Crohn's Disease & Colitis

IF you have taken remicade in the past with NO problems and then stopped for a period of time and then your doc is concerned about your starting it again but you're thinking "well it worked well and I had no issues" or "i'm desperate"  believe me, you're not THAT DESPERATE!!!!

SERUM SICKNESS (the reaction to the antibodies) is  akin to death in my book.  it's like the most painful paralysis is the best way I can describe it.  I put on 45 lbs of fluid within 12 hours (i am not exaggerating) and lost bladder control, could not walk, could not stand to be touched.  I had been released from teh hosp from an exacerbation on Sat and was readmitted on monday because no one knew what was wrong, they thought it was just a rhuemy issue... but then my heart started going wonky and next thing I knew I was in ICU.

it was by far one of the scariest incidences I have been thru and I have been thru multiple abd surgeries, cronn's flares obstructions, you name it.  this was AWFUL.  i couldn't move but it hurt like heck... every joint, including my jaw.  I could not breath, I thought I was dying, seriously.  I didn't know what to do until I go to the Mayo hosptial.

so please if you have had Remicade and it's worked before and you have had ANY break at all from it - even if your doc doesn't mention it - BRING up the anti-bodies... Humira is made with 100% human, Remicade is made with the mouse protein that our bodies will build up an anti-body too and the reaction COULD kill you - please please be careful... my doc DID say "oh you could have built up anti-bodies" but I figured "eh, how bad could it be" and did what I wanted... BAD IDEA!!!!!