Hi everyone. When I was in my early 50’s, I went through a 10 week period where I’d have terrible abdominal pains off and on throughout the morning. I didn’t think my symptoms matched UC or Crohn’s because I didn’t have any diarrhea…just soft and/or pencil thin stools. Mainly, my body was straining to eliminate what it could, and I’d end up drenched in sweat. Near the end, I started spotting blood, so I went to a gastroenterologist, had a colonoscopy, and she diagnosed Crohn’s. By the time of the diagnosis, the symptoms had just about disappeared, and for the next seven years, I was back to a heavenly normal.
But, about three months ago, I started getting some bad abdominal pains, and about two months ago, everything went to hell. I had just about every symptom associated with Crohn’s except maybe mouth ulcers. I had diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever at night, weight loss, swollen and painful ankles, pain in my elbow, and several cyst like bumps in the groin area (ob/gyn and my gastro Dr. suspect fistulas, but haven’t been able to make a positive diagnosis). What’s even more weird is that the smell of some food items, like bread or the cereal I ate every morning, would make me totally nauseous. Anyway, went back to my GI doctor. Took a blood test which indicated high white cell count and anemia. She put me on Entocort. I’ve been on it 3 weeks so far, and most of my symptoms have gone away, except for the nausea and abdominal pain, but at least it’s not all day. The bumps in the groin area are gone, the pain in my joints are gone, so I do see major improvement. My Dr. said Entocort is only short term to get rid of the symptoms, and I’ll need to go on a 6MP (maintenance) and/or Remicade after I get off Entocort. We’ll be discussing this in a month.
So, after thinking that I was only going to experience one major flare-up of Crohn’s because of the remission for the past seven years, now I’m wondering if I’m going to experience flare-ups constantly without drugs. I almost wish I could go off Entocort and not start a 6MP drug to see if the flare-up happens again. If, based on the fact that my first flare-up went away for seven years before any treatment, I’m wondering if it’s possible. I’d hate to go on a maintenance drug if not needed. Or is this just wishful thinking? I guess I’ll have to talk to my Dr.
I also wanted to say that I’ve been to two or three other Crohn’s forums, and this forum has the most awesome group of people. There’s a lot of compassion, humor, and information here. I’ve also found a lot of answers for questions that I have had through the experiences of other people.
But, about three months ago, I started getting some bad abdominal pains, and about two months ago, everything went to hell. I had just about every symptom associated with Crohn’s except maybe mouth ulcers. I had diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever at night, weight loss, swollen and painful ankles, pain in my elbow, and several cyst like bumps in the groin area (ob/gyn and my gastro Dr. suspect fistulas, but haven’t been able to make a positive diagnosis). What’s even more weird is that the smell of some food items, like bread or the cereal I ate every morning, would make me totally nauseous. Anyway, went back to my GI doctor. Took a blood test which indicated high white cell count and anemia. She put me on Entocort. I’ve been on it 3 weeks so far, and most of my symptoms have gone away, except for the nausea and abdominal pain, but at least it’s not all day. The bumps in the groin area are gone, the pain in my joints are gone, so I do see major improvement. My Dr. said Entocort is only short term to get rid of the symptoms, and I’ll need to go on a 6MP (maintenance) and/or Remicade after I get off Entocort. We’ll be discussing this in a month.
So, after thinking that I was only going to experience one major flare-up of Crohn’s because of the remission for the past seven years, now I’m wondering if I’m going to experience flare-ups constantly without drugs. I almost wish I could go off Entocort and not start a 6MP drug to see if the flare-up happens again. If, based on the fact that my first flare-up went away for seven years before any treatment, I’m wondering if it’s possible. I’d hate to go on a maintenance drug if not needed. Or is this just wishful thinking? I guess I’ll have to talk to my Dr.
I also wanted to say that I’ve been to two or three other Crohn’s forums, and this forum has the most awesome group of people. There’s a lot of compassion, humor, and information here. I’ve also found a lot of answers for questions that I have had through the experiences of other people.
But ... I am glad to see you found us. 
