Not much to gripe about these days......

katinchatt · Post by **katinchatt** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:01 pm

Season's Greetings Ya'll,

Thank goodness ~ All is Calm, All is Bright..............

I've been checking in on everyone, but have been busy, and healthy these days so I have to just keep on truckin. Healthy, meaning, nothing extreme is going on with my MC lately. I did miss a dose (1 day's dose) of my Entocort and paid for it, but back on track and doing better, it's amazing how quickly things can change. I did HAVE to lower my dose to 2 a day. The side effects were making it to difficult to WANT to continue, I just couldn't handle the 3. So I'm on the now LONG road to recovery, and know it's going to take a while before I see significant healing. Especially after my set-back, and realizing what missing one dose will do, I'm still in that "danger zone". I don't take any Lomotil or Librax any longer, so I know for sure it's doing it's thing.
I feel so lucky to have gotten this far! And just in time for all the hustle and bustle of the holidays. A big part of my time is spent staying away from sick family and friends. That's really sad, especially this time of year, but I get the flu at this time every year and am determined I can't get it this year. Everyone (more or less) understands, especially while on Entocort I just can't risk it. I've had 2 friends in the past 3 weeks have a knee replacement and a hip replacement ~ I didn't even want to risk going in a hospital right now, so I just had to call and wish them well.

So, I just wanted to wish everyone "nice warm and fuzzy holiday wishes" and hope everyone stays healthy so you can enjoy your time with family and friends, as we all do have "much" to be thankful for. I for one, am EXTREMELY thankful for my MC family!

Post by **tex** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:02 pm

Hey Kat,

It's good to hear from you, and it's great to hear that you don't have anything to gripe about. Remember, though, if you don't have any other reason to post, you can always come on here and heckle us a little, just for the heck of it.

As long as 6 mg per day does the job, there's probably no need to take more, and it will certainly be easier on your adrenals, at a lower dose.

I hope it continues to work, and I hope you can avoid all the viruses going around. I go way out of my way to try to avoid 'em, also, and I'm not even taking Entocort.

Thanks for such an upbeat post.

Tex

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:12 pm

Great Post Kat!!

Really glad you can tolerate the lower dose of Entocort and I'm

that you will continue to heal and avoid all bugs/germs/virus for the whole winter.

Love, Shirley

katinchatt · Post by **katinchatt** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:30 pm

Tex,

I should take the time now to stop and "heckle" you guys. When I was SO sick I stayed on my computer all the time ~ looking, searching, praying that I could find the missing link, my reason for being in that state. When I found it, you guys and the meds, I had to pull myself up and get on with my life. That meant getting off this damn computer

Shocking I know, but true! I will always be here, maybe in the background, but I'll post and heckle away.

katinchatt · Post by **katinchatt** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:40 am

Season's Greetings!

Wow, what a difference these days............My last post above, I mentioned that I had gotten on with my life, it was all gooood. After reducing my dose of Entocort to 2, I seemed fine, or "finer". About a week on 2, my side effects were actually worse (I'll never understand that) . . . anyway, I stopped it all together. Oh, I did take 1 every other day for a week, but have been totally off for 1 week now. I'm waiting, waiting ~ I know, be careful what you wish for, but there is no sign of the MC returning . . . Yea/Amen . . . actually I'm a tad "C" - I do have back-up meds incase a flare up begins. . . but wouldn't this be NICE? All I can assume is that indeed the Nexium caused mine, it was caught very early, and I was on the meds just long enough.

All I want for Christmas is no MC . . .

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:48 am

All I want for Christmas is no MC . . .

I surely hope you get your wish.......................

I wish that for all of us.....................

Love, Shirley

Post by **tex** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:49 am

Hi Kat,

The updates from you just keep getting better and better. That's really good news.

I agree with Shirley - hopefully, Santa is listening, and you'll get your wish, and so will the rest of us.

Tex

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:37 pm

Hi Kat, great to hear good news. I like your slogan.

Where's your avatar?

katinchatt · Post by **katinchatt** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 2:57 pm

Shirley ~ Tex ~ Joan,

I just keep skipping, jumping and singing . . . . the dog is really confused! It's now been about a week since I have taken any Entocort. Nothing, Nada...I keep waiting, thinking I hear the facet turn on, but NOPE. I'm also back to eating what ever I so desire.... even putting on weight again <<<< OK, it's the holidays ;) Just when I start bragging about being all well, I might turn on some karma-switch and back track, so I'm trying to keep my lid from busting to loud. Hubby says I look better than I have in months . . . that's nice I must say.

Joan, I'm not sure about my avatar. . . though a while back I was purging my Photobucket account and maybe got a little carried away.

katinchatt · Post by **katinchatt** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:48 pm

Merry Christmas to All . . .

My Christmas wish to myself ~ is not so sweet a tale. I must admit my MC is again in my daily dealings. Wishful thinking on my part or a foolish desire, I was straightened out early this morning in the AM, with the unforgettable sounds of an angry gut, the facet is ON. I mis-communicated my desire, my screaming success, but it's not so bad, I was prepared. That tiny hope prevails that one day someone will say "I can fix that" is enough. A New Year, a new hope for us all. I wish you all a healthy dose of Love and Hope this holiday season.

Much Love to all my Brothers and Sisters,

Post by **tex** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:31 pm

Aw Kat,

What a bummer, especially the week before Christmas. I was sorta afraid you might have been a bit ambitious with stopping Entocort, and resuming a normal diet so soon, but I sure didn't have the heart to rain on your parade.

It takes a while for the gut to heal, you know. I believe that most people who rely on Entocort for relief, end up taking it for at least around 6 months, and if you're not going to follow the diet, you might have to stick with at least a minimal maintenance dose of Entocort, for the rest of your life, (or until Dr. Fasano's pill becomes available).

When we get our life back, it's always tempting to think that we've just lived through some sort of a bad dream, and everything is back to "normal", now, but the reality is, once triggered, MC is always there, and if we don't control it, it will try to control us. Have you started taking Entocort again?

We love you too, dear sister - now lets try to get you back into remission.
Tex

angy · Post by **angy** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:24 am

Kat sorry it hasnt worked out...hope you get back on track again ...maybe start the meds again...
I stopped taking asacole for 3 days....an experiment you undertand...anyway i felt ok for a couple of days but then my achy gut came back...and im not sure if was the peanut butter or off my meds too long (3 Dys) anyway i started taking my asacole at 2000mg again (as directed by my gi doc in august) and my gut started feeling better...im still feeling better now so i guess the asacole is working for me...ll keep the dose going until march when i see the doc again...he plans to do my antibodies then...only problem is he wants me to eat small doses of gluten before then...i think ill eat some g products at the end of jan 09 at least 6 wks before he tests me again..

anyway Kat my point is start the full dose of Entocort prescribed by your doc to address your symptoms especially for xmas...also maintain your diet throughout...then chat with your gi doc and let him know what your doing...

Im sure you will start to feel better for the holidays on this basis...

merry christmas kat...

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:31 am

You've received some very good advice. I don't see any reason to add to it. I was like Tex.... hoping it would work for you but doubtful.

I'll tell the truth........ I am scared senseless to go off my Asacol. It's like a security blanket I guess. I fully believe that without it I'd be back to square one. I know I should get going on the diet(paleo is best, I believe)......... but I don't. Maybe someday. I hope so.

Love, Shirley

angy · Post by **angy** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:38 am

i agree shirley i dont think i could stomach!!lol

that paleo diet...i would go off my rocker lol!!!

katinchatt · Post by **katinchatt** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:01 pm

Everyone was so sweet to bite their tongue, I of course knew what I was in for. (A girl can dream) Still, I have to say the week I had drug and symptom free was good enough for now. I still have a prescription for Colazal that I am going to have filled. I hate that Entocort's side effects (for me) were worse than the MC itself. In the bed sick. . . .not at all worth the benefits. At the moment my symptoms are very manageable with Lomotil, nothing full-blown. Of course I'm sticking with the safest foods I can, but this week will be EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. Yesterday I started taking just one Entocort in the AM. I'm a tad better today than yesterday, so maybe the little I had going for me is going to stay in-line until I get the Colazal up to a saturation point.

I have no need for my GI, he did me a favor by giving me the Colazal script a while back ~ I'll save seeing him to when I need him, and he can actually do something for me. . . you guys have taught me more than he will ever know. Sad but true.

OK ~ break's over, back to list's, wrapping and all that Jazz!