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Medication dilemma after surgery

Fri, October 25, 2013 11:32 AM

I was diagnosed in 2011 with Crohns Disease. I just had a bowel resection due to complications from Crohns Disease. My surgeon and my GI doctor disagree on putting me on medication. My surgeon says I need to be on medication but my GI doctor disagrees. While I would love to not have to take medication, I don't want to have to do surgery again or go through being so sick like I was prior to surgery.

The medication is Imuran and while researching I found that it scares me. There are a lot of risks associated with it and any of the others my doctor considered (Humira and Remicade).

Right now I feel great since surgery but I don't know what to do. Meds or no meds?

If i decide to go with the meds is the risks worth it?

I am having a medication dilemma and not sure what i should do. Any insight would be great.

barton669
Joined Oct 25, 2013

Wed, November 06, 2013 2:18 AM

Reply posted for barton669.

So first off, glad your procedure went well and that you are feeling well! I highly suggest viewing a presentation done by Miguel Regueiro, a renowned IBD specialist, on post-op Crohn's Disease. You can find by typing in "miguel regueiro' into youtube. Its a six video series. Answered a lot of my questions prior to my first resection in terms of who needs medicine post-op, who doesn't, what risks each severity level has for recurrence,etc etc. Very informative. For full disclosure, he is my personal GI here at UPMC. However, I feel that this presentation really outlines what any pre or post op CD patient needs to know. Like I said, its something that will answer questions. Let me know what you think. Hope this helps.

altman282
Joined Feb 21, 2012

Thu, October 31, 2013 4:57 PM

Reply posted for barton669.

I've had crohns for almost 10 years and had my first bowel resection in May 2010 and I remember going through the same thing. My gastro wanted me on Humira ( I was on Humira prior to the surgery with no success) so I decided not to go on any meds. Until 2012 when I just kept getting sicker and sicker. I was put on Cimzia until my most recent bout of cdiff. I was in the hospital for 24 long days with a crohns flare up, cdiff, and pancreatitis. A few short months later I had just had enough of feeling sick and tired. My crohns was so say "in remission" so I was able to quit the cimzia. Those big drugs are really something to think about before just up and starting them. I am currently on Imuran, Entocort, Zoloft to treat my crohns. I honestly still feel pretty crappy but I keep a positive attitude and remind myself that it could always be way more and remember God is in control :)

lmiller1988
Joined Sep 27, 2013

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