Update on Luke

As many of you know last summer Luke was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis/Chron's. Obviously that wasn't an answer we were looking for but we finally had an answer after five years of random flare-ups. He was immediately put on Remicade to treat the disease. After getting the treatment established he began treatment every 8 weeks. He began to feel like a new person! That is until a few months ago when he began to have flare-ups a week or so before treatment was due. Also in early May he noticed the following symptoms: a mysterious rash, chest discomfort and pain, shortness of breath, feeling tired and weak, turning pale, numbness in his left arm, the left side of his face, and occasionally in his legs, swelling in his ankles and a poor appetite. All are side effects of Remicade. He called his GI doctor reporting his symptoms and told them he thought he was having side effects of his medicine. They didn't think so because it is rare and they have never seen it. So, they referred him to a neurologist and also ordered a colonoscopy. The colonscopy results were great! The colon and intestine looked really good with no inflammation, meaning Remicade was working. The neurologist said the same thing, he didn't think it was related to the Remicade so he ordered a MRI of the neck and head. Nothing showed up that would cause his symptoms. So the neurologist referred him to a cardiologist. The cardiologist ordered an ultrasound of his heart and a stress test. That came back normal. The cardiologist said it could be Remicade or even the colitis causing the symptoms if the lining of his stomach was inflamed. He was prescribed a medicine to help with the inflammation. If he takes the medicine and his symptoms disappear, we have an answer. However, we heard of a chiropractor who was confidant he could help Luke since he currently treats patients diagnosed with colitis. We decided it couldn't hurt to give him a try. We really didn't want to put more medicine in his body and risk more side effects. Luke's initial visit with the chiropractor revealed that his neck was locked up in three different places. We learned that that alone could cause all of his digestive issues. The chiropractor began special treatments on Luke. These treatments are not your typical chiropractors work. He uses an instrument that unlocks his nerves. It is fairly simple and nearly pain-free. He started treatments in July and hasn't had any medicine since the end of May and has absolutely no digestive problems or any symptoms of colitis!! Praise the Lord! He goes to the chiropractor every two weeks for now. We are so thankful to God for allowing this doctor to have the knowledge to help Luke and for putting this doctor in our path! We feel so encouraged that we can control this "disease" it doesn't have to control us! The chiropractor said that it's possible Luke may never have digestive issues again once he is done with treatments. Something we were told he would live with for the rest of his life! That is a miracle and we thank you Lord!