Kimberly's Story

It all started as what I thought was a nervous stomach. I was 21 years old, in my final year of college, enjoying my coursework as well as activities such as water-skiing and dancing when the symptoms of Crohn's disease (CD) began.

“…I am on a maintenance regimen of REMICADE and feel great.”

I felt fatigued and was having ten or more bowel movements a day. I initially thought that I was anxious because of my upcoming final exams and graduation, but after the symptoms persisted, I went to the gastroenterologist. My mother had ulcerative colitis (UC), so after a while, I was aware that my symptoms were indicative of a condition more severe than anxiety alone.

After visiting the gastroenterologist and undergoing several blood tests and a colonoscopy, I was misdiagnosed with UC. The next couple of years proved to be very difficult. I was always exhausted and had severe cramping and excessive bowel movements. My gastroenterologist put me on steroids to relieve the symptoms, but the side effects associated included insomnia, weight gain and depression. Eventually, I underwent major surgery in which my entire large intestine was removed. Although the surgery lessened the severity of my symptoms, they still existed and I could not seem to find anything that would really work.

In 1999, I became pregnant with my son and had an extremely difficult pregnancy, experiencing more than 20 bowel movements per day. After my son was born, I was re-examined and was properly diagnosed with CD, at which point my gastroenterologist recommended that I try REMICADE^® (infliximab). I had my first infusion of REMICADE in 2001 and the results were astounding! My pain seemed to subside and my bowel movements became manageable. For the first time in almost a decade I was experiencing relief.

Now, almost two years later, I am on a maintenance regimen of REMICADE and feel great. I work as a part-time nurse and volunteer as a patient advocate, educating both nurses and patients about REMICADE for the treatment of CD. In addition, I am able to take care of my active three year old son and have reclaimed my marriage and once active lifestyle that was put on hold because of my pain and constant need to be near a bathroom. I now embrace life rather than hide from it!

Kimberly is representative of patients responding to REMICADE under a physician's supervision. Individual results may vary.