I don't know about Remicade, but "too small for heart bypass surgery" doesn't
float.  Heck, there are cardiothoracic surgeons who operate on premies with
hearts the size of your thumb.  Whoever told her that is misinformed and she
needs to see a cardiologist.

hi jan,

i use remicade too.
what does "too small for remicade" mean? is it the vein? just curious.

also, i was wondering how remicade users in this forum feel about the
med. i'm done with my second infusion, but i still have a swollen
knee... i'm just hoping remicade takes awhile to adjust in my system,
but will eventually work. i'm also on 5mg prednisone daily, down to
about 20 tablets left. (no refill just yet - doc says he has to see how
a steroid like pred affects me).

i've tried enbrel/mtx/bextra/arava/vioxx/celebrex/colchisine before,
and nothing seems to work past 3-6 months.

did you guys get instant relief with remicade, or did it also take
awhile?

thanks,

edgar

Jan O'Keeffe:

Has anyone else been told they are "just too small for Remicade"? I
suspect
my friend's diagnosis (small adult female). Also says she is "too small
for
heart bypass surgery". Just wondering if I should truly be concerned
for
her of if it is a cry for attention. JM

ME:

Um, as Nann says the too small for a heart bypass is not accurate.  As
I recall when I was on Remicade, they base the dosage on the weight of
the recipient.  I don't even know that having "small" veins would make
a difference, I mean, if they can draw her blood then they can give her
infusions.  Of course, there may be other considerations based on her
being very petite, with the Remicade anyway...  I'm not a doctor so I
wouldn't know all of the potential complications.
Smokie Darling (Annie)

Because the dosage is based on a person's weight, how could
anyone be "too small"?

Have you seen the photo of the fingers of a fetus wrapped around a
doctor's finger while he performed heart surgery on that baby?  Now
THAT is small.

Your friend is being fed a line of bull $_ _T by someone, or you
should be concerned if she's making all this up in her head.

BTW, why would she need bypass surgery?  You didn't mention "age."

Remicade is now being used successfully in children with JRA, so the
argument of an adult being too small does not hold.
Who has told her she is too small?
I would consider that a person could be too weak, or have too many
comorbid problems, or even tiny veins (i have that myself- and it is
difficult to do an IV- but I do get remicade). I would not accept "too
small" without some qualifying statement.
    Rose   @}>->--
    Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. RB

    Please remove "Ima" to reply.