I was diagnosed with Crohn's in May 2005 after experiencing extreme abdominal pain and diarreha. I began taking Asacol and Immuran. The Immuran made me very sick so my doctor switched me to 6MP. That also made me very sick. I decided to just stick with the Asacol. I have been taking that since May 2005 with no problems at all. I had a baby in September of 2007 and took my meds the entire time. No problems. In January 2008, I developed a fistula (at the time I had no clue what it was). I had several tests done and am currently in the situation where I may need to change my meds. I have been on Flagyl since January and am receiving horrible side effects. My doctor says that the flagyl can heal the fistula and the inflamation I am having, but it is not guaranteed. He thinks I should step up my medicine to Humira or Remicade. I am thinking Humira will be more convenient, but I am hoping that the Flagyl will heal everything. I am scared to change meds. I want to have another baby and am not sure if you can get preganant while taking the Humira. Can you socially drink alcohol? THey are so many questions I have. I am confused and don't know what to do. I know that I need to get myself into remission ASAP. Anyone have advice??? Has anyone developed a fistula???

Help!!! Thanks for listening.

Hey Lauren,

Sorry to hear you are having a hard time right now. I have heard of a fistula, its never happened to me though. As far as I know there is no direct correlation between drinking alcohol and taking humira. Though that's certainly something you can ask your doctor about. I know its sometimes difficult talking to your doctor about personal things, believe me, I have had that problem, but once you start talking to your doctor, you will begin to feel more comfortable with it. I've been taking Humira for a while now and I still sometimes socially drink. I certainly don't go overboard with it, but I haven't had any real effects, other than feeling drunk...haha. But everyone is different so again, I would suggest you talk to your doctor. Hope this helps.

Talia

I am female 30 yrs old with Crohn's since I was 12. Never had surgury. Been on in the past prendisone, 6MP and many other antibiotics. I have had a fistula since oct 2005. I had a seton put in nov. 2006. Meds never made it heal. It does not really bother me to much since the seton... was painful for the first 4 months... then drainage stopped. Now I am having a flare up with a lot of abdominal pain... colonoscopy & lower bowel test showed inflamation... so i am goign tot start humira sometime within the next week or so. I am hoping it will help the flare as well as the fistula. Since flagyl, cipro, levaquin all did not work.

go on remicide, i know it slightly more inconveniant than humira, but these drugs cn become inefective, remicide side effects arnt as nasty as humira (if u have the side effects!!) and plus if remicide becomes ineffective u CAN go on humira as its made with different proteins but u CANNOT go from humira to remicide.. hope this helps, :-)

Hello... I had a seton band put on in Sept of 07 and then it finally fell out 4 months later. Thank Goodness!! It was very uncomfortable, but I think it did the job. I have been on a pen shot of Humira since Dec. of 07 and it has done wonders for me. It has also cleared up my skin disorder I had on my hand. Good luck with everything.

How did you do with the seton? At first I was fine but because of the drainage it started some pretty ugly bacterial infections that caused my skin to become so painful it hurt to walk. I just finished a month of cipro...Any thoughts, ideas, experiences with this?

Hi Lauren, I hope you feel better soon. I am also a Crohns veteran, had it since 1992 but not to a massive scale like some unfortunate people. I know you probably hear alot of diet advise, but here is what I have experienced... Water is a major issue with this disease. I find that when I dont drink as much water, or drink alcohol (which dehydrates you even more) then I have more symptoms. Also dairy seems to play a big part in my symptoms, I have also cut out most dairy in my diet. Another tip is to use Cottonelle wipes after going to the bathroom - after having my first fistula I didn everything I could to keep the area clean. Once the fissure becomes infected, the bacteria will create a fistula. I never want to go though that again! As for the drugs, I am on the 6MP (just stopped my 6 years on Remicade). I have the Humira as a backup, but not ready to use it yet. Trying to stabalize my remission. One thing I am looking into is the benefit of GLUTAMINE supplements in this disease. Available at most GNC type stores, it supports muscle function (and imagine it going straight to your digestive muscles first). There have been cases of lab rat tests where it has been beneficial, but as it is not toxic, it can only help - not hurt. Good luck out there. Remember, you really are what you eat. Garbage in, garbage out.....

Ugh, I've had fistulas since my crohn's was diagnosed way back in '96. I'm currently on imuran, which helps a bit, but hasn't totally kicked them. Of course, I'm not on as high a dose as my doctor thinks I am. He wants me on 100 mg, but I can barely tolerate 75mg. Since he was totally inflexible on lowering the dosage, I just had to do it myself (I try to bump it to 100 now and again, but always feel so poorly that I drop back to 75). Also, if I go below 75 mg, the fistulas immediately flare and I feel like a new one is trying to "sprout." As a result, I try my hardest never to miss a dose, even I feel like crud. I really hope that if I get Humira, I could quit taking Imuran, but I have a feeling my doctor will say no. Maybe the Humira will at least make the remaining one disappear.