As the title suggests, I have just completed my first 2 weeks of taking Mercaptopurine. I think it has started to have an affect on my Crohn’s symptoms. I am using the around twice a day, which as we know is a major leap forward. I have been having cramps and pains, but these may still be related to the ongoing healing from the operation. I am finding it difficult to see the benefits of the medication though as I have been busy trying not to throw up and trying to stay. As the weeks go on, it is getting slightly easier and the side effects are lessoning, but they are still pretty rough.
Mercaptopurine is sometimes known as 6-mcap. It is an immunosuppressive drug and is mostly used to treat leukaemia. It is also used to help treat inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. It is a very strong medication that the body really doesn’t like. For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling exhausted, even more than usual and a constant “sickly” feeling. The sickness is there when I wake then fades an hour or so after eating. Then after another hour, it begins to come back and will stay until after eating again: it’s a vicious cycle. I find myself eating to suppress the sickness, which probably isn’t that great for my health but it is the only thing that works.
I spoke with the IBD nurse who suggested that I take the medication in the evening, with my dinner. This way the stomach will have some lining and hopefully stop the nausea. I find this difficult to believe, as it is not just before food that I feel ill, it is most of the day. Even so, I have tried taking the pill in the evening for 2 days and found no real difference, except that I wake up in the morning feeling more sick than ever. On the plus side though, taking the pill in the evening seems to have helped with the fatigue. I am more alert for the majority of the working day, but after lunch I still take a bit of a nose dive and feel very tired. I can keep it at bay until I get home, but once home, all I want to do is sleep. My eyes are constantly heavy and my head is cloudy.
I’ll keep you posted on the progress
Keep Well, Ben x