just an update on my progress

[Linda in BC]

Hello Everyone ;

I wanted to give a report on how I have responded to the Entocort as I have been on it for three weeks now. I have been extremely swamped with work and not posting much because of that, but also I was hesitant to say much in case I jinxed things.
Had such a good response to Entocort that after one week I had to cut back to two pills a day ( I couldn't go!) then two days later I cut back again and started taking one Entocort in the morning and one questran at night. I have been doing fine on this combination for two weeks now.

I had asked my doctor to give me the Questran a few weeks ago because I stopped taking statins this summer and my cholesterol is back up again. I really don't want to go back on the statins, so I figured what the heck.. if Questran is good for cholesterol and tightens up the stool, why not kill two birds with one stone?!! But because I had just started taking the Entocort, I didn't start taking it right away, just when I cut back on the Entocort.

It seems to be working well for me, as long as I am very careful about no wheat, dairy, or eggs. Got glutened two days ago and things loosened up a bit yesterday ( but not that bad really!) and am back to normal today. I have been able to increase my cooked veggies (yeah!!!) fruit and nut intake, and I don't seem to have to be so careful about avoiding all corn related products (haven't tried actual corn yet, or lettuce or raw veggies , and don't think I will for awhile. ) I am quite content eating what I can now, except am still adjusting to no eggs.

Can any one see any reason why I shouldn't continue on this regime? Do you think I am reducing the inflamation enough with taking just one pill a day? I truly could not have continued to take the three, or even two Entocort a day, as it just shut me right down, and it was truly worse than D. for me ( better the devil you know ! )

I also want to say a big thank you to everyone here for their advice and encouragement.. it has gotten me to this amazing point. I give thanks each day that I found this site and all of you.



Linda

[Polly]

Hi Linda!

What a super update! I think it makes sense to continue your current regime. Obviously, you do not need the full dose. The very BEST way to monitor doasge is exactly as you are - paying close attention to your body. Congrats on your success!!

Love,

Polly

[Kari]

Linda - what wonderful news!!! I've been wondering about your progress, and your report sounds just perfect. The fact that you have such good results on just 1 Entocort a day is certainly cause for celebration. Best of luck to you with your continuing efforts to manage your MC.

Warm regards,
Kari

[Joefnh]

Linda that's great news and wonderful progress. I am glad that you are able to improvements and lower the dose. You could not ask for a better result

--Joe

[wonderwoman]

Linda, I also had to cut the Entocort to two a day after just 5 days. I took two for a short time and have been on just one for the past 6 weeks.

This week I am going to start eliminating one Entocort a week so I will be on 6 Entocort this week instead of 7 and will see what that does. I have some empty gel capsules and thought I would open an Entocort and divide the content between two gel capsules so that on two days I would only be getting 1/2 an Entocort. Will do this for two or three weeks. Then I will eliminate another Entocort so I am on 5 a week (4 days of 1/2 an Entocort a day and 3 with the full dose) I take my Entocort first thing in the morning on an empty stomach along with my Levothyroxine.

We got together yesterday morning for breakfast with 3 other couples at one of their homes. The host made an omelet and I brought fruit. I ate quite a bit of the fruit because I forgot to bring a piece of my GF bread. I have been waiting for my stools to be looser but so far they are still Normans.

I am going into a busy time of the year here will all my clubs, activities, and classes. Just because I don't do a lot of posting, doesn't mean that I'm not following everyones progress. I read the posts several times a day but don't have a lot of time to comment. There sure are a lot of new people here lately.

Happy Halloween to everyone.

[tex]

Linda,

Excellent! I agree with Polly, that our body is usually the best judge of what works best for us. Some individuals are apparently more sensitive to budesonide than the "average" response, and so a smaller dose is required, in order to show a therapeutic effect.

Also, (while I certainly don't mean to recommend statins), remember that they don't reduce heart attacks and strokes by reducing cholesterol levels, (that has never been shown by research to be true) - they apparently do it by reducing the C-Reactive Protein level, (but that has not yet been researched, to date, so it hasn't been verified, either).

I hope your progress continues, and thanks for the update,
Tex

[hoosier1]

Good job Linda!!!!

[grannyh]

Great that you were able to get to one pill so soon! Took me years to get down to one:)
grannyh

[starfire]

Linda,
Really happy that you have responded so wonderfully.
Love, Shirley

[Gloria]

Linda,

Terrific news! If your plan is working, I see no reason to change it. Keep us posted on your progress.

Gloria

[Linda in BC]

Thanks everyone for your encouraging responses. You are right, Joe, I couldn't have asked for a better response!

This week I am going to start eliminating one Entocort a week so I will be on 6 Entocort this week instead of 7 and will see what that does. I have some empty gel capsules and thought I would open an Entocort and divide the content between two gel capsules so that on two days I would only be getting 1/2 an Entocort. Will do this for two or three weeks.

Charlotte, that sounds like an excellent plan and I hope you keep us posted on how it is working. I am going to stay on my one a day for a couple of months at least and then may try this gentle way of cutting down.

Also, (while I certainly don't mean to recommend statins), remember that they don't reduce heart attacks and strokes by reducing cholesterol levels, (that has never been shown by research to be true) - they apparently do it by reducing the C-Reactive Protein level

Yes, I realize this, Tex, but I have to admit my reasons for wanting to reduce my cholesterol are not to prevent heart attack or stroke... they are vanity, really! I get these pockets of collected cholesterol in the corners of my eyes and they look terrible. With two years on the Lipitor they were almost gone, and now they are coming back rapidly. Hence the Questran.


Happy Halloween everyone!
Linda

[tex]

Yes, I realize this, Tex, but I have to admit my reasons for wanting to reduce my cholesterol are not to prevent heart attack or stroke... they are vanity, really! I get these pockets of collected cholesterol in the corners of my eyes and they look terrible. With two years on the Lipitor they were almost gone, and now they are coming back rapidly. Hence the Questran.

I certainly can't argue with that. I hope it works as well.



Tex

[Rosie]

Linda, I'm so glad to hear that Entocort is working so well for you! I hope you continue to improve!

Rosie

[Gabes-Apg]

Woo Hoo


wonderful news linda, and more so that your body was ok while you were swamped at work

all the hard work is paying off - that is fantastic!

[JoAnn]

Linda, I'm so happy for all your progress! You have always amazed me at the workload you've been able to handle and also deal with mc symptoms. Your cheerful, positive attitude has always lifted me. It sounds like you're going to be living in the land of remission in no time. You go girl! Love JoAnn