Flaring on vacation-any suggestions welcome

[michelle222]

Ugh. I am currently in the middle of a very uncomfortable crohns flare. I've been having diaherrea with quite a bit if blood for about 4 days now, as well as my usual abdominal pain. My doctor just switched me to a probiotic (VSL 3), lialda and entocort for my crohns. I called them about the flare and he said to keep taking the medicine and he's sending me an antibiotic. It's very stressful because I'm on vacation so I'm not home and clearly can't get in to see him until I get back next saturday (of course the flare started on the airplane on the way to vacation).

Any suggestions on what to do to help things? I'm really incomfortable but not in excruciating pain. The blood is freaking me out a bit, but my doctor didnt seem too worried. Do antibiotics even help these things? I'm just so frustrated that crohns is taking over my life.

 

[Trysha]

Hi Michelle
Sorry to hear you are having some problems especially when you are on vacation.
Perhaps the antibiotic will help you in addition to the drugs you already have.It is possible you may have picked up an infection en route.
Are you able to relate the current flare with something you may have eaten, or perhaps drunk.
Are you in a country other than where you live?
I would play it cool, and it looks as if you have good rapport with your doctor.Just keep in touch with him if things continue to escalate.
Keep to a light diet for now,plenty of clear fluids, water is best--but depends which country you are in otherwise stick to bottled water and juices if you can tolerate them take the antibiotic when you get it and hope for the best.
Feel better soon
Hugs and best wishes
Trysha

 

[Boltmannz]

I firmly be leave that crohns is nerve and stress related. I have been taking 500mg of magnesium daily since May. It have amazed my GI & GP the improvement in my condition. It's not an instant fix. It worked for me. I'm still taking my Humira and methotrexate.

 

[Nims22]

Sometimes VSL 3 makes me very bloated and have a lot of pain, urgency and discomfort. Any probiotic can do this to me. I would ask my doctor about it.

 

[shamrock15]

Are you vacationing in a different country, or same country but removed from your home? It could make a lot of difference in your options. I don't think I would be running to a clinic or hospital in most Caribbean countries (was there once for an injury on vacation - think it would be fine for minor happenings only, not sure if the sanitation level would go well with immunosuppresants). In European or US, if I had coverage I would probably consider it. 4 days of bleeding can start to add up and put you at risk of anemia. It hotter climates my personal experience is that its effects are heightened. Take care.

 

[michelle222]

Hi everyone. Got sent to the ER today by my doctor after a lot of diaherrea last night. Luckily I'm on vacation in the states so none of the international travel is an issue. This disease is really getting me down lately, it runs my life and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Anyway, thanks so much for the feedback.

 

[Ribo]

As hard as it is to do, anything you can do to reduce stress will likely help. If you were worrying about the trip, that probably upped your stress level. Did you fly? Air travel increases stress for many people. Just being away and worrying over flaring can increase your stress, literally leaving you with a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Not that this helps once you're in the flare. At this point you're probably dehydrated (another problem with travel in general, air travel specifically, and in my experience a serious contributor to my issues with CD) so the ER trip is no doubt for the best. Even some simple IV fluids can be a huge help.

Good luck Michelle - try not to let it get you down. I know that's not easy but if you can stay "up" it's a tremendous help to treatment, in my experience.

 

[Nims22]

I hope things start turning around and the ER trip helps get it under control.

I can completely understand your feeling about the disease running your life. I've been feeling that way a lot lately