After my second round of prednisone treatment (which I am still on after 4 months and counting...), my lung nodules are completely gone. I got a CT scan on Friday 4/9 and Dr B. reports that my lungs are "normal." Hallelujah.
I am currently taking 10mg of prednisone a day and have been for 4½ weeks now. Once we get my bloodwork back (hopefully TODAY!) and it shows that the MPO titer is still close to zero, he'll drop me to 5 mg daily for four weeks. Then I see him again in the office and hopefully we'll go down to 5 mg every other day, which he mentioned was the tentative plan. This tapering process will be much slower than last time. We do not want the nodules to return.
Side note: MPO titer in blood is an inflammatory marker. For some reason it has trended simultaneously with the level of inflammation in my lungs: High MPO = lots of inflammation. It has served a good purpose in monitoring my disease without having to do CT scans and chest x-rays at every Dr. visit.
After I finally get done with this steroid taper, Dr B won't put me on them again. We will hunt for other options, such as Imuran or Cimzia. He and the GI doc will work together on this.
My stomach is still doing fine. My diet is not so strict right now, yet I still don't have any GI symptoms of Crohn's.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
lungs and such
There is not much to report about the current status of the Crohn's disease. My stomach is still doing excellent- no issues there whatsoever. I still believe that the Lord healed me.
However, two new lung nodules were found on December 18 (boohiss). I was asymptomatic, but the doctor put me on steroids again in attempts to kill the inflammation before it got ramped up. I'm feeling good, despite being on 40 mg of prednisone. The two weeks of 60 mg was a little more difficult to deal with, but that passed quickly. I am still having the annoying urge to eat all day, but due to my diet and current exercise regimen, I am combatting weight gain as well as other typical side effects. During the first round of steroids in August, I was eating what seemed like six full meals a day. Now I eat a small snack to satisfy my need for immediate food. Usually it's a "healthy" snack. =) Although, chocolate covered almonds were a weakness a few times, but those are gone and out of the house now, so byebye temptation. I like munching on wheat crackers, cottage cheese, raw veggies, or having a cup of coffee with milk and honey.
I am still hopeful that I will not be put on Cimzia or Imuran once the steroids are done with. If my lungs would start cooperating with me, that would be nice...
However, two new lung nodules were found on December 18 (boohiss). I was asymptomatic, but the doctor put me on steroids again in attempts to kill the inflammation before it got ramped up. I'm feeling good, despite being on 40 mg of prednisone. The two weeks of 60 mg was a little more difficult to deal with, but that passed quickly. I am still having the annoying urge to eat all day, but due to my diet and current exercise regimen, I am combatting weight gain as well as other typical side effects. During the first round of steroids in August, I was eating what seemed like six full meals a day. Now I eat a small snack to satisfy my need for immediate food. Usually it's a "healthy" snack. =) Although, chocolate covered almonds were a weakness a few times, but those are gone and out of the house now, so byebye temptation. I like munching on wheat crackers, cottage cheese, raw veggies, or having a cup of coffee with milk and honey.
I am still hopeful that I will not be put on Cimzia or Imuran once the steroids are done with. If my lungs would start cooperating with me, that would be nice...
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