on waiting it out

No sooner had I convinced my poor parents that waiting it out was the best plan of action than I had another major attack.

I have had a somewhat intense past two days at work, but I don't presume that to be the cause.  I am further baffled by which of my meals during the past 48 hours could have caused such dramatic upset.  Leftover cauliflower soup, tuna/crab sushi, egg, toast.  These are all foods I've eaten before with no direct consequence; they have all only been associated with pain via the Weekly Throughput, save for cauliflower.  I have, however, had three small servings of pureed cauliflower soup since Sunday, so perhaps it was the cauliflower...

This was a fairly sudden attack, as they go.  I was fine the whole day until a few minutes before I stepped onto the bus home.  I then spent the next 45 minutes starring stiffly into the pages of Copernicus' Secret trying not to appear cracked out or release any agonizing noises (from either end).  I think I turned two pages for the sake of appearance, and read none.  This was an attack similar to the ER episodes of this flare; waves of climaxing and waning pain that lasted less than a minute each.  The difference with this episode was that the pain was not only in my lower middle abdomen (where my small intestine is clean as per Dr. S and obstructed as per Dr. P), but also in my left large intestine (the new locale that entered the scene just before my SBFT, and about which neither doctor said a thing), and more subtly all throughout my bloated abdomen. 

So I did it: I road the bus all the way home in peak rush hour traffic with an attack.  I did, however, call H.B. upon reaching the park-and-ride and ask him to ready my heating pad so that I could immediately apply my favorite antidote upon walking through the door.  He also served me a bit of prune juice with some oxycodone (my first dose in three weeks).  I have no idea how I have come to be so lucky as to call this man mine, but I call dibs forever.

The wait-it-out plan is still in effect, and will not be diverted from due to this unexpected episode.  The reason is this: I want to know what Remicade's potential is for me.  I want to get off the prednisone and see what Remicade can do for me without the aide of steroids.  I want to continue on purinethol and Remicade together so that I can observe any helpful effects of the additional immunosuppressant (which may be protecting me from developing antibodies to the Remicade itself).  After the 5th infusion, I want to stay on Remicade alone for a few more to observe my reactions and how my symptoms change, even if they do not "clinically improve."  These observations are important to note before I start reintroducing supplement and dietary interventions (my original plan of action).  If my baseline level of pain remains at this slightly higher constant, and if I continue to have weekly intense attacks, that is important to find out as well.

With the help of H.B., oxycodone, my hot pad and some Mythbusters, I enjoyed a bit of chicken and rice with soy sauce for supper tonight.  I'll be alright.