New Medication This Month!

For the last seven years, I have been taking numerous amounts of medications to make sure my Crohn’s stays in remission. It did take a while for me to reach remission, so this regiment is the right one. For a while, I was on high doses of steroids. High doses of steroids caused such bad side effects that are still bothering me today. For one, I have stretch marks on the sides of my body. They are not fun to look at.

Side effects of Crohn's medications

Secondly, I have cataracts. These cataracts make it hard for me to drive, especially at night. I finally went to see an eye surgeon and will have cataract surgery this coming Christmas time. Even though kidney stone attacks run in my family, the long use of steroids allowed this chance to increase for me. They are so painful. It took me seven years to taper off of the steroids, and I never want to turn back.

Seven years ago, I started with an injection medication, that was supposed to really help my Crohn’s and the way it affected my body. Before starting this medication, my j-pouch was very ulcerated, due to chronic pouchitis. I remember having to go into my doctor’s office to meet with his head nurse. She had to teach me how to inject this medication into my muscles.

Painful injection medication

I was to take this medication for Crohn’s every week for the rest of my life. Did it hurt? You better believe it did. This needle went right into the muscle and it really did sting. Now you can say, “Hey Paul, this should be the least of your worries. You have been through the mill, this shouldn’t bother you.” You are right. But after a while, I really hated looking forward to injecting.

A few months ago, I was watching T.V. A commercial came on about the injectable medication that I have been taking. The manufacturer of the medication made a big change. They now took out the Citrate. This Citrate is the reason why there was so much pain at the injection site. I was so excited, but I wanted to talk to my GI doctor first. I had to make sure that the medication had the same active ingredients that the older medication had. I had to keep my Crohn’s in check!

I was eager to try the Citrate-free medication

When I went to go visit my GI doctor in early June, he recommended it to me and ensured me that it was the same active medication. I could not wait to try it.

When it came in the mail, it was in the same type of box but the only difference was the color of the box. I followed my normal directions. I first cleaned my injection site on my stomach with an alcohol pad. I then pushed the pen that allowed the medication into my body. I did not even feel it. I actually had to look at the little window on the pen to make sure that I actually gave myself the medication. I did!

Advancements in Crohn's research

It was amazing that I did not even feel it. It is also amazing how there are so many advancements in Crohn’s research. When I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s, these injectable medications were not around. I am so happy they are, so they can help people with Crohn’ live a semi-normal life.