A different type of Crohn's flare?

[Bigluv64]

Hello all, this is my first post here so I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section. I'm really in need of a bit of advice and/or thoughts. I'm currently going through what I think is my fifth Crohn's flare since being diagnosed in 2010. I'm 23 years old and female.

My concern is that this 'flare' feels very different to the rest. In the past my symptoms have been very aggressive. I've had heavy nausea and would vomit multiple times a day. I'd have to be on the toilet a lot and the urgency to go would be heightened, I'd have no appetite and my bowels would just generally ache.. Hot water bottles were life savers.

This time just feels very.. Different. All of my problems are focused around my stomach. My urgency to go to the toilet is lesser than what it normally is and just feels very off. I've had no bowel pain. I have an appetite but it feels squashed by a persistent nausea that won't budge. I've been trying to eat as much as possible but the nausea is making it difficult. I've vomited once since my symptoms started exactly a week ago and have so far lost 6 pound through lack of eating.

I've begun a course of Prednisolone, currently 40mg a day(8 tablets) since Wednesday, after talking to the Doctor. I've been on Pred every flare before this one. I feel slightly better since starting but my stomach problems are very much on-going. I've been taking Cyclizine when needed but that too isn't always helping with the nausea. My normal daily medication is:

4x 1g Pentasa Sachets
1x 20mg Omeprazole
2x 210mg Ferrous Fumarate
2x 50mg Imuran (I think it's 50mg, I need to double check! )

My CRP has always run high, the lowest I've had since I was diagnosed is around 24. My most recent blood test showed it at around 36.

I saw my Crohn's specialist just a week or so ago just before this flare started, and he's spoken about starting Infusion treatment or injections at home. But he's currently on holiday until the 7th of October so I'm at a loss of what to do. He OK-ed the Pred treatment and told me to get in contact with my GP if it didn't get better in a few days.

I'm worried about whether this really is a flare or something different? Can flares feel different from one to the next? Should I get in contact with my GP and try to look further into it, or just stick with the Pred and wait for my Crohn's specialist to return? I'm very worried so any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.. Sorry again if the post is in the wrong section.

Kind regards and thanks in advance,
Danielle.

 

[Jennifer]

Hello Bigluv64 and welcome to the forum!

Yes each flare tends to be different. Sometimes they can be very mild and sometimes they're so bad you have to be hospitalized. Steroids can take a few days to start working. If you aren't noticing any change by now then you'll want to contact your GP like they suggested (in case the dose needs to be increased I'm assuming). In the meantime what you can do is change your diet to a low residue diet or an all liquid diet to help reduce your symptoms. If you chose all liquids then be sure that you're getting enough nutrition by either using supplement beverages or by making your own soups and just drinking the broth.

Let us know what your GP says if you see them. Keep us posted and sorry for the late reply.

 

[Lisa]

Sorry to see you aren't doing well. Although this may be a flare - albeit a different 'type' than you are used to - don't forget to rule out other possibilities such as a gallbladder issue etc.

If it were me, I'd be looking further to at least rule out any other causes.

Keep us updated.......

 

[D Bergy]

Very early into my initial crohns diagnosis I had a very inflamed stomach. Nausea, reflux, and vomiting were all part of it.

In retrospect, there were two things,going on at the time. I had a stricture t hat was physically limiting the passing of food to my intestines.

The other was H-Pylori had moved up into my stomach. I had two negative tests for the bacteria, but it was there, and I treated it myself and the irritation went away immediately.

I felt a lot better but as the stricture tightened up I still would vomit if I ate something hard to pass through the pencil size opening in my gut. It was removed and that problem went away also.

I don't know of an accurate test for H-Pylori but you could try treat it and see if it helps. I used an alternative method to treat it but it requires certain equipment that most people don't have.

I have heard of using mastic gum to treat it or Manuka Honey. I have not used either of these, so I don't know how well they work.

Another interesting aspect of a H-Pylori infection is it depletes iron. It could be one reason why taking an iron supplement can make your stomach feel worse?

There are other possible causes for your stomach problems. I hope you find the cause.

Dan

 

[Bigluv64]

Thank you so much for the replies everyone. Just an update on my situation..

I saw my GP yesterday. She thinks it's a good idea to come off the Pred. Initially she said to stop it completely, but in the end told me to reduce it by one tablet every other day until I'm off them. She also doubled my Omeprazole, so I'm now on 40mg a day. She advised to take Gaviscon as well in the evening.

I've felt the nausea improve since doubling the Omeprazole, and I felt the Gaviscon helped in the evening too. I'm getting a lot of discomfort on my left side, but it's a familiar pain from my earlier flares. I have an appointment to see my Crohn's Consultant on the 7th of October, so I guess I just have to wait it out until then.

I've managed to eat a bit more today, although I do get some discomfort 10 minutes after finishing my food. Hot water bottles are helping though so it's not completely unbearable. I also got the results of my stool test back today, and the inflammation levels are showing as high. My consultant already spoke about Infusion treatment, so I guess that will be the next step for me. I don't think my Crohn's has ever been fully under control since I was diagnosed, with my CRP always running quite high.. Sigh!

Thank you again for the kind messages and support.
Danielle.

 

[ronroush7]

Each flare feels a little different to me.

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