Gastroenteritis?

[slowhand]

Hi.

I've had one of the worst weekends of my life.

I was diagnosed with very mild Crohn's disease last spring, and after much back and fourth eventually started Humira. It has been working great, and apart from a few bouts of diarrhea here and there (my mind has amazing abilities to torture my body), I've considered myself effectively cured for the time being.

Then thursday happened.

After finally completing my last exam of many, I was officially on vacation. Within twelve hours of handing in that exam, I was in bed with a high fever that was getting higher. After chills and a headache for hours I was finally able to fall asleep, and woke up friday to go see my Humira-nurse. I mentioned it to her, and we agreed that it was most likely unrelated since I didn't have any stomach pain or diarrhea, only slight nausea. I got my Humira, did my blood tests and went home for bed. By that evening my fever and headache were joined by muscle-aches and heavy nausea. I stayed in bed all friday hoping it would pass. Saturday morning however, I had my first case of diarrhea. Then my second. By the time the evening came around I had probably been to the bathroom 25 times, and my stomach was cramping. Today was more of the same, but my fever has now mostly broken and been replaced by bloating (distended stomach) and painful gas. Even drinking water is painful, the minute it reaches my digestive system I have a cramp. I tried Tylenol but it did nothing. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow. I've been drinking nutritional drinks to replace the electrolytes I've lost and as much water as I can handle to avoid dehydration.

I'm thinking (and praying) that its something like viral gastroenteritis and not a flare up. If it is a flare up, my Crohn's must have gone from very minor to very major in a few days.

I can't take another second of this.

 

[Susan1978]

Hey slowhand-
Am so sorry to hear you have had such an awful couple of days. It's a good thing you are seeing your doc tomorrow. While it very well could be something viral, it could also be a nasty flare up that came out of nowhere, or a combination of the two. Whatever the case, it sounds beyond miserable, and I sure hope you begin to feel better soon. It has always amazed how you can go from feeling fine to feeling like absolute death in such a short period of time with this disease. Please let us know what you find out. Hang in there!

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Hey slowhand-
Am so sorry to hear you have had such an awful couple of days. It's a good thing you are seeing your doc tomorrow. While it very well could be something viral, it could also be a nasty flare up that came out of nowhere, or a combination of the two. Whatever the case, it sounds beyond miserable, and I sure hope you begin to feel better soon. It has always amazed how you can go from feeling fine to feeling like absolute death in such a short period of time with this disease. Please let us know what you find out. Hang in there!

I agree with Susan. I hope they can figure out what's going on with you tomorrow. :ybatty: Please keep us updated. Xxxxxx

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Hi slowhand, how are you doing today - any better? I had something going on a couple weeks ago that may have been gastroenteritis, and the doctor I saw said it is going around a lot lately (she had it herself). So it is definitely making the rounds right now, and I hope you just have that and not a flare.

You mentioned going to the doctor today, so I hope they're able to figure things out and get you feeling better (don't be afraid to ask for IV fluids if you're dehydrated). Hang in there, I hope you feel better soon! And please update us when you are able so that we know how you're doing.

 

[Ihurt]

Oh God, I hope you feel better soon! It may be a bout of the stomach bug. It is going around! I think I am more afraid of getting the stomach flu than the regular Flu! Hope it is just that and it straightens out soon.. Try using a heating pad for the pain, it can help some.

 

[723crossroads]

Hi.

I've had one of the worst weekends of my life.

I was diagnosed with very mild Crohn's disease last spring, and after much back and fourth eventually started Humira. It has been working great, and apart from a few bouts of diarrhea here and there (my mind has amazing abilities to torture my body), I've considered myself effectively cured for the time being.

Then thursday happened.

After finally completing my last exam of many, I was officially on vacation. Within twelve hours of handing in that exam, I was in bed with a high fever that was getting higher. After chills and a headache for hours I was finally able to fall asleep, and woke up friday to go see my Humira-nurse. I mentioned it to her, and we agreed that it was most likely unrelated since I didn't have any stomach pain or diarrhea, only slight nausea. I got my Humira, did my blood tests and went home for bed. By that evening my fever and headache were joined by muscle-aches and heavy nausea. I stayed in bed all friday hoping it would pass. Saturday morning however, I had my first case of diarrhea. Then my second. By the time the evening came around I had probably been to the bathroom 25 times, and my stomach was cramping. Today was more of the same, but my fever has now mostly broken and been replaced by bloating (distended stomach) and painful gas. Even drinking water is painful, the minute it reaches my digestive system I have a cramp. I tried Tylenol but it did nothing. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow. I've been drinking nutritional drinks to replace the electrolytes I've lost and as much water as I can handle to avoid dehydration.

I'm thinking (and praying) that its something like viral gastroenteritis and not a flare up. If it is a flare up, my Crohn's must have gone from very minor to very major in a few days.

I can't take another second of this.

I had something similar to that a couple months ago, if that and it was viral and went away after 7 days. So, I hope the same for you! Sorry you feel so awful!:ghug:

 

[LindaS]

I hope you're feeling better now. I hate those stomach bugs, as they can often trigger a flare.

 

[slowhand]

Hi and thanks everyone for the well wishes. It did go away, although I was admitted to the hospital for two days to get fluids and a more comprehensive blood workup. My fever fell and CRP was measured to have been 65 on friday, 79 on monday, and 51 on tuesday. So most likely it peaked sometime over the weekend when I was feeling the worst. By tuesday I felt great and was back to eating. On thursday I took a Humira shot I was due for.

This morning however, my doctor called me and said that cultures showed I had salmonellosis. It most likely passed on its own, but because I had just taken Humira (which he hoped I hadn't gotten around to just yet), he put me on an antibiotic for five days starting today, just to make sure all the bacteria gets flushed out.

I still feel great, now I'm just hoping I don't come in contact with or ingest some other bacteria once the antibiotics have done their job.

Thanks again guys

 

[Ihurt]

Sorry you went through this. Glad you are feeling better.

Hi and thanks everyone for the well wishes. It did go away, although I was admitted to the hospital for two days to get fluids and a more comprehensive blood workup. My fever fell and CRP was measured to have been 65 on friday, 79 on monday, and 51 on tuesday. So most likely it peaked sometime over the weekend when I was feeling the worst. By tuesday I felt great and was back to eating. On thursday I took a Humira shot I was due for.

This morning however, my doctor called me and said that cultures showed I had salmonellosis. It most likely passed on its own, but because I had just taken Humira (which he hoped I hadn't gotten around to just yet), he put me on an antibiotic for five days starting today, just to make sure all the bacteria gets flushed out.

I still feel great, now I'm just hoping I don't come in contact with or ingest some other bacteria once the antibiotics have done their job.

Thanks again guys