Hi Steven,

Good luck on Tuesday with Remicade. I've been on it for 1 year now.
Casey described it very well. It's about a 2-3 hour infusion process.
You may be going to an infusion center like Casey is describing or a
doctor's office. Either way, they'll put it into you through an IV --
it's actually a mixture of Remicade and a saline solution. They weigh
you and give you a remicade dosage proportional to your weight. Then it
gets infused into you, they probably will monitor to you to make sure
you are tolerating it, and you can probably watch a movie or TV during
the procedure. When it's over, you just walk out and drive home.

Other tips: I actually take Benedryl and Tylanol prior to the infustion
to help reduce the chance of an allergic reaction (and the Tylanol helps
with the needle pain going in too :-). I'm not sure if your doctor
thinks you should do this as well. Some people get a shot of Benedryl
beforehand for the same reason, though I just take the pill 1/2 hour
beforehand. Also, go to the bathroom right before it starts, if
possible. It's hard (but not impossible) to go when you've got the IV
in you. And you may want to bring a book, newspaper, or portable
computer game for entertainment.

I assume you are already on 6mp or methotrexate. They usually want you
on that to reduce the chance of a reaction to the Remicade. If
everything goes well, they'll probably give you another one in 2 weeks,
then 4, then 6-8 weeks thereafter. Sometimes the insurance might be
resistant to cover it because of the expense, so be sure that it's
approved. If the doctor writes the remicade prescription for IBD, the
insurance should cover it OK, minus a deductable perhaps.

You'll probably see some improvement within the first week, if it works.
Let us know how it goes...good luck!

-----Original Message-----
From: oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Casey Smith
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 9:18 PM
To: oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [oc_ccfa] remicade help?

Hi Steven

I've had many Remicade infusions, I ended up being
allergic to it, drastically by the 6th infusion, I
believe, but it truly worked for me. You will be
given an IV, then they start a 3 hour drip into the IV
and speed up the drip as time progresses. They will
monitor you closely, for allergic reaction, blood
pressure, fever, etc. I watched tv during those long
3 hours! If you are on 6mp you shouldn't have an
allergic reaction, I wasn't taking 6mp!

It should truly help your inflammation, but I think it
may take a little time to get the full effect, though
you should get some immediate relief within the first
few days. Some people get immediate relief within
hours, I think it took a week or two for me to notice
it, but after that I could eat whatever I wanted until
the dose wore off about 3-6 weeks later. I'd barely
make it till my next infusion!

I had the infusions done at a Kaiser Infusion Center
in Anaheim Hills and there were alot of chemo patients
getting infusions with me so I felt very blessed to be
getting Remicade and not chemotherapy!

Just email me with any questions,

Blessings,
Casey Smith

--- Steven Schaefer <strikemecold@...> wrote:

> first off I would like to say that the last meeting
> was nice and it
> was a pleasure to meet people who are kind of going
> through the same
> things i am.
>
> my symptoms have not been any better since my flare
> up in the
> summer. prednisone, and all these other meds just
> seem not to work
> but for some odd reason i just can't sleep through
> the night. so
> tuesday i am going in for this remicade thing. can
> someone just
> explain to me what it actually does and if so does
> it help right
> away. i would just like once to lay my head down and
> not wake up
> until the morning time to go to the bathroom,
> problems would be
> solved in my book if that could happen.
>
> i only have my rectum left and 20% of it is
> inflammed, it's hard cuz
> i don't see what is so hard to treat about that. any
> help would be
> great and how often do i do this remicade thing.
> can't attend the
> next meeting but i plan to attend more in the
> future. any help would
> be awesome. thanks.
>
> steven schaefer
>
>
>
>


Love, and Blesings,
Casey Smith


"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar
on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk
and not be faint" Isaiah 40:31



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