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From: me on 11 Aug 2008 15:07
carolea7(a)comcast.net (Carole Allen) wrote:

>Remember that the lack of symptoms does not mean the disease is gone.
>I had about 8 years of non-medicated remission (or at least a lack of
>symptoms) before I flared badly in early 1995.

wow

after 8 year you had a flare up huh?

what on earth would cause something to flare up after 8
years? serious questions?

I mean...I know the docs don't know the answer
either.... but in YOUR mind what d you think brought on
the flare?
From: Carole Allen on 20 Aug 2008 03:04


>carolea7(a)comcast.net (Carole Allen) wrote:
>
>>Remember that the lack of symptoms does not mean the disease is gone.
>>I had about 8 years of non-medicated remission (or at least a lack of
>>symptoms) before I flared badly in early 1995.
>
>wow
>
On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:07:05 -0500, me(a)privacy.net wrote:>after 8 year
you had a flare up huh?
>what on earth would cause something to flare up after 8
>years? serious questions?
>
>I mean...I know the docs don't know the answer
>either.... but in YOUR mind what d you think brought on
>the flare?

I have no idea. During my 8 year remission I was working full-time in
a stressful job, raising a teenager, had returned to college evenings
after a 21 year lapse, was probably sleeping 5 hrs/night, and was
financially stressed.

My flare hit just after graduation, so that stress was gone. I was
sleeping better (especially with no more term papers and 300+ pgs/week
to read). I had sold my house and was looking to downsize with my son
out on his own, had $$ in the bank from the house sale, and was
planning a month-long trip to Europe (my first). Life was in fact the
best it had been in years. Then my symptoms started coming back. I
knew immediately this was a problem, got in to see a new (better)
doctor than had first treated me. Had a scope, went on asacol,
symptoms went away, and asacol (along with a multi, vit E and iron)
has kept me on the up and up since then. I took that trip to Europe
1995) and took 4 more after that (1997, 1998, 2001, 2004), as well as
several domestic trips. Have never had trouble when traveling. In
fact, a few weeks ago I went ziplining in BC.

I have blood work done 2x/yr and an annual scope and there is no sign
of inflammation. So I am going to keep doing what I am doing.
From: me on 20 Aug 2008 11:36
carolea7(a)comcast.net (Carole Allen)
wrote:

>My flare hit just after graduation, so that stress was gone. I was
>sleeping better (especially with no more term papers and 300+ pgs/week
>to read). I had sold my house and was looking to downsize with my son
>out on his own, had $$ in the bank from the house sale, and was
>planning a month-long trip to Europe (my first). Life was in fact the
>best it had been in years. Then my symptoms started coming back. I
>knew immediately this was a problem, got in to see a new (better)
>doctor than had first treated me. Had a scope, went on asacol,
>symptoms went away, and asacol (along with a multi, vit E and iron)
>has kept me on the up and up since then. I took that trip to Europe
>1995) and took 4 more after that (1997, 1998, 2001, 2004), as well as
>several domestic trips. Have never had trouble when traveling. In
>fact, a few weeks ago I went ziplining in BC.

Interesting!

Well I commend you for NOT letting this
disease keep you from living life.

However, it sounds like you recognized
the symptoms of the flare up fast and
reacted fast by getting treatment soon.
Yes?

Do you think getting treatment
IMMEDIATLY was key in handling and
minimizing the flare?
From: Carole Allen on 21 Aug 2008 01:40
On Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:36:28 -0500, me(a)privacy.net wrote:
>Interesting!
>
>Well I commend you for NOT letting this
>disease keep you from living life.
>
>However, it sounds like you recognized
>the symptoms of the flare up fast and
>reacted fast by getting treatment soon.
>Yes?
>
>Do you think getting treatment
>IMMEDIATLY was key in handling and
>minimizing the flare?

Yes. My initial diagnosis came only after I had ignored symptoms and
was in terrible condition then, had to do pred and sulfasalazine, etc.
to get things under control. I will NEVER do pred again, no matter
what. Fortunately, in 1995 asacol had come on the market and it
worked for me without problems. But getting in quickly before things
got out of control in 95 I think was critical (at least for me).

Well, I was divorced, raising my son, and I had to (still have to)
work, so it was matter of sucking up and just getting through it. It
helps that my boss was understanding and supportive during the worst
part of my symptoms (and my return to school). I had been with her as
her paralegal for about 5 years at the time of the initial diagnosis.
16 years ago she became a judge and I moved with her to the court
system as her judicial aide, so next month we will have worked
together 27 years. If I can manage to keep healthy another 4 years
and 5 months, I can retire!

My Crohn's isn't my primary concern - I have polycystic kidneys
(discovered by accident ~2 yrs ago) so have consulted a nutritionsist
who specializes in kidney patients and adjusted my diet to some degree
to reduce stress on them. They're still functioning normally, so
that's a good sign. But the possibility of needing dialysis, working
part-time, or taking disability retirement would be a real hardship
for me, so I am motivated to keep those babies working normally!
From: paul hinman on 1 Sep 2008 14:37
many of the medications that the doctors prescribe are for prophylactic
purposes which means to prevent problems. I think that it is better to
prevent a problem than to fix the damage after the fact.

Dean wrote:
> I have a mild case of Colitis. I would say every five years I get a
> terrible bout, worse each time. It grows in intensity to a point
> where I have to go to the MD and get some steroid enemas for
> treatment. After a month or so of those Im fine for yes another five
> years.
>
> Currently in remission and now face the idea of 12 pills per day.
> Asacol. I just hate to take this or any medication and currently am
> not. I am constantly told by my MD that by refusing to take the
> medication I am insuring that a bout will return. Weighing the risk
> and reward of not having to take all this medication I always choose
> to not take.
>
> Anyone else out there in a similar situation.
>
> Dean
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