A Day In The Life: Remicade Infusion

I haven't posted a blog in a while because, quite frankly, I've been dragging. I'm not sure if my 8 week Remicade infusions are lasting the whole time or if it's something else.

I did go in to receive my latest infusion at the hospital last Monday (December 7th) morning and tried to document it through Facebook and Twitter.

Here is just a simple recap of my notes from the day of my infusion to help folks understand some of what IBD patients go through in order to be "normal" (can we really even define that?).

• Up at 5am, an hour drive to the hospital, arrive at 6:40am and in Remicade infusion room at 7am.

• IV in...waiting on pharmacy to send up Remicade - 7:15am
  

  

• Remicade has started...10 cc's to begin with...then slowly increased over the next 2 - 2 1/2 hours - 7:51am
  

• Now up to 40 cc's of Remicade. A little tired, but otherwise doing well - 8:24am

• Vitals taken...all well. Dosage up to 80 cc's...on my way to 455 mg - 8:44am

• Fingers & toes are cold, but that's common. My temperature was 95.7 this morning...proof that I stay cold. About 1 hour left of medicine, then another half hour to flush the line - 9:23am

• We've reached our cruising altitude: 250 cc's of Remicade until the medicine is finished - 9:30am

• Remicade is finished, have to do a 30 minute IV flush and then off to work - 10:16am

• Remicade treatment finished and back at work - 11:05am

That was last Monday morning and, after a week, I seem to be doing better. I still get tired at certain points in the day, but I feel the medicine has definitely given me more pep in my step.

I have a chronic illness and take medicine that lowers my immune system, so each day can always bring something unexpected.

I continue to take my multivitamin, get my monthly B-12 shot, take an additional daily B-12 pill and drink a minimum of 40oz of water each day.

Since I feel like my Remicade infusions aren't lasting the full 8 weeks, I've decided to talk with my gastroenterologist about what other options I have. I called for an appointment on November 30th and can't get in to see him until January 18th...thus is the life of an IBD patient.

I do hope readers now understand the process of what it's like to go through Remicade infusions. This is something I've been doing every 8 weeks since May 2005.

Until there is a cure, it appears I'll continue this treatment to help keep my Crohn's under control.

I wish good health to all.

Cheers,

Brent