Piercings? - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

autumn_rose · 02-01-2010, 04:27 AM

I've asked this kind of indirectly before, but now I'm going to be more direct with the question. :-)

I am on 150mg of Imuran per day. I want to get my lip pierced. I know that I am at a higher risk of infection, but even after being on Imuran, I rarely get sick, even when I am exposed to people with the flu, etc. But in general, is it too risky for me to get such a piercing? I would obviously be extra vigilant about keeping it clean and such. Any info is helpful!

kittykat92 · 02-01-2010, 04:34 AM

i have my ears pierced and im on imuran and i have to be so particular to stop infection (it doesnt always work either) but wouldnt it be easier to keep a lip piercing clean? I think it would be fine but i havent gone through that so technically i wouldnt really know! sorry

Fog Ducker · 02-01-2010, 04:54 AM

I used to have my nipple pierced and in the process of being diagnosed, not sure what meds I was on but, in a real bad flair, so my immune system was down. Well it got tugged on and got infected so bad that I got mastitis and had to have it drained. It was so bad that I couldnt even sleep on it, was huge. But thats also cause Im too stubborn to go to the doc.
God that sucked!

Angee · 02-01-2010, 04:57 AM

I used to have my navel pierced and when my GI saw it he flipped out and told me to remove it right away, because I take 6mp I dont heal as fast and I get infections easier.

MsSickandTired · 02-01-2010, 09:54 AM

I'm not sure it's a good idea to get pierced, I got my piercings years before I was diagnosed and started immuno-suppressing drugs so they were well healed... same with tattoos, I wouldn't think it would be wise to get one while on these kind of medications.

Lishyloo · 02-01-2010, 10:04 AM

Good question... I'm on 6mp and desperate to get a couple more tattoos, but thinking that combined with the steroids it's not a great time to be doing it...

Lishyloo · 02-01-2010, 10:04 AM

Good question... I'm on 6mp and desperate to get a couple more tattoos, but thinking that combined with the steroids it's not a great time to be doing it...

katiesue1506 · 02-01-2010, 11:54 AM

Yeah I'd advise against that particular location. Lips are dirty. It also depends on how well you tolerate piercings anyhow... I got my belly button pierced way prediagnosis and my skins so sensitive that it was infected for like 6 months before it finally calmed down. No problems with it since but i don't think i'd go and get anything pierced again since I'm on Imuran, Humira and Pred.

Agent X20 · 02-01-2010, 12:57 PM

There must be loads of people on imuran with pierced ears. I've had two studs in my left ear for years and had no problems since I went on imuran... so I presume ears must be low risk... it also helps if you're not constantly poking them with your fingers... I just forget they're there.
Lips are a bit more of a risk, I suspect. I'd leave it and look forward to it as a special present for one day when you're not on immune suppressants.
My overall view is, if you spend most of the day feeling cr*p, you don't want anything else that's going to make you feel even worse... go and get a really great haircut and some new clothes instead

02-01-2010, 04:27 AM	#1
autumn_rose Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 76	Piercings? I've asked this kind of indirectly before, but now I'm going to be more direct with the question. :-) I am on 150mg of Imuran per day. I want to get my lip pierced. I know that I am at a higher risk of infection, but even after being on Imuran, I rarely get sick, even when I am exposed to people with the flu, etc. But in general, is it too risky for me to get such a piercing? I would obviously be extra vigilant about keeping it clean and such. Any info is helpful!

02-01-2010, 04:34 AM	#2
kittykat92 New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tallebudgera, Gold Coast, QLD Posts: 29	i have my ears pierced and im on imuran and i have to be so particular to stop infection (it doesnt always work either) but wouldnt it be easier to keep a lip piercing clean? I think it would be fine but i havent gone through that so technically i wouldnt really know! sorry __________________ life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass - its about learning to dance in the rain Diagnosed with Crohn's 8 years ago Prednizone: 50mg Azathioprine: 75mg Mesalazine: 2000mg

02-01-2010, 04:54 AM	#3
Fog Ducker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,385	I used to have my nipple pierced and in the process of being diagnosed, not sure what meds I was on but, in a real bad flair, so my immune system was down. Well it got tugged on and got infected so bad that I got mastitis and had to have it drained. It was so bad that I couldnt even sleep on it, was huge. But thats also cause Im too stubborn to go to the doc. God that sucked! __________________ - Brian Dx UC: 2006. Dx CD: 2008 Current Meds: Remecade 800mg evry 6 weeks, Methatrexate 7.5mg once a week oraly, Asacol 800mg 3 times a day.

02-01-2010, 09:54 AM	#5
MsSickandTired Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 590	I'm not sure it's a good idea to get pierced, I got my piercings years before I was diagnosed and started immuno-suppressing drugs so they were well healed... same with tattoos, I wouldn't think it would be wise to get one while on these kind of medications. __________________ -Sharon _______________________________ Diagnosis: Crohn's Disease (May 2007) Meds: Humira (40mg/every 2 weeks), Methotrexate (15mg/once a week), Calcium (1,200 units), Vitamin D (1,000 units), Folic Acid (1mg)... NO MORE PRED, yippeeeee!

02-01-2010, 12:57 PM	#9
Agent X20 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,292	There must be loads of people on imuran with pierced ears. I've had two studs in my left ear for years and had no problems since I went on imuran... so I presume ears must be low risk... it also helps if you're not constantly poking them with your fingers... I just forget they're there. Lips are a bit more of a risk, I suspect. I'd leave it and look forward to it as a special present for one day when you're not on immune suppressants. My overall view is, if you spend most of the day feeling cr*p, you don't want anything else that's going to make you feel even worse... go and get a really great haircut and some new clothes instead __________________ Steve J

02-01-2010, 04:57 AM	#4
Angee Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: GA Posts: 52	I used to have my navel pierced and when my GI saw it he flipped out and told me to remove it right away, because I take 6mp I dont heal as fast and I get infections easier.

02-01-2010, 10:04 AM	#6
Lishyloo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hertfordshire, UK Posts: 617	Good question... I'm on 6mp and desperate to get a couple more tattoos, but thinking that combined with the steroids it's not a great time to be doing it...

02-01-2010, 11:54 AM	#8
katiesue1506 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,398	Yeah I'd advise against that particular location. Lips are dirty. It also depends on how well you tolerate piercings anyhow... I got my belly button pierced way prediagnosis and my skins so sensitive that it was infected for like 6 months before it finally calmed down. No problems with it since but i don't think i'd go and get anything pierced again since I'm on Imuran, Humira and Pred.