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4 years of MEDS and no remission!

Hey everyone, Ive read a lot in these forums over the years whenever I seemed like my disease would just end up being the death of me.
Ive had crohns disease for 4 years now. I started to develop it in the military while I was in AIT training, I constantly failed my PT tests but was also going to the doctor on base for bloody stools, cramps, and weight loss. I was given iron supplements for it, but was never taken to a GI specialist. I was discharged from the military when I was 20 with a honorable discharge with a failure to pass a PT test.
I lost my benefits, GI bill, all other benefits I would of gotten if it would of been a medical discharge.

Well now I am 24, I am very fortunate I have never had surgery, but I have been on 4 years of straight meds, had 3 different GI doctors because no meds seem to get me into remission.
Ive tried about every med out there, until I decided to try my own combination of meds at really high dosages.
Right now I am on 40 mg Prednisone, 150 mg Imuran, and Humira.
Ive been on this for 11 months now, my 3rd GI doctor took me off prednisone for 6 weeks but flare ups started happening again.
I hate being on prednisone, I feel like I cant think very far ahead, or that I will never achieve remission. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum,
Always nice to welcome a fellow vet. I am sorry about your getting out of the military that way. I hope you have applied for VA benefits. It sounds like you would get a pretty decent rating and health care. So if you have not pursued it please I encourage you too.
My daughter has crohns and for us also it has been a tough battle. For us the miracle has been a drug called low dose naltrexone. A lot of doctors will not prescribe this drug because it is an off label use but if you google it you can find tons of information about it. It also has a lot fewer side effects then the drugs the doctors are willing to prescribe. Again welcome to the forum and sending you wishes for healing and health!!!
 
Im sorry ur having those problems. I understand ive been on a roller coaster of meds myself. Its been Almost three yrs now since bowel resection, and no remission. Hang in there.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum,
Always nice to welcome a fellow vet. I am sorry about your getting out of the military that way. I hope you have applied for VA benefits. It sounds like you would get a pretty decent rating and health care. So if you have not pursued it please I encourage you too.
My daughter has crohns and for us also it has been a tough battle. For us the miracle has been a drug called low dose naltrexone. A lot of doctors will not prescribe this drug because it is an off label use but if you google it you can find tons of information about it. It also has a lot fewer side effects then the drugs the doctors are willing to prescribe. Again welcome to the forum and sending you wishes for healing and health!!!
Hi I see the list of meds, I have been on and off some of the same ones has she ever been on cimzia
 

nogutsnoglory

Moderator
I'm sorry you continue to suffer and no drugs appear to work. You may want to consider LDN as mentioned above or a clinical trial testing a novel agent.
 
You may want to experiment with alternative methods because they can be just as effective as perscribed medication. I achieved a really healthy and solid remission off of alternative methods and I am not on high doses of medication anymore. In fact I am on a plan to effectively get off of all my medication. It can be scary not having medication to fall back on but I have to say it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I know have a tool to heal myself if I am stressed out or if my stomach happens to not agree with something.

I can lead you in the right direction if you would like I found this alternative method on listentoyourgut.com

I hope you get answers soon and we are always here for you!
 
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