Weighing Options... Remicade or Fecal Transplant Next.

Thoreau, I think fecal transplant is easy and it's something you can try anytime. Do you have a good donor? I would definitely want to try fecal transplant but I don't have a great donor and it requires some preparation so far as donor testing but if you can pull it off, it could be preferable to stating a biologic. You also have to keep in mind that Remicade can be more effective with 6mp/Imuran. Would you start both at the same time? Maybe you should start Imuran for now and see if that works for you? I also think it sounds like you're under quite a bit of stress and I notice since starting an antidepressant, my colon has "slowed down". Is this something your GI may allow you to try? There are studies that show Wellbutrin can cause a decrease in symptoms. I personally prefer that over an immunosupressant, unfortunately I am on both. I was on 6mp before Pristiq and I am not sure it does anything for me but I am scared ot make any drastic changes because I've struggled so much to get into remission.

I say plan it out with your sister, and do the fecal transplant.
This is a treatment that has the potential to help the problem at
the source.

Every other treatment option is a distant 2nd imop

I would be trying an at home version of the FT. My insurance will cover Remicade and actually make my bills cheaper, but as you have mentioned... the side effects aren't to be lightly considered.

A part of me just wants to not rush things, because I have been so close to maintaining a remission without any medications, except occasionally pentasa. I mean for much of spring I was averaging 3 BM's per day or less, no blood and little pain. So... I just feel so close! But there are other times when my quality of life just plunders for a few days and I just question everything.

I'm unsure what to do, so my plan is as follows:
-Get back into exercising, even if it's hard and I feel exhausted. Lift weights 2-3 times per week and get into running 2-3 miles 2-3 days per week.
-Begin a regular and consistent meditation routine. 20 minutes per day.
-Do a short yoga routine in the mornings that I created for a college yoga class I was in, aimed at relaxation. Perhaps put a mix cd together of music that is inspirational and soothing.
-Put together a small list of positive visualizations I can do.
-Avoid thinking much about how I hurt or am stressed, keep a more aware mind.
-See an acupuncturist.
-Check in with my chiropractor and make sure everything is lined up well.
-See the massage therapist at my chiropractor's office. Start getting regular massages to ease up tensions.
-Make very sure I'm getting a nutritious and high calorie diet.
-Manage my stresses by letting work develop more slowly, not pressuring myself in my relationship, and organizing all my "to-do's" and then fitting them in as I can, around my core health activities.
-Work on organization at my home, as time allows, until I feel completely clutter free. Disorganization stresses me out.
-Continue my core supplements of turmeric root, l-glutamine, psyllium husk, multi-vitamin, CoEnzymeQ10, Probiotics.
-As time allows around the basic health activities, get back into pursuing one of my main hobbies.
-Slowly pursue medical options with my doctor, as I take note of how I am doing once all of the above are in place.

Stress is terrible on the body, and perhaps I haven't been handling my stresses very well. It's hard to tell with this disease though, as the disease itself wears the body down and makes it more susceptible to stress. I guarantee you that I will feel much better if I do all of the above without feeling overwhelmed. At that point maybe I will more clearly be able to see the direction I need to head, be it FT or Remicade.

Do the fecal transpant first!! So worth a try!!

Twice a day maximum doesn't seem possible unless some sort of miracle happens. I was down as low as 2.5 per day when things were going pretty decent... but never 2 maximum.

Seems FT is worth a try if you have a source... what could be the harm?

I have tried all the alternatives and anything that worked only worked for a little while.
Turned out for me the alteration of my immune system via Remicade was just what I needed.

Your exercise plan does not seem too aggressive, I say go for it if you feel strong enough and can be away from a bathroom long enough to run!
Of course I never tried hardcore deadlifts...

mbx5,

Sorry about your current flare.

would you consider that a large dose?

It depends on the dosage. I'm taking 2000 mg per day, in powdered form - but that's because I can't swallow pills. And I have to tell you the powder tastes like sand, which I now add to my protein shake as well.

That is expensive. But prior to finding the powdered form, I had ordered 500mg boswellia pills online for 60 caps and the cost was around $10. per bottle. Here's where I got it from: http://www.nutritionland.com/store/productView.aspx?ec=1&idProduct=10009&prodId=256&utm_source=shopping&utm_medium=cpc&b=Shopping_NTL_256_Shopping_NTL_10009_00_*GeoUSCA*

While you are waiting to do FT, you could try some other things as well:

1) Adding L-Glutamine 15 grams daily

2) Transdermal LDN

3) Adding slippery elm powder in large quantities - 1 tablespoon in a little water x 3 times daily

4) Are you on any probiotics like VSL#3 ?

What do you think?

 

Thoreau said...
Twice a day maximum doesn't seem possible unless some sort of miracle happens. I was down as low as 2.5 per day when things were going pretty decent... but never 2 maximum.

O right. For some people, once a day is normal. And for the others, 2-3x a day is normal.

I really hope that the FT works for you.

And as for considering Remicade, I was reluctant to try the biologics for more than a year so I'm sure it's a big deal for you too.

My doctor recommended Remicade after I've failed to stay on 6mp or Imuran, but never did until I really needed it. Remicade did not end up great for me but Humira seems to be fine. Experiencing no side effects so far.

Remicade has higher chance of working better for people with UC so good luck if you ever decide to go on it.

And here is the review of Remicade by the people who had been on it before and are currently on it.

http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=103772&name=REMICADE