Sandman Special. It took about 3 days for me to get the anesthetic out of my system. Oy vey.) Several biopsies were taken and sent off pathology.  The Friday after surgery I went to see Dr. Evil for my post-op appointment and to discuss treatment plans. He let me know all the biopsies came back and were “…consistent with the previous Crohn’s diagnosis”. The findings are as follows:

  • The Crohn’s is fully out of remission; positioned as close to my colon as it can be without actually involving the colon.
  • Multiple deep ulcers were visualized in the small intestine- in and around the affected area.

I have 3 treatment options available to me:

  1. Remicade: I was shaking my head with an emphatic ‘no’ as soon as the word came out of his mouth. I did, however, take this opportunity to pick Dr, Evil’s brain re: Remicade. Remicade is made from Rat Proteins and in most cases, patients must be medicated to prevent anaphylactic shock before the treatment can begin. The body sees this protein and as an invader, rightfully so, and goes off on it. There is also a small percentage of people who form a type of  lymphatic cancer that is 100% fatal. Thanks for the 411, but I have enough problems.
  2. Humira: Pretty much the same as Remicade with the exception of being derived from human proteins as opposed to rat proteins. The chances of an allergenic reaction are greatly decreased. As with Remicade, there is a chance of a lymphatic cancer that is 100% fatal.
  3. Mercaptopurine (6-MP): Has many side effects including kidney stones and liver issues, which are among some of the most serious.

I chose the lesser of 3 evils by staying with the 6-MP for now. The dosage has been raised and I am back on my friend Prednisone until the Crohn’s stabilizes.

When it comes to Remicade and Humira, I consider those last ditch treatments even last to more surgery.

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Healthy on the outside- suffering on the inside.

January 20, 2010

Ah, where to begin? I’ve been away for several months and avoiding my blogging duties, though it has not been far from my mind during this time. A lot of things have happened in a very short time. I’ve lost two really good people that I cared for… My friend Steve, you’ve read about him [...]

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Tea and Digestive Disease

September 4, 2009

(Trzewia_CzlowiekaBKKL, 1914)
Digestive diseases affect 60 – 70 million people in the United States a year, according to estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics. People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome are constantly monitoring their digestive system, sometimes striking a precarious balance between western medicine, eastern medicine, and [...]

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New Source of Information on Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Medications

August 13, 2009

Download this press release as an Adobe PDF document.
NeedyMeds.org and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America announce a new source of information on medications used for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and the financial help available for those living with these diseases.
(Vocus) August 13, 2009 — NeedyMeds, a national nonprofit, added a new [...]

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What is the FDA thinking? If the Crohn’s does not kill us, the treatments will.

August 4, 2009

What the hell is a person suppose to do? I’ve been here before; wondering what the 6MP would do to me over time, as over time the dosage has risen from 50mg to 100mg. I’ve seen what medications can do to people over time. I have a couple of family members who are suffering the [...]

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FDA Orders Stronger Cancer Warnings for Enbrel, Humira, Remicade

August 4, 2009

Courtesy of the Associated Press
The Food and Drug Administration has ordered Enbrel, Humira, Remicade and other drugs known as TNF blockers to carry stronger warnings about the risks of cancer in children who take the drugs for treating juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory diseases.

TNF blockers are drugs that work to neutralize [...]

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IBD Research and Awareness Act- We need you!

July 30, 2009

Members of Congress are Coming Home to You!
During the month of August, many members of Congress return to their home districts and states for their district work period. Your Representative and Senators may be holding public town hall meetings or other public events during the month to hear from you, [...]

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