Crohns / ulcerative colitis sufferers

Hi all

Other half has had UC for about 2 years. Since July, has been in a big flare which her medication hasn’t been able to suppress.


Ended up being admitted 10 days ago.


IV steroids couldn’t clear up her CRP marker which has been hovering at mid 30s, though did drop to mid teens when she felt her worst.


They started her on Infliximab on Tuesday and since then has felt brilliant. Normal stool etc


However her CRP has been hovering at mid 30s, now at 40.



Doctors are mega confused as she’s up and about pain/blood free.




Wondering if anyone else went through something similar as she’s feeling quite defeated and confused.



Ta :)
I took it over a decade ago but I think it started working quickly for me. Over time (years) I developed antibodies and adverse reaction to it though.
 
I’ve had two surgeries for resections of the small bowel as none of the immune suppressor drugs were available at the time. I’ve been on humira and then entyvio. Only changing to entyvio because your body can start building a resistance to the drugs. Touch wood I’ve been mostly symptom free with no flare ups. Still need to avoid some foods etc or a quick trip to the toilet will be on the cards. Fingers crossed the drugs she is getting will avoid the need for surgery.

I'm surprised she's on infliximab personally, it was never on the table for me even with chronicity, as I was told it's a Chron's drug. Adalimumab did nothing for me, but Vedolizumab was a wonder drug, eventually.

It took months, and it wasn't until I made major dietary changes that the switch flipped. I was having my surgery consults.

Biologics take time, a single dose isn't the cure-all, so perhaps it's a coincidence and she's beginning her rebound...

Vedolizumab is very expensive and my understanding is not available in all trusts, but there's an injection variant now that's very promising. It's also very specific without some of the side effects of the broader biologics. Certainly saved me from surgery and the bag once I bailed diet and supplements, so worth knowing.
 
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I'm surprised she's on infliximab personally, it was never on the table for me even with chronicity, as I was told it's a Chron's drug. Adalimumab did nothing for me, but Vedolizumab was a wonder drug, eventually.

It took months, and it wasn't until I made major dietary changes that the switch flipped. I was having my surgery consults.

Biologics take time, a single dose isn't the cure-all, so perhaps it's a coincidence and she's beginning her rebound...

Vedolizumab is very expensive and my understanding is not available in all trusts, but there's an injection variant now that's very promising. It's also very specific without some of the side effects of the broader biologics. Certainly saved me from surgery and the bag once I bailed diet and supplements, so worth knowing.

Reading some really interesting stuff.

Have been advised from the IBD team that diet will absolutely have no impact on her colitis. I know all cases are different but just seems to contradict everything else I've heard.


I think they've gone straight to Infliximab because it was diagnosed, this time around, as acute severe colitis which has spread throughout.



Bonkers situation though - we were up and about walking around the hospital yesterday. No pain whatsoever, but today a surgeon has been round to discuss what the surgery would look like.



If we didn't have the bloods to back up their claims, it would feel like we're being gaslit for sure.
 
Life changing in a good way? And wrong decision to put it off?

For me, it was a really positive experience. I was told years ago that I needed a section of my small bowel removed, but it wasn't pushed on me and at the time I had very few symptoms, so I rejected the offer.

A few years later, I find myself on a liquid diet for about six months. I couldn't wait to get that bit of small bowel out. It took a few weeks to recover and feel good, but I could eat again straight after. It was brilliant.

Having said that, what I can't quantify is how much damage I did in between the first offer and actually having the surgery...would I have had to have two surgeries instead of one for example? I have no idea.
 
Have been advised from the IBD team that diet will absolutely have no impact on her colitis. I know all cases are different but just seems to contradict everything else I've heard.

A change of diet helped me when I had UC. Plenty of veg (carrots, cellery and other fiberous veg), onions, garlic, ginger in tomato sauce really helped me.

Reduced stress and healthy fats also helped the bleeding from my UC also clear up.
 
Not been on the forums for a while and thus my sub to this didn't immediately crop up on the alerts. 23 years in October since I was diagnosed with my Crohn's, half of my lifetime. Not had (or needed) any form of surgery (so far), and only in the last 14 months did I switch to Adalimumab (Yuflyma) injections. Have had some issues with my throat and had my first endoscopy in May (going down rather than up) followed by an MRI in July to help check the throat and acid reflux issues. Visited the hospital only last week for a catch-up with a consultant (though I'm still not assigned to one since my original consultant retired ~3 years ago) who's booking me in for what might be my 8 or 9 colonoscopy and that's about it for now :D.
 
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Reading some really interesting stuff.

Have been advised from the IBD team that diet will absolutely have no impact on her colitis. I know all cases are different but just seems to contradict everything else I've heard.

Yep, that's what they told me. For years and years trying to get me off steroids (I was on so much for so long it damaged my skin, and gave me osteopenia amongst other things).

They insisted diet would do nothing, just avoid triggers etc.

Had my surgical consult, it absolutely terrified me. Talked about the potential for nerve damage as it's deep in the pelvis, etc.

Anyway, in desperation I just started researching looked into anti inflammatory foods, supplements etc. I ignored some of the more conventional advice and one at a time introduced meals and supplements. About 1-2 months later my CRP and other markers were dropping, and I was lowering steroids doses, after years of being so ill I couldn't work.

Over the years I've tried removing certain supplements, and certain foods (I can be much more relaxed with diet since stabilising) and every time I've flared and had inflammatory markers if I stray too far from my protocol.

Don't claim it'll work for anyone else, or it's not some strange psychosomatic thing, but I remain absolutely certain that diet impacts (at least my) IBD in a big way.

Given the amount of research into gut microbiome, inflammation and autoimmune disease, I still reckon the advice will be very different in a few years.

Either way really wish her all the best.
 
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