Seeing that @hamsterman also has Crohn's in another thread, got me thinking about Crohn's treatments and how they interact with our CFS/ME.
My consultant wants me to take Imuran (azathioprine) but considering the fluey/sinusy/downright infectious type symptoms I experience regularly (seemingly independent of Crohn's disease activity) I am very wary of this immunosuppressant. But then part of me wonders whether my symptoms could also be a manifestation of an over-active immune system/autoimmune in nature, in which case this drug could (theoretically) be beneficial all round.
Past treatments:
Mesalazine - caused salicylism/aspirin poisoning symptoms which nobody recognised, I had to keep pushing!
Metronidazole - didn't help at all, just made me extremely nauseous
Corticosteroids (prednisolone) - Felt human again for the first time in years!! Slept like a baby, brain fog cleared, memories returned, creativity returned, just felt extremely well. Unsure whether this was due to it's anti-inflammatory properties or it's immunosupressant properties?
Elemental diet drinks (hypoallergenic E028) - Felt about 90-95% well on these, would stay on them forever if I could, but they caused issues with hypoglycemia eventually and my teeth and gums suffered. May ask to try another course for some relief.
So fellow Crohnie's/autoimmune sufferers, please tell me about your meds and how they have influenced your ME/CFS symptoms!
My consultant wants me to take Imuran (azathioprine) but considering the fluey/sinusy/downright infectious type symptoms I experience regularly (seemingly independent of Crohn's disease activity) I am very wary of this immunosuppressant. But then part of me wonders whether my symptoms could also be a manifestation of an over-active immune system/autoimmune in nature, in which case this drug could (theoretically) be beneficial all round.
Past treatments:
Mesalazine - caused salicylism/aspirin poisoning symptoms which nobody recognised, I had to keep pushing!
Metronidazole - didn't help at all, just made me extremely nauseous
Corticosteroids (prednisolone) - Felt human again for the first time in years!! Slept like a baby, brain fog cleared, memories returned, creativity returned, just felt extremely well. Unsure whether this was due to it's anti-inflammatory properties or it's immunosupressant properties?
Elemental diet drinks (hypoallergenic E028) - Felt about 90-95% well on these, would stay on them forever if I could, but they caused issues with hypoglycemia eventually and my teeth and gums suffered. May ask to try another course for some relief.
So fellow Crohnie's/autoimmune sufferers, please tell me about your meds and how they have influenced your ME/CFS symptoms!