My Crohn's and Colitis Blog » Crohns Symptoms » My long-term Remicade experience
My long-term Remicade experience
Question:
Hi Steve, I’ve had 3 series of infusions for fistulizing CD in the last year. My last fistula was closely followed by an abscess, which had to be surgically drained. I tend to employ similar remedies to you, gauze, to help cope with draining fistulas. I wish I knew how to make them go away and never come back. Good luck to you and continued good health! 
mgbio CD Class of ‘99 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi! Part time lurker rare poster here to report my continued good Remicade news.I know that Remicade does not work for all patients but it sure works for me.I would be interested in hearing from others who have benefitted from Remicade. First a little personal history… I am male 43 with Crohns since 1984. Illeanal anastomosis in 1993. For the last few years I’ve had peri-anal fistula and abcess problems. From 3-Feb-99 to 26-Oct-99 I had six Remicade infusions. I had no side effects and very very good results from the Remicade. My Crohns symptoms cleared and my quality of life improved dramaticly. Fast forward to last week, I had another Remicade infusion, my first in 15 months. Again I had no side effects and I feel so much better now just one week later. No fever, no night sweats, much reduced yellowish pus drainage from fistula, no severe burning pain during BM’s, BM’s more normal, stools formed not loose, BM frequency reduced. Appetite improved. My abcess drained 2 days after the injection providing great relief. No more need for pain meds, still taking 6-MP and Cipro. My problems now are mild constipation with pencil thin stools and still some draining from my fistula and abcess site. I walk around with gauze up between my butt cheeks. But considering where I was a week ago I feel pretty darned good today. BTW while receiving my Remicade injection last week at Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston I got a call from a Remicade researcher that I had given a blood sample to several months ago. He told me that I had no Remicade anti-bodies and I had a 94% chance of benefitting from additional Remicade injections. Anyway I just wanted to pass along my Remicade experience as one data point.I would be interested in hearing from others who have been treated sucessfully with Remicade over the long term. Is anyone out there using Remicade to control their disease? Also I seem to be afflicted with chronic abcesses any help or hints or pointers in dealing with these would be much apreciated. Finally anyone know of any GI docs in Boston that are into Remicade and its possible use for long term treatment of Crohns? Be Well, Steve
Response:
Hi! Part time lurker rare poster here to report my continued good Remicade news.I know that Remicade does not work for all patients but it sure works for me.I would be interested in hearing from others who have benefitted from Remicade. First a little personal history… I am male 43 with Crohns since 1984. Illeanal anastomosis in 1993. For the last few years I’ve had peri-anal fistula and abcess problems. From 3-Feb-99 to 26-Oct-99 I had six Remicade infusions. I had no side effects and very very good results from the Remicade. My Crohns symptoms cleared and my quality of life improved dramaticly. Fast forward to last week, I had another Remicade infusion, my first in 15 months. Again I had no side effects and I feel so much better now just one week later. No fever, no night sweats, much reduced yellowish pus drainage from fistula, no severe burning pain during BM’s, BM’s more normal, stools formed not loose, BM frequency reduced. Appetite improved. My abcess drained 2 days after the injection providing great relief. No more need for pain meds, still taking 6-MP and Cipro. My problems now are mild constipation with pencil thin stools and still some draining from my fistula and abcess site. I walk around with gauze up between my butt cheeks. But considering where I was a week ago I feel pretty darned good today. BTW while receiving my Remicade injection last week at Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston I got a call from a Remicade researcher that I had given a blood sample to several months ago. He told me that I had no Remicade anti-bodies and I had a 94% chance of benefitting from additional Remicade injections. Anyway I just wanted to pass along my Remicade experience as one data point.I would be interested in hearing from others who have been treated sucessfully with Remicade over the long term. Is anyone out there using Remicade to control their disease? Also I seem to be afflicted with chronic abcesses any help or hints or pointers in dealing with these would be much apreciated. Finally anyone know of any GI docs in Boston that are into Remicade and its possible use for long term treatment of Crohns? Be Well, Steve
Response:
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