Flare - to be or not to be

[Emj]

I was DX'd with Crohn's a few weeks ago after previously being DX'd with proctitis a year or so ago. At the time of my last consultant appointment, I was not really showing any symptoms (which for me is pretty much bleeding, mild discomfort, mouth ulcers and 4+ BMs a day). The symptom free period (excluding mouth ulcers) lasted 2 weeks and now the bleeding (usually light) has resumed, discomfort has come back (especially lower down), mouth ulcers are still there and BMs are holding steady at 3-4.

Does this really count as a flare though? Most people seem to get pain with flares.

I had an MRI yesterday and despite a 12+ hour fast before hand, really wasn't particularly hungry afterwards and over the last week have felt a bit ambivalent towards food.

 

[David]

Everyone's disease manifests differently. Your disease is flaring despite the lack of pain.

What medications are you on?

 

[Emj]

What medications are you on?

None... when I last spoke to the consultant (10 days ago), he suggested that Azathioprine would be the thing to try. Am a bit concerned about the side effects and the increased risk of skin cancer - I have a lot of moles... Because there is not really much in the way of pain, to me at least, it doesn't seem that drugs are necessary yet?

I have an appointment in 10 weeks and although I could get one quicker, I don't really want to bother anyway for the sake of a bit of blood and discomfort.