Thursday, February 25, 2010

Raisin Bran and Remicade.

Was it the bran or was it the drugs?

Here's a question worth pondering over.
It might take more cognitive effort, but
it's results, I imagine might hold a little
more weight then say wondering
if 'ol "tiger" is a sex addict or not.
Not much of a question if you ask me,
as I believe humans are sex addicts,
the mammalian evolutionary stigma
we still wear like a fur hat in a Moscow
icecapade. Where did that come from,
I guess I'm sweating out Olympic fever.

Capitalize everything, for it's a capitalist
society, that's what teacher told me anyway.

The topic of today is Remicade.
Rema Rema Remicade.
Another drug that will get you easily addicted.
Sure it's a quick fix, sure the side effects are
near to nill. As opposed to Prendisone "HULK SMASH,
HULK BASH." I once put my swollen hand through a
window because I missed the bus to take me to a doctors
appointment. I'm not a violent guy, I'm just saying. It may
be legal, it had me feeling oddly like meth-head running
down a steep incline gaining acne as I gained speed.
All these "legal" drugs, always get me thinking about
natural remedies. This very thought is what had me
thinking about Raisin Bran. How after eating a couple
bowls each morning, suddenly my trips to the toilet
have become the same as someone with a healthy colon.
Is is the drugs I say, or is it the bran?

Scientific research has shown.... nothing. What a surprise.
I heard this joke once by robin williams. He was saying
that as people age they loose control of their bowels, he says..
What the !#$# is that! What do the scientists and doctors do
about this, what do they come up with to help you to enjoy your
golden years, they invent Viagra. I see the logic. I do.
But if your in the middle of a sexual escapade with your
octogenarian partner, and in the middle of the performance
your plagued by "leakage", I'd say the moment is lost, and
despair is bound to follow.
It's curious how at some point your taught or told to swallow
everything the doctor peddles to you. For good or ill, because of
a lack of knowledge, you obey. You don't have any other choice.
This is why research, and one positive aspect to the internet, is now
the information is readily available. You must read! You have to
trust yourself. Trusting someone else, unless proven to you through
years of experience, could potentially lead to disaster. Trust
me. I'm not the only one who was a victim of medical malpractice.

I've been on Remicade, for about three months. It is true there
has been a dramatic improvement since my first injection.
I'm not entirely convinced it was the drug. Before Remicade
my health was improving from various antibiotics that I needed
to cure infections in my nether regions, the source
of debilitating cramps. As the pain subsided I was able
to muster up the energy to exercise, simply walk around in the
beginning. Sit-ups, pull-ups, and push-ups. With steady diet of
stir-fries, protein shakes, fruits, and vitamins, rest, and a positive
attitude. I was able to pull myself together.

Along comes remicade, Damn right it gave me the push I needed to
get healthy in record time, but I know for a fact that I was more
responsible for my dramatic improvement then the drugs.

"I trust myself, not the drugs dammit."

Here is what I read about Remicade in regards to fistualizing disease, as this
is what pertains to me.

"Infliximab (remicade) was first used for closure of fistulae in Crohn's disease in 1999. In a 94-patient phase II clinical trial, the researchers showed that Infliximab was effective in closing fistulae between the skin and bowel in 56-68% of patients.[1] A large 296-patient Phase III clinical trial called the ACCENT 2 trial, showed that infliximab (remicade) was additionally beneficial in maintaining closure of fistulae, with almost two-thirds of all patients treated with the 3 initial doses infliximab (Remicade) having a fistula response after 14 weeks, and 36% of patients maintaining closure of fistulae after a year, compared with 19% who received placebo therapy." [2][3]

And it's true my fistula has nearly closed. Thank god for that. What interests me is the 19% who showed signs of improved after receiving a placebo. My theory is, and I have to do more research. Let's call it one of my working hypothesis. Is this. I really think that your brain is whats responsible for the healing. My illness is created out of stress, that I'm sure of. I'm more prone to Inflammatory Bowel Disease because of some genetic mutation that may be true. I think if stress which starts in my brain is the trigger for the flare-ups, the solution might simply be in your brain.

Could it be we're looking in the wrong place, could it be we're not looking at all.
I mean they found Remicade by accident. As it's true most great scientific discoveries come
about this way. I just think it would be nice if there was a solution that didn't cost three thousand
dollars. Something like Raisin Bran!

...gatsby~



  1. ^ Present D, Rutgeerts P, Targan S, Hanauer S, Mayer L, van Hogezand R, Podolsky D, Sands B, Braakman T, DeWoody K, Schaible T, van Deventer S (May 1999). "Infliximab for the treatment of fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease". N Engl J Med 340 (18): 1398–405. doi:10.1056/NEJM199905063401804. PMID 10228190.
  2. ^ Sands B, Anderson F, Bernstein C, Chey W, Feagan B, Fedorak R, Kamm M, Korzenik J, Lashner B, Onken J, Rachmilewitz D, Rutgeerts P, Wild G, Wolf D, Marsters P, Travers S, Blank M, van Deventer S (February 2004). "Infliximab maintenance therapy for fistulizing Crohn's disease". N Engl J Med 350 (9): 876–85. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa030815. PMID 14985485.
  3. ^ www.Remicade.com

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