My Continuing Journey

Hi, Alison here. Just Alison that me! I have CD. Pretty nasty mean aggressive CD, but that is not who I am. Who I am is a lover of people and stimulating conversation. I embrace diversity and love to hear others stories. We all have one! I love art and I love nature.

I was diagnosed 13 yrs ago. I have been on Remicade, Humira and Cimzia. All of which I now have resistant antibodies to. I have had bridge therapy with them all starting with azathioprine then 6 mp, then more 6 mp and ultimately methotrexate both oral and then an increased dose administered weekly sub q. I have had 3 bowel resections, dealt with 2 not so lovely perianal abscesses, had my gallbladder removed, had 4 years repaired in my abdomen via open surgery and endured a total hysterectomy all complements of Crohns. I don't tend to get fistula , but I do scar like nobody's business which causes stricturing- this the numerous resections and hysterectomy (bad adhesions) I went through one very scary high risk pregnancy since diagnosis but happily report she is a beautiful, healthy, well adjusted 10 yr old!

I am unique in my CD as I tend to present with a multitude of what the Dr.'s refer to as extra intestinal manifestations. I have experienced everything from EN, those painful red/bruise like knots, purpura, bolous skin conditions to Uveitis. I don't really get tons of mouth ulcers but man o man they do love my nostrils. I have also had the "pleasure" (sarcasm) of enduring reactivated Epstien Barr and TB, yes, TB. It's a real risk when you are having to keep upping the immune suppressing drugs because the biologics aren't quite doing their thing. I have had to rely on FMLA more than once and can assist with questions related to that also.

I am currently in a flare, it's the longest and most difficult to date. Documented via colonoscopy April 2015, severe worsening by September 2015, via MR Enterography . This prompted the medication change I am currently on.

300 mg Entyvio going in next week for the final loading dose and weekly injection of 25mg of Methotrexate.