Back in the hospital again

Well guys, it seems my short remission after my first Remicade infusion about 2 weeks back ended.

Monday I travelled to Syria for a business trip, and I didn't eat much all day (just a few crackers) all day as I was very busy. At night we want to a restaurant, and I ordered the safest dish there, grilled chicken breast with steamed rice and grilled vegetables. It was also very cold ther and I was only wearing a suit.

The next day I woke up with cramping, that moved gradually to severe pain , I couldn't walk and I started having a fever.I knew I had to the ER, but I was outside my country and away from GI. So I went to a local hospital, ordered a pain killer and took the taxi back to Beirut (a 3 hours drive). Needless to say, the trip was hell, lying in the back of the taxi, curled up in pain, praying to reach my hospital safely.

After what seemed a toiusand years, I was laying in the ER, feeling ouzy with the Demerol they gave, and hearing my GI ordering IV antibiotics and blood and urine cultures. Also it seems my Blood Pressure was dangerously low (like 8/4), so I was givennhuge amounts of IV liquids andput under intensive monitoring.

Today, thankfully, I'm better and allowed to eat clear liquids as much as I can tolerate. The GI, surgeon, and infectious disease specialist are all waiting for the blood culture results (which can take up to 7 days), before deciding what to next. But it seems surgey will be the only option, as my condition doesn't allow me to continue Remicade.

Will keep you updated. Bye for now

Good Luck buddy! I'm praying for you.

Hi Mazen, so sorry you didnt even get to see if Remicade is going to help. I too am heading for surgery, I should of a year ago but was trying to fight it off. Hope you get some relief and keep us updated ok.

Mazen I hate to hear that. Hopefully you'll be in remission very soon!!

Sorry Mazen. You have been trying everything to avoid surgery too. I think you will feel so much better if you do have surgery. Good luck.

I'm so sorry to hear this Mazen. You must have been so nervous just trying to get back "home" before it got worse. I'm glad you didn't get stuck in Syria! Praying that the cultures come back negative and that you get your strength back so the surgery will go well for you. Also praying that the surgery is a success and that you have quick healing!! Keep your chin up - I bet you feel bunches better after the surgery buddy!

I feel bad to hear this also I hope that all goes well for you with possible surgery and for a quick recovery so you can feel well again soon.

Sorry Mazen. Shame remission was so short lived. Hopefully you get some answers and relief soon!

So very sorry to hear your news Mazen! I can't imagine being stuck in another country and getting so sick!

I hope you are on the mend really soon.

sorry to hear. I know you were doing everything you could to take care of yourself. It sucks when things happen that are beyond our control. Will this be your first surgery Mazen?

Mazen I wish you a speedy recovery

Thank you guys for all the replies.

Today I am feeling much better and started to eat more to get ready for the surgery planned next Tuesday....

Ah..so the date is set. GOOD LUCK!

Good luck, Mazen. I was terrified when I heard that my DH was going to have resection but really if you think about it, when the disease gets so bad that you have narrowing and drugs are not helping....there really isn't any other option. It will all be worth if once you start feeling better...and wish you that from the bottom of my heart...to all of you!!!

Mazen said:

Thank you guys for all the replies.

Today I am feeling much better and started to eat more to get ready for the surgery planned next Tuesday....

Click to expand...

Good luck to you Mazen. Surgery and so quick. You must be in pretty rough shape to it so soon. :sorry:

I know you will do just great. I am sending prayers and hugs your way. 2010 maybe YOUR year!!

Keep us updated.

Wow Mazen, sounds like you've had a really rough while! Glad you managed to make it to the hospital, that must have been an awful trip.

Great to hear you're feeling a little better, and wishing you quick recovery from your surgery.

Hi everyone. Thanks for the wishes. My GI is afraid of further infections, so he wants me to have the surgery asap while I'm on antibiotics. The surgeon says he will take out about 30 cm of my terminal ileum+ileocecal valve+ appendix+ a small part of the cecum! I was afraid, but he said this is not much and everything should be fine. So wish me luck

Pen, thanks for all the support you gave.

They say 2010 is the year of the Pisces, so I hope it's true and I finally get a long term remission

Why are you having surgery? I thought you were doing well on the VSL#3

I was scared too man. But it was all good in the end. A couple of people told me that I would be happy once I had surgery and they were right. I went from just trying to hold my own against the disease; to wanting to be healthier than I was 10 years ago! total mental turn around.

Hey Mazen... good thing you are on antiobiotics before surgery, it makes it easier for healing after too.

The VSL was working to an extent but my bad days were outweighing my good, and the xmas holidays was my first year without pain but then after, omg, bloat, gas, and pain and I can't seem to control it. I am still on Flagyl but he has added the Entocort and Pentasa because I refused prednisone again. Besides when you have tests and stuff it masks the problem and then you taper and guess what it comes back.... So my colonoscopy is next Thursday early morning thank God, and tomorrow, blood work, and b12 shot and book a bone density test and CT scan is being booked as we speak. My Gi says there is a long waiting line for surgery if elective so we are looking at the severity of it. I know it wont be Laproscopic IF I do have surgery and I want little out as possible, already have 2ft out. So we are weighting the ups and downs. Just sick of being in pain and getting used to "minor ache in LRQ.

You know I wish you all the best during your surgery, I know it will go well and you will recoup. Do you know if you will have an epidural to freeze from the waist down or will you be on Morphine drip?

Big hugs and please let us know when you are done!!!!!! xo

Sorry to hear all this Marzen, but I'll be thinking of you on tuesday and pray that al goes well and you have a speedy recovery. Keep us updated!

how did it go?

Hey Mazen - thinking about you- hoping the surgery goes well!!!

Hello Mazan, good luck with what ever they decide to do, hope you feel better soon, Peggy

too early to send flowers yet? :Flower:

hope you heal up quickly.