Help! I'm suddenly bloated?!

[-Rita-]

Hey everyone!
I recently started getting extremely bloated and I'm starting to get scared and worried.
It started about a week ago and it evolved into pain and even BLEEDING!! It's a huge flashback from when I was first diagnosed.
Althought I do it safely, I have also taken measures regarding pregnancy due to the fact I'm sexually active and not taking birth control (my doctor is afraid it might interfere with my medicine and told me to wait for our next appointment).
Could it be something I ate? I started getting more appetite lately and I've been eating a lot of cereal.
I also started taking Prednisolone again because I've been losing blood. I take two every morning. Could this be it?
Please help!

 

[Scipio]

What do you mean by "bloated?" Do you mean that your gut feels full and distended? Or do you mean your body and especially your face is getting swollen or bloated in appearance?

If the former then it may be something you ate, or possibly a flare of your IBD, or an infection. It could be a lot of things. If the latter then it may be a side effect of prednisolone, since it commonly does that. Although it usually takes some time (weeks or months) for that kind of bloating to set in. not just a few days.

 

[-Rita-]

What do you mean by "bloated?" Do you mean that your gut feels full and distended? Or do you mean your body and especially your face is getting swollen or bloated in appearance?

If the former then it may be something you ate, or possibly a flare of your IBD, or an infection. It could be a lot of things. If the latter then it may be a side effect of prednisolone, since it commonly does that. Although it usually takes some time (weeks or months) for that kind of bloating to set in. not just a few days.

My stomach grew its size suddenly when the bleeding started (it makes me look like I'm pregnant and people actually do stare sometimes). I took Prednisolone for a week and then stopped but had to start again because the bleeding kept. That was when my appetite grew as well (I was told Prednisolone does that). If it was something I ate then could it be the cereal? I only started eating it recently.

 

[ronroush7]

Call your doctor and let him know what is going on. Is there anything in the cereal that your body is intolerant to?

 

[shamrock15]

If the cereal is the only new component to your diet it would be a likely culprit, but it does not guarantee that it is the problem. Is the cereal high in fibre? Is your blood bright red or dark red? If it is high fibre and you haven't had a lot of fibre until the cereal there is a good chance that the size of your stool is causing your problems. If it slows down it can easily trap gas and cause small bleeds as it passes through your rectum. I agree with the phone call to your doctor that is mentioned, but would also immediately stop the cereal. Hope all goes well for you.

 

[shamrock15]

Can I ask if you have a standing order for the steroid you are taking? Make sure your GI doc knows about the usage.

 

[-Rita-]

If the cereal is the only new component to your diet it would be a likely culprit, but it does not guarantee that it is the problem. Is the cereal high in fibre? Is your blood bright red or dark red? If it is high fibre and you haven't had a lot of fibre until the cereal there is a good chance that the size of your stool is causing your problems. If it slows down it can easily trap gas and cause small bleeds as it passes through your rectum. I agree with the phone call to your doctor that is mentioned, but would also immediately stop the cereal. Hope all goes well for you.

It seems that it was indeed the cereal that was causing all this. I have now stopped eating it and noticed that my stomach is slowly going down. It's a shame that my favorite cereal is making me sick but I guess that's what happens when you're stuck with Crohn's. :lol2: I have an appointment with my doctor this Tuesday and will explain to her what happened (and about the blood as well which hasn't stopped yet and I'm afraid I might be having another flare )

 

[Lucky One]

Talk to your doctor about how to manage prednisone usage too. It's very dangerous to start and stop without weaning off it.

 

[ronroush7]

Talk to your doctor about how to manage prednisone usage too. It's very dangerous to start and stop without weaning off it.

Agreed

 

[dejavucandace]

I have days where the pants I am wearing do not fit at the end of the day and I bring an elastic with me every day in case I need to extend my waistband. I am not really sure what the culprit is but for sure I am not eating anything with gluten in it at the moment. And my motto is If in doubt....leave it ouT!