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

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!

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

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

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))))))

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