Crohn’s Disease and Methotrexate: Rationing of Resources is ‘Unacceptable’…are you hoarding?
I have been watching the news and paying attention to the Crohn’s goups on Facebook, and other on-line forums and the news about methotrexate is disturbing. I just finished reading in Medscape Today that basically because of Drug comapnies no longer making methotrexate there is a shortage and people are hoarding it. Well rightly so.
If you are taking it for your Crohn’s Disease, and it is working you will want to keep taking it right? Makes sense. One disturbing fact is that if there is not enough of the preservative-free product, then manufacturers will be adding preservatives to newer dosages of methotrexate. According to Dr. Cohen MD, PhD, a member of ASH Committee on Government Affairs, and a pediatric oncologist at Stanford University School of Medicine in California: “We don’t know the consequences of this, but we are hoping that the dose of preservative is low enough not to cause problems,” he explained.
That scares the “%^*!$@!#*^” out of me! It is bad enough that methotrexated depletes folic acid, a vital DNA synthesis nutrient but now your poor depleted body may run the risk of having to try and deal with noxious chemicals as well? When does it end? And why do they suddenly have to add preservatives? It makes me wonder if the presevative laced methotrexate will be the same as the preservative-free methotrexate…hmmmm makes me wonder!
Here is the sad part about the pharmecutical companies; they can stop producing medication whenever they feel like it! There is no legislation and because the pharmecutical company is a business they have this right. Sometimes we get a little blurred when it comes to health care and reality. The pharmechutical company has also pulled back from producing anethetics as well… now that is scary! I would not want to feel a surgery!
Why you ask?
Because these drugs are not profitable. Thats it! It is not about you and making you feel better or to give you some form of quality of life.. it comes down to money!
How does that make you feel? How does it make you feel to know that your health is in the hands of a business man?
I remember when I used to take methotrexate it felt so wrong! I had had my first bowel resection and this was the new method of choice since nothing else was working to control my Crohn’s disease. I swear every time I got that shot in my rump I felt a little of my soul die. I did not believe in anything but the doctors and the medical profession and yet I wanted more. And I truly believe it was that little spark of “wanting more” that allowed me to put my ignorance aside and search for something more.
I was literally skin and bones and did not want to live any more. And as much as I thought about the ways of ending my life I felt so guilty because I had wee baby and thougth to myself I need to be here, to go on for her. And then I would revert back into my own pain and misery and wonder why do this? At least if I was gone then she would not have to grow up with a mother who was always sick. And that little very weak glimmer of “there has to be something more to this” would be there.
I went and saw a naturopathic doctor and within a couple of weeks I was in remission for the first time in years! What did she give me? a digestive enzyme. That’s it. She explained that if you are not digesting your food, you can not take in the nutrients. If you can not take in nutrients, you can not get well. The rest was history and I went into holistic medicine to explore more. And it took over 10 years but I now no longer have Crohn’s disease and if I can do it any one can do it!
I don’t care what any one says about there is no cure, or you can’t cure yourself of Crohn’s disease. If Lance Armstrong can cure himself of cancer then I can cure myself of Crohn’s. I did not always have Crohn’s so why can’t I reverse it? And I am not here to debate why you think I can’t!
The question you want to ask yourself is this.. do you want to be a slave to the drug comapnies whom at any time can take away your right to a drug? Or would you rather start exploring different ways of getting better?
Surely you must have at least once in your misery gotten to a point of being sick and tired of being sick and tired? And surely you must have at least wondered about another way to deal with this? And surely you must have at least said to your God above… “why me God..why? I know you have because we all do.. I know I did over-and-over-and-over-and-over again!
It did not happen over night and there were some set backs but as I started to feel better, I wanted more; I wanted to feel GREAT all the time and be there for my daughter. And then after I had my temporary colostomy that was the hit home holly crap you better fix this once and for all…and I did!
I went head-head-to-head with my gastroenterologist and did what I had to do to finally heal and I did it! And here is the best part…. MY GOD YOU CAN DO IT TOO! All you need is that little glimmer.. that little “there must be something more..” and then allow the universe to bring what you need to heal. But guess what? IT STARTS WITH YOU!
What is your motivation?
I think now is the time as the pharmectuical companies are bringing out a whole host of new drugs to really understand what you are putting in your body. I am not asking you to go off your drugs. PLEASE STAY ON YOUR MEDICATIONS. They are targeting the autoimmune sector as there is more money to made there. Now I can hear you…”finally we are being heard.” And there was a time I would think like that too. If you really want to understand the Drug Industry I encourage you to read The Truth About the Drug Companies How They Deceive Us and What To Do About It.
It was written by Marcia Angell, M.D. who was on the New England Journal of Medicine for 20 years and watched how corruption slowly sleeped into the business of selling drugs. It is a bit dated, written in 2005 however the information is relevant and not much has changed. There is even talk about a drug used for IBD.
There are a ton of medications on the market for controlling Crohn’s disease that basically comes from the top 10 giant Pharmaceutical companies with 5 of them being from the European Market. What is sad to report, that in most incidences drugs for Crohn’s have been repackaged and purposed (the patent runs out), with a few modifications. With some quick marketing and add in some Doctor incentives for prescribing the “new drug” and voila! A new patent on an old drug has new life. Angell writes with laws passed in Congress in the 90’s created a further strengthening of pharmaceutical rights to repurpose their drugs and protect their rights to monopoly over healthcare in the USA. Furthermore, the drug companies have powerful and majorities influence over research favours their “new” drugs in the New England Journal of Medicine to have them pass without problems.[i] If I knew then (when I was taking drugs for Crohn’s Disease) what I now know I certainley would have been asking more educated questions and weighed the risks of taking them. I do hope you will take the opportunity to read it and really educate yourself on the management of your disease. You can order your copy of the book by clicking here
What’s Next?
Check out these great Crohn’s Disease Articles
Introduction to Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease symptoms
Crohn’s Disease resources
Ask Karen: best vitamin/mineral for Crohn’s Disease on a budget
Raw Deal for Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease and Leg cramps? Try these tips
Check out these great Crohn’s Disease Vidoes
If you like my article or video and want to use in your own Ezine or share on your website-You can! I would be honoured so long as you include the following entire blurb:
When the medical community and IBD organizations say there is no cure…They are right! Incurable means Cure within
The information provided here has not been evaluated of approved by the FDA and is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. This video and article is not recommending changing any treatment or medication you are currently taking without consulting with your personal physician or qualified health care practitioner. Before implementing any suggestions seen here please consult with your physician or qualified health care practitioner.
This video is for the sole purposes of entertainment and education.
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