3rd June 2007
Hi, I have just joined this site after reading some of the other posts I hope that some of you might be able to offer me some advice.
I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative Colitis) in November last year, I was in a bad way and ended up spending time in Hospital, while they pumped me full of steroids… Since leaving hospital in December and returning home things have improved dramatically. I was prescribed Azathioprine, Omeprazole, and I continued my course of Predisoline (steroids). The dose of steroids was decreased every two weeks, and after 3 months I had finished the course. At this time the Azathioprine had been in my system long enough to take effect, which it did. Until now.
I have been able to lead a totally normal life for the last 4 months, eating, drinking, working, with no ill effects. Last week I caught a cold, had a fever, running nose etc, then a couple of days later I began to have diarrhoea. I just assumed it was something I’d eaten, but unfortunately as time went on it got more frequent and started showing signs of the colitis, cramps, then mucus, and today traces of blood.
I am obviously aware that people with my condition can suffer relapses but I am worried, because I don’t know what the next stage is, will the specialist up my dosage of the Azathioprine? Is it the case that my body has now become immune to this drug and they will have to try an alternative? Is it likely that an alternative will give me similar results?
Everything was going so well, life was back to normal, I have recently taken a new job, now I feel all this could be in jeopardy.
I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative Colitis) in November last year, I was in a bad way and ended up spending time in Hospital, while they pumped me full of steroids… Since leaving hospital in December and returning home things have improved dramatically. I was prescribed Azathioprine, Omeprazole, and I continued my course of Predisoline (steroids). The dose of steroids was decreased every two weeks, and after 3 months I had finished the course. At this time the Azathioprine had been in my system long enough to take effect, which it did. Until now.
I have been able to lead a totally normal life for the last 4 months, eating, drinking, working, with no ill effects. Last week I caught a cold, had a fever, running nose etc, then a couple of days later I began to have diarrhoea. I just assumed it was something I’d eaten, but unfortunately as time went on it got more frequent and started showing signs of the colitis, cramps, then mucus, and today traces of blood.
I am obviously aware that people with my condition can suffer relapses but I am worried, because I don’t know what the next stage is, will the specialist up my dosage of the Azathioprine? Is it the case that my body has now become immune to this drug and they will have to try an alternative? Is it likely that an alternative will give me similar results?
Everything was going so well, life was back to normal, I have recently taken a new job, now I feel all this could be in jeopardy.