Daughter newly diagnosed-meds question for you all...

[jlacey]

My daughter was diagnosed with moderate Crohn's in November after a few months of chronic diarrhea.
She is currently taking 25mg Prednisone for 4 weeks...dosage lowers each week by 5mg after that. (just over 2 weeks in on this one)...needs to take it about 2-3 months!
Taking acid reflux meds to counteract that prednisione side effect as well.
2 days ago she started taking the Crohn's maintenance med - Salazopyrin 400mg
I wanted to ask if this is common side effect or drug reaction:
When she started taking prednisone the diarrhea almost stopped immediately...and was having soft but formed bowel movements.
In the 2nd week of prenisone/acid reflux med had one or 2 days of diarrhea...now a day and bit of nothing at all.
Her belly is very distended and hard....and hurting across middle of her abdomen...thinking gas? constipation?

Is this common or should I bring her to hospital to be checked?
Thanks
Jacqueline

 

[Crohn's 35]

:welcome: to the forum, you must be just beside yourself with grief over your daughters health issues, and I commend you for coming on here to get answers.

It sounds like bloat, gas and it is painful sometimes. Listen to her tummy and if you hear noises it is a good thing, it is moving and if you dont sounds like she could have narrowing somewhere. I would get her to see a doctor though, if anything it will ease your mind and see what is going on in her belly. Check to see if she has a fever, if not then she could be narrowing. What country are you from? Someone from your area could help you better.

Hugs. Pen

 

[jlacey]

Thanks Pen
I am from Eastern Canada...I spoke to the Gastro Specialist's Nurse and she said may be constipation...she said try and get her to drink lots of water..and if still really uncomfortable to bring her into the Children's Hospital Emergency to be checked out....not really wanting to panic her (only 6 yrs old) unnecessarily though by going to ER...unless absolutely required.

 

[Emily]

Distended/hard/tender belly sounds exactly like gas and constipation. It could be that the treatment is hardening up her stools too much so she can't pass anything? I know when I am unable to go for 2 or more days my belly feels like that. She is only six, so im not sure but maybe you could give her a small dose of stool softener, not laxative, to see if that helps softener her up a bit with lots of water. That way you can now if she is just backed up or if there is a bigger problem like a narrowing as Pen said. Good luck!!
I hope this passes quickly and easily for you two!

 

[mickey]

If you can, get her to drink warm/hot teas. The warm tea can help warm up the muscles and relieve some tension in her belly. In addition, do belly rubs as often as possible. Use the palm of your hand and do circular motions around her navel. Begin on her right side (ascending colon), up and around to her left (descending colon) and continue the circles. Sometimes it will feel hard at first and a little uncomfortable, adjust the pressure, but soon it will feel softer. You should begin hearing gurgling/belly sounds soon after starting. It will get to a point where she will be able to fall asleep having this done. Works like a charm on the constipation and helps circulate the colon and blood flow to the area to help it heal. I have been doing it for over 15 years, after being shown it by a masseuse and makes a huge difference. I began doing it upon waking up and then always before I go to sleep. You can teach her to do it and then you can do it prior to bed, etc....If she can do it as much as possible during her bad time, it will get better sooner. When my niece was 3 she was having bad constipation due to a raisin allergy. I began the belly rubs on her (even while on the pot, when the pain hurt her), and she was able to move her bowels. She was so excited when she learned that she was helping it move along inside of her. She is now 9 and still does the belly rubs and loves to have her belly rub when watching tv.