Crystal & Christopher Frazier

Prednisone...

I am going to try to be more diligent in posting on this blog. Life has just been crazy lately. For those of you who do not know, I have been dealing with a very nasty ulcerative colitis flare up that started in July 07' and has not stopped since. I had 3 trips to the ER between July and August including one bout with kidney stones. My old doctor had retired so I was left trying to find a new one and everyone was booked out until about March so I had to receive treatment here in Provo. After wasting 7 months with a doctor who had no idea what he was doing I finally decided to move on. I have started seeing a doctor at a women’s clinic up at Saint Marks Hospital. We have been fighting with my insurance for about 8 weeks trying to get preapproval for Remicaide infusions. I would go in for a 3 hour IV infusion once every two months. This would be much better than taking 12-20 pills everyday. Also, this drug usually puts UC sufferers in remission and you can be pregnant and breast-feed while using the treatment. It is just really expensive. I have been on some form of prednisone for about 3 months now. I am posting a picture of my prednisone riddled self. It is embarrassing. I have the typical huge moon face associated with steroids. I also have an additional 20 lbs. (I have cried multiple times over that) So I look at this picture and I do not see me..... I hope I can get back to my old self. I have weaned down to 10 mg. of prednisone and hope to soon be off. Then I should start looking a little more normal in about a month. At least my face and the swelling..... I have many other things to write about but I will save some of that for later posts. Just an update on my health.

Chris is also doing well. He is working full time as a surgical technician at IHC. He and I are both going to school part time. We are diligently searching for a new place to live. Some place that will accommodate out kitties and our overabundance of loot! Hope to hear from you all!!!!

Crystal