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Something else to worry about Options
smith-j
#1 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 2:13:47 PM Quote
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Hi all

Not had a very good few weeks. I have had to come off the Enbrel due to bad reactions. I have also had to undergo investigations on my bladder and bowel. Since the beginning of the year I have experienced loss of muscle control in both the bladder and bowel which is very distressing and has kept me even more housebound. My GP wondered if it was my old prolapses come back to haunt me as I had to have a very large repair on my bladder and bowel a year after having a hysterectomy. He referred me to my old Consultant who I last saw ten years ago and yes we both admitted we did look a little older but we fell back into our previous relationship easily. He disagreed with my GP and said that he did not think there was too much of a prolapse to worry about but would like to look inside my bladder (his speciality) and refer me to see a gastroenterologist for my bowel. I had the bladder procedure which was easy and only took about half an hour and I left straight afterwards. My Consultant said I have a very irritated bladder which may be caused by the RA or meds. I have to have bladder re-training and physio to see if this helps.

As the bladder investigation was so easy I was not so worried about the bowel investigation - how wrong I was. They sent me four satchets of what I can only describe as the devils own concoction to take the day before the procedure to clear me out. All I can say is that I sat on the loo for six hours and now know every square inch of our bathroom. I then was taken in as a day patient and given a room (which started the alarm bells ringing) I was given sedation and wheeled down to the operating theatre where I lay in a whoozy state whilst looking inside my bowel on the monitor. Very surreal. I had to have biopsies taken as I have several ulcers on my bowel which could lead to a diagnosis of ulcerative colities or crohn's disease which is linked to RA. I have to wait for the results on Tuesday. Now I am worried as I really do not need something else to contend with whilst trying to get the RA under control.

The good news is that I went back to see my RA Consultant today and they have decided to try my on Humira this time. Reading the information given to me this morning, this can also be given for the treatment of chrohn's disease so I may be able to "kill two birds with one stone" so to speak. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I do not have a reaction with the Humira and that I can start having back a little of my life.

Jackie
Kathleen_C
#2 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 2:51:25 PM Quote
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Hi Jackie,

Oh my word, what a very trying time you have had!

I`m pleased you were able to see your old consultant, as he would know you and your history. I hope the re-training & physio will help alleviate the bladder problem. What a miserable time you must have had!

The bowel investigation sounds traumatic to say the least. I hope the biopsies show something which can be easily treated when you get your results on Tuesday.

I wish you the very best of luck with humira, which I have been taking for almost three years now - it has been a Godsend for me, so I hope it works for you.

Hoping better days are ahead for you,

Kathleen x

dorat
#3 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 3:51:14 PM Quote
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Oh Jackie, what a dreadful time you've had!
I'm glad the investigations are over for you now, and hope your results on Tuesday are easily treatable.
Wishing you the best of luck with Humira, hope it turns out to be THE drug for you.

Love and hugs,

Doreen xx

PS My sister has recently had the bowel investigation and at her hospital (Leicester) they told her they don't send out the preparation sachets now, they prefer to give an enema just prior to the test. She found this quite acceptable!
Damned76
#4 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 4:03:47 PM Quote
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Hi Jackie - so sorry you have this to contend with. I can only imagine how uncomfortable and difficult life must be with this and the RA. I have heard of Humira helping with inflammation in the bowel and stomach - I only hope it works for you in this way. Am thinking of you.

Julie
jeanb
#5 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 4:23:13 PM Quote
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Hi Jackie

I'm so sorry you now have more results to wait for. You really are having a lousy time at the moment.

Thank goodness you have such a great relatioship with your old consultant - and how brill that he remembered you after ten years?

Easy for me to say, I know, but try not to worry until the results come through. I've spent many sleepless nights worrying about the outcome of scans and all sorts and they have all been fine.

Try to enjoy the weekend. I'm keeping everything crossed for the Humira.

Love
Jeanxxxxx
Calmwater22
#6 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 4:26:17 PM Quote
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Hello Jackie
Just want say thinking of you,hugs sorry see what you went threw hope results are less than expected and humira does trick for both ra and bowel problems.
good luck with the exercises hope helps you alot.
lv melly
cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
barbara-o
#7 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 6:52:19 PM Quote
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Hi Jackie,

Wishing you all the best with your investigations and sorry to hear about what sounds like a traumatic experience. I can sympathize with you as I had a colonoscopy last year, drank also the devils concoction, and had a polyp removed - felt pretty awful to say the least. However, on the plus side it was worth it as I am now free from pain and the problem is solved. Good luck with the Humira as seems to be from what I have read a good drug for treating Crohn's and colitis, as well as RA.

Sending a big cyber hug,

love,

Barbara
XXXXXX
amanda_lewin
#8 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 7:31:53 PM Quote
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O you poor love! What nasty investigations you've had.

I hope the Humira will help you get the reprieve you deserve.

Praying for you,

Love,

Amanda
BarbieGirl
#9 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 7:53:28 PM Quote
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Jackie, just echoing everyone else in hoping the humira works for you after the awful time you have had. Will be thinking of you (((((hugs))))))
BARBARA
Glenys-H
#10 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 8:17:51 PM Quote
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Hello Jackie, I'm sorry that you are having all this bother on top of everything else. I hope that it's good news for you on Tuesday and that things go well for you on the Humira. It's a good way to look at it being able to take care of things with the one drug, fingers crossed for you. Take care.Glenys.
LynW
#11 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 8:19:16 PM Quote
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Gosh Jackie you don't do things by halves! I'm so sorry to read of your problems and can understand your distress. I do hope that the results have a positive outcome and whatever they find can be treated successfully. Excellent news about the Humira; perhaps if nothing else it will at the very least get the RA under control. Take care, fingers crossed for you,

Lyn x
My son, Ian, completed the BUPA Great North Run on 15th September running for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS). You can read his story at http://www.justgiving.com/ianlukewilson

Sheila-R
#12 Posted : Friday, May 28, 2010 10:46:18 PM Quote
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Jackie, sorry to hear about the worry you have, I really sympathise with having the drink the camel spit, it is truly dreadful, and as you say the hours spent in the bathroom makes you feel like you'll never be able to leave it (I had a tube down and one up all in one procedure, which was good to get it over with and only had to have a couple of polyps removed) dammed uncomfortable for the second one as the sedation had worn off so like you I watched it all on screen and was able to ask questions.
If its any comfort I do feel the RA has improved since the procedure, maybe because I'm not worrying about it now and my outcomes were only minor problems. It did take three weeks for my bowel to get back to something resembling normal (whatever that may be!)
I will keep my fingers crossed that you can have the Humira and it will help the RA and the bowel.
With best wishes
Sheila
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