Hi Jeff,

Long story short, my pouch is 17 years old. I began having right side pain, three strictures, and an inflammed pouch about 3 years ago. On and off antibiotics, finally in Sept. the crap hit the fan and I ended up in the hospital for 19 days. I had a fistula and phlagmon (abcess). I also had the Promethius blood work done and it came back "inconclusive". I've never had bleeding typical with Crohn's. My GI and colorectal doc recommended Remicade. My choice was to give it a try, or lose my pouch...I chose to try the biologics. YES, I was VERY apprehensive about putting them in my body, but I had to give it a chance or I would always wonder what if?????

So, I've had 5 infusions and I feel good. I asked my GI doc about lymphoms...cancer... and he said think of a stadium holding 20,000 people, the 10+ years of data would suggest that 2 people would get cancer. I asked about Humira mainly because of the advertisements, and they said that Remicade is the "gold standard" of biologics because of its efficacy and the long-term data that they have (they don't have it with Humira) Also, my colorectal doc said there are a few new drugs coming out in the next year or so. Who knows????

As far as working with kids, I teach 8th grade and my doc told me that he has many teachers on biologics and their risk of infection higher, but not so much that they can't work. They said keeping our hands clean and not touch our faces, we should be able to avoid illness as well as our colleagues not on biologics.

I know it's a big decision, but if you've exhausted your options and perhaps losing your pouch is next, them I think I'd give the biologics a go.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Lisa