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  • About Me

    Image of MERF

    MERF

    Female, 57
    SC, USA
    Member since May 4, 2008

    • About Me

      Mid-fifties, wife of 36 years to a wonderful man and mother of two men children. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in February 2007 but, in retrospect, I believe I have suffered with the disease for most of my life. My objective is to attack this malady positively and lead as normal and drug-free life as possible.

      Mid-fifties, wife of 36 years to a wonderful man and mother of two men children. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in February 2007 but, in retrospect, I believe I have suffered with the disease for most of my life. My objective is to attack this malady positively and lead as normal and drug-free life as possible.

    • Interests

      Fishing, camping, outdoor cooking, classical choral music, Megatouch (!) and messing around on my PC! I am retired (thanks only to Remicade and the adverse reactions I had to that drug) and am working to establish more productive activities of every day.

      Fishing, camping, outdoor cooking, classical choral music, Megatouch (!) and messing around on my PC!

  • Journal

    • Journal Entry for January 9, 2009

      Mood January 9, 2009 12:38am

      With the recent/upcoming changes in power in our House of Representatives, I suppose we should expect things to fall through the cracks.  …

    • New House Bill!

      Mood November 13, 2008 12:28pm

      Are you aware of recently introduced H.R.7078 which has been cited as the "Prevention, Awareness, and Research of Autoimmune Diseases Act …

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    • This entry is private

    • This entry is private

    Read Journal

  • Hugbook

    Give MERF a hug



    • Hug

      From PattiZ May 12

      Hello my friend! I hope all is well with you! I have been thinking of you a lot! Big hugs, Patti

    • Hug

      From jesse5575 February 1

      Hi Ellen! how are ya today? Hopefully we'll be moving soon to Columbia and then maybe you and I can meet..love to you today, jesse

    • Hug

      From jesse5575 January 29

      hi sweetie! how are ya today? I hope you are fine or something like it. love you today and everyday, stay adorable! jesse

    • Celebration

      From PattiZ December 31, 2008

      Hope all is well with you! Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Big hugs, Patti

    • Santa

      From marcie54 December 15, 2008

      Thanks and hope you are doing well!

    Read Hugbook

  • Support Groups

    • Close Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis

      I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in February 2007 when hospitalized with an active GI bleed. The diagnosis came after years of going to doctors of all specialties in an effort to determine the reason(s) for abnormal laboratory tests as well as why I just constantly felt like crap. In retrospect, and knowing what I do now about IBD, I am convinced that I have had Crohn's disease for most of my life.

      Treatments

      Dietary Modification Working / Worked
      Although there are differing schools of thought on the benefits of additional fiber in the diet of a Crohn's patient, I have been adding a fiber supplement to my diet for several weeks. The effect has been positive and although I only take 1/3 the recommended daily dosage, it is another of those things about which I become acutely aware if I do not take it.
      Entocort Somewhat Helpful
      Have been on Entocort since mid-February of this year; will begin the step-down process towards the end of this month in an effort to get off steroids completely. As of July 14, 2008, I'm off Entocort!!
      Prednisone Working / Worked
      Prednisone saved my life after I developed acute hepatitis as a reaction to Remicade. I have been off Prednisone since April 21, 2008.
      Probiotics Working / Worked
      I'm sold on the benefits of Probiotics! They help not only with gut issues but they have warded off yeast/fungal infections when I had to take antibiotics.
      Remicade Working / Worked
      There needs to be another status category here that says "worked but about killed me" or something like that. I felt great for the first four infusions but was unaware of the antibodies that were forming. I ultimately had to stop the Remicade because of acute hepatitis and, ultimately autoimmune hepatitis as confirmed by liver biopsy.
      Positive Thinking Working / Worked
      Like the book title says dont underestimate its power!
    • Close Diabetes Type 2

      Treatments

      Actos Working / Worked
      Actos worked fine; it was just a little expensive.
      Metformin Working / Worked
      Currently taking 500 mg. twice daily but am looking forward to reducing that amount when I am completly free of steroids.
    • Open Arthritis

      Treatments

      Naproxen Working / Worked
      Not so much ... caused ulcers in my mouth.
      Vioxx Working / Worked
      Worked great for years but then it was taken off the market so I had to stop taking it ... Sigh. Unfortunately due to an allergy to sulfa drugs I could not transition over to Celebrex which seemed to the the most popular option to Vioxx.
      Salsalate Working / Worked
      Currently taking 1000 mg. twice daily. It has been the arthritis medication least irritating to my GI tract which is important to consider in light of my Crohns disease. Is it effective? Honestly I did not realize how effective it is until I had to stop taking it for two weeks prior to a liver biopsy. I knew then how well it had been working because of all the pain I was in without it!!
    • Open Pemphigus

      Hi all. I've just been tentatively diagnosed with Bullous Pemphigoid. I say 'tentatively' since we are awaiting the results of another biopsy done this past Wednesday that will distinguish between Pemphigoid or Porphyria. I've also submitted urine and stool specimens for testing of the porphyria. What a rip! This is so out of the blue and really is sucky since my Crohn's disease is in total remission and I was feeling better than I have in years!

  • Groups

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