Gee, I Hope This Doesn't Interfere....

....with MY REMICADE ON THURSDAY!!!! I have a wicked cold that settled in within an hour last night. I was sitting on the floor cutting patterns pieces for some sewing I was doing and I got really dizzy for about 5 minutes. I thought I was going to puke but then I felt fine and half an hour later I got the throat and 10 minutes after that I got the nose. You know the nose. The one that won't blow but won't stop dripping either? Ick. I think I'll be alright. I just hope I don't get a fever.

I'm NeoCitraned, Vaselined, and Vick'sed up! Bedtime!

I better get better soon or this is what I'll be getting on December 25th! But I could really use it now! 

I've Never Been So Insulted....

....by the fact that my medication can dictate when and when not I'm allowed to take it. And this medication's name is REMICADE. Sure I've been on lot's of different medications but none that decide when it enters my body. A week ago Sunday I was put onto anti-biotics to fight a bladder infection and Remicade clearly states that you can't get an infusion while on anti-biotics. So here I am a week after I was supposed to get my next infusion, in pain.

Not that I'm complaining....


Also, this is very funny and made me laugh....

Bye-Bye Unholiest of Medications....

Goooooooooooood-bye Imuran! I won't miss the memory loss that you bring, the weekly/monthly blood tests you dictate, the tiredness that plagues me to no end, the irreversible liver damage, and the heart palpitations that were annoying me (literally) to death! We had a good 12 month run but it's not me, it's you. Now go and bug somebody else already....


Now ready for the real story? I went to my Gastro. doc. on Wednesday afternoon and she said that based on my last colonoscopy (September 29th) that I could stop Imuran. I was ecstatic at this! It's only been three days off of this medication and I already feel like a thousand bucks! I now take no more daily pills other than pain management drugs and anti-biotics as needed for infections.
She said that a year almost to the day before she couldn't even get the scope up far enough to finish the procedure and this time it passed through easily. She said that there is 1cm. of scar tissue around the 28cm. length section of my Ileum but it shouldn't cause me any issues if I stay on Remicade.
Which brings me to that. Remicade. She said we will continue with it. That's it. Easy in and out in 10 minute appointment. No fuss, no muss. Easy.

My final thoughts are this. I am glad I am staying on Remicade over Imuran. Imuran did nothing for me except cause me more pain and side effects. I am glad that hopefully my little Crohnsie Bit is going to remain dormant for at least a little while if not forever (hey a girl can dream can't she?). I am glad to be alive.

This is not me. It's dreadfully cold out here today considering it's winter in Canada.

This is just how I feel on the inside.



Happy Crohn's and Colitis Week!

To all my fellow Crohnies out there and all who give us your undying support! December 1st-7th is Crohn's and Colitis week. Wear some purple to show your support! ;)

IBD PSA....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmXvUHMJjL4

A Letter To My Intestines....

Dear Intestines,

    I would like to know why you are upset all of the time. Have I done something to offend you? Or are you just a more difficult organ to get along with. Kidneys, Brain and Heart get along with me. Heck, even Liver got along alright until you decided to get angry and make me ingest Imuran. I bet he doesn't like you now.

    I am now speaking directly at you oh so distressed Ileum or as I have been lovingly calling you "My Little Crohnsie Bit". Seriously dude? What's your problem? I try to feed you right with wholesome food and BANG: REJECTED. So I try to see if you would like a treat- BANG: REJECTED AGAIN! It's getting to a point where I wish you would just leave me alone. What have I ever done to you? OK, OK, so I may have fed you a couple of Salads here and there. But you haven't been forced into leafy greens in over a year! Give it up already! And what's this about not absorbing my B12? Are you trying to make me fatigued, depressed and have no memory to speak of? That can end at any moment you know because your little friends Imuran and Remicade are doing enough of these themselves thank you very much.

    Which brings me to my next complaint. Remicade. Do you think I like having to take three hours out of my day every couple of months to go and sit in a filthy clinic to get a biologic drug pumped into me and to be poked and prodded at all the while? No, I do not. It costs a lot and is a great inconvenience to myself.

    While I love you dearly for all that you do for me dear Crohnsie Bit I am going to have to ask you to cease and desist by December 7th. At which point I will be speaking with my Gastroenterologist about removing you from the premises. This is a final notice.

Love Always,

My Tired, Annoyed, Aching, Sore Body

Slacker....

OK OK. So I know I'm a slacker. Sue me. I'm pretty busy these days. I'll fill y'all in later. Right now I'm going to bed. Night y'all!

P.S. It snowed tonight!
P.S.P.S. It has not been a good pain week. Once again, fill y'all in later.... *SIGH*

A Low Spoon Day....

Pretty painful and nauseous over the past couple of days. And after you read this you'll understand what I mean and what the title of this post means....

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/

Entocort Out, Asthma Back In....

Had to start puffers again tonight. Figures. Prednisone and Entocort were seeming to do the trick but a year and a half later here I am. I am hoping it was only a "fluke" for tonight but we will see......

Medicated Monday! Woot!

So I was inspired by another blog this weekend and am only getting around to fulfill it now. I am going to share most of my medications with you....(I'll go top to bottom, left to right)

Dicetel: For my IBS. It's a muscle relaxer for your intestines. I only use when needed. I've been on it since September 2011. The only side effects it causes it a bit of acid reflux when you take it and then lay down too fast.
Entocort: An immunosuppressor. It gives you a shot of prednisone right to your Ileum(where my Crohn's is located). I now take one a day but have been slowly tapering off. I have been on it since February. Only side effects are sometimes(when a bit inflamed) you can feel the capsule open in your gut and it's a bit weird.
Reactine: For allergies. An anti-histamine. I take 1 pill a day year round while some people only need it in the spring/summer or fall. I've been on it since I can remember. The only side effects are that sometimes when mixed with my other meds I can feel sleepy.
Hydro-Cortisone Cream: For allergic skin rashes. I only use it after I have an allergic reaction on a certain part of my skin. I have needed it off and on all of my life. No side effects but works very well on itch.
Nasonex: For sinus related allergies/infections. I use it off and on depending on worse allergy periods for me and for sinus infections. I've been on and off of it since I was 12. No side effects.
Regular Strength Tylenol: For pain/fevers. I take at least 6 pills a day(2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, 2 at bedtime). Sometimes I switch it up and take Extra Strength Tylenol. I've always taken this. No side effects.
Tylenol 3 with Codeine: For severe pain. I take during a flare or sometimes at bed time if it's been a bad pain day to help me sleep. Been on this since August 2010. The side effects vary depending on what I take it with. Sleepiness and dizziness are the worst.
Imuran: An immunosupressor. Stops my body from attacking itself. I started at 3 pills a day but am now on 2 a day. I have been on this since December 2010 but am ending this December. The side effects for me are heart palpitations, flushed face, high blood pressure, nausea, and memory loss.
Prednisone: An Immunosuppressor. Stops my body from attacking itself. I started at 8 pills a day and slowly tapered off. I was on this from September 2010 to February 2011. There were major side effects from this drug! Major mood swings, my face went numb, my bones ached constantly, constantly hungry which causes weight gain and tons more that I can't remember right now because it also causes memory loss.
Ventolin Puffer(blue): For Asthma. Helps me breathe through an Asthma attack. I take two puffs during an Asthma attack. I've been on it since May 2007. The only side effect is about 5 minutes after I take it I get very shaky.
Flovent Puffer(orange): For Asthma. Helps prevent Asthma attacks. I take two puffs before bed. I've been on it since May 2007. I haven't needed to use this puffer since I've been put onto steroids. No side effects really.

Remicade Infusion: The highest immunosuppressor available. Keeps my Crohn's in Remission. I get an infusion every 8 weeks. I've been on it since July 2011. The only side effects are a lot of infections afterwards, drowsiness, very achy legs, and pain in the arm you get it infused in.

Those are my regular drugs. I also take Morphine, Tramacet, Toradol, ect. for extreme pain but that's only usually if I go into emerge.

I also take lot's of vitamins but that is a post for another day....