Back to complete remission

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:23 am

Saw my GI yesterday. He had previously said I would need a colonoscopy twice per year. Yesterday he said I was one of a few of his patients able to control colitis with diet and occasional Uceris to stop flares. With that in mind and that my blood tests were good (CRP, CBC, liver enzymes) he only needs to see me about once per year and colonoscopy every 3 years unless there is another problem. He asked me to call the office and let him know when I take the Uceris and how long I take it so he can monitor the effectiveness of OUR treatment plan. He said obviously I am capable of self medicating as needed.
I have been off the Uceris for a week and am still having 1 norman each morning. I stopped it because of constipation, headache, insomnia, when these symptoms get worse and the WD has stopped it's time to quit taking it. As previously discussed there is no need for tapering with Uceris.
This drug is pricey for those with no insurance, but would highly recommend giving it a try if you can afford it (about $1600 USD per month).

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 8:38 am

Great news, Theresa. Your doc seems to be much like mine. I had to convince him I had celiac and then convince him that diet would stop the WD caused by CC. He has also told me to let him know if I need to resume Entocort and keep doing what I'm doing since it is working for me. I got my Entocort from Canada because of the cost, $1,600 a month.

:party:

Sheila W

Post by **tex** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:09 am

GI doc attitudes don't get much better than that.

Tex

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 2:44 pm

Great update! Brandy

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:36 pm

Woo hoo!!, great news....

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 5:48 am

I get the impression my GI is using me for a lab rat, but that's OK, maybe it will help others later on. He seems to stay up on the latest research, etc. He is a DO and maybe that leads him to consider the whole body and not just want to mask symptoms.

Post by **tex** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 11:57 am

Theresa wrote:He is a DO and maybe that leads him to consider the whole body and not just want to mask symptoms.

I agree with you. A DO attitude is probably a big advantage for a doctor dealing with a disease that's so poorly understood as MC. It allows a level of flexibility (and probably curiosity) that's unavailable to most MDs (if MDs adhere to their training).

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 12:51 pm

WONDERFUL Theresa.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 3:32 pm

My GI#2 is also a D.O. I didn't know it at the time when I went to her. (I was referred by someone who worked with all the GI's at the hospital and thought she was the best.) She gets the gluten thing and tells all her MC patients to goGF. (I'd already been GF for 3 months when I saw her.)

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 5:28 am

My GI's exact response is "Many of my patients do better on a gluten free diet, it's certainly worth a try."
which to me is the true response, because they don't really know for sure what will help a certain patient. I believe many have tried the GF and decided it didn't help because they were not eliminating other triggers.

Post by **tex** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:19 am

Theresa wrote:I believe many have tried the GF and decided it didn't help because they were not eliminating other triggers.

IMO, you hit the nail right square on the head. Even if they do much better after removing gluten from their diet, but then relapse (because of other food sensitivities), they are likely to conclude that the GF diet doesn't work, and their temporary improvement was strictly a coincidence, rather than to realize that they need to avoid additional foods. And we all know that in most cases, their doctors are certainly not going to suggest that they may need to also avoid certain other foods.

Tex