Sticker Shock

Those that begin researching hookworms as an alternative treatment often respond one of two ways in response to the price. At around $3000 per treatment, some think the price is way too high. How could one treatment cost that much?! Then there are others of us who have been through multiple treatments for Crohn's. Three grand for a dose that can last up to 3 years is an incredible deal when you consider what Remicade cost. In only 3 infusions, I have already paid over $3000 - and that's after my insurance covered their part! Every two months I have to go back for another two hour infusion of the immune system-destroying drug and pay another huge sum of money.

My fourth dose of Remicade will be in a couple of weeks. Even though I seem to have less pain in my side, I still have to take a daily Immodium to avoid the bathroom more than 3 or 4 times a day. I also now enjoy a perpetually runny nose, chronic cough, arthritis, and severe headaches at least 3 times a week. Yay for Remicade.

As soon as I my doctor says the intestinal inflammation is gone, you can bet I'll be planning another trip out of the country for more hookworms...

A Different Approach to Crohn's

I know many of you read this blog because you are looking for other options to treat your IBD.  My friend Reid Kimball, a fellow Crohn's sufferer and uber health crusader, recently posted his strategy for dealing with Crohn's; the "5-R Framework."

According to his website, http://crohnsend.com/2011/10/announcing-new-framework/ , the 5 R's stand for:

• (1) Remove – Remove the chemicals, food, and toxins in your environment that may be inflaming your intestines, killing your beneficial microbiota, feeding your pathogenic microbiota and triggering your immune system once they enter your blood.
• (2) Replace – Replace your diet with healthy fats, nutrient dense and toxin free food. Use supplements to fix deficiencies until no longer needed.
• (3) Reinoculate – Reinoculate your gut ecology with beneficial microbial probiotics that have many benefits including to help regulate and restore balance to your immune system. These probiotics includes yeast, bacteria and helminths (microscopic parasites).
• (4) Repair – Repair damage to your intestines using supplements and sleep at least 8 to 9 hours every night to aid your body in its repairing functions.
• (5) Reconnect – Reconnect is one I decided to add to the existing and well established four above. This means to reconnect with your body, mind and spirit. 

Well done, Reid!  You inspire me to live a healthier life!

Why yes, I am still alive.

Here's the short version: Nothing interesting is happening in terms of my Crohn's.  I had my third Remicade infusion last week and the bone and muscle aches weren't as bad, though still there.  I find myself getting tired easily.  Fortunately, I can take midday naps...since I left my job as a career coach/job developer at the end of September.  Which much excitement, I've started my own photography business and found my time being absorbed by that venture - hence the decrease in blogging.  I'm hoping the flexibility in this job will be a better fit for my ongoing health issues.  I'm still writing when I have time or need an escape to the world of science fiction, but for now my life is mostly consumed by photography and operating a small business.  I'm happy with that arrangement.

I'll probably have a visit to my gastro doc soon to evaluate the Remicade's effectiveness.  But until then, all I can do is wait; or distract myself with work.