How long do you let a flare go?

[L_Millas]

Hi all! So I'm into my first year being diagnosed with crohns and currently on Humira since about 4 months into being diagnosed and other meds not working. Going thru a bit of a flare right now and just wondering how long other people wait to see their doctor. Do you just ride it out til it passes or get put on more meds? I get unsure what to do because I feel pretty ok during the day but then at night the pain can get unbearable. I have a stricture so I do get concerned with inflammation causing a blockage. If the pain comes back as bad as it was last night I'll reach out to my doctor but I'm just curious how other people handle a flare.
Thanks!

 

[Scipio]

If you have been on Humira for four months and are now having a bad flare then it's time to conclude that Humira, at least at your current dose, is no longer working. Call your GI right away. You may need surgery for the suspected blockage. There may be no such thing as "riding it out." It may just keep raging and getting worse for weeks or months with permanent damaging building up the whole time.

I suspect your medication needs adjustment. Either dose escalation with Humira, and/or addition of an immunosuppressant, or perhaps switch to another biologic. Only your GI can say for sure. Good luck.

 

[ronroush7]

I agree with Scipio. Let us know how you are .

 

[L_Millas]

Thank you both for your reply. The unpredictability of this disease always leaves me guessing

 

[Missmissie]

Leaves me guessing too.

Here I sit in so much pain, dehydration, extreme amounts of bloody tissue coming from my colon ten times a day...figuring out if I will in fact take my butt to the ER.

 

[More Than Pickles]

I never understand why we wait so long to seek ER help when we clearly need it. Been there, I will never sit at home and suffer, questioning/feeling guilty for going to the ER again. Please don't wait to get relief.

 

[Missmissie]

Been in the hospital 6 days, no relief. Super frustrated. Why isn't there an end in sight? Why can't I go home and rest? Why won't anything work any faster or at all? I know I contributed to this for waiting so long but I feel like a hospital stay of 6 days should be much improving me by now. This is crazy. How long do people stay in a damn hospital for this??? At times of day I feel totally fine then in an "episode" I feel like I'm gonna die. So frustrated.

 

[ronroush7]

Been in the hospital 6 days, no relief. Super frustrated. Why isn't there an end in sight? Why can't I go home and rest? Why won't anything work any faster or at all? I know I contributed to this for waiting so long but I feel like a hospital stay of 6 days should be much improving me by now. This is crazy. How long do people stay in a damn hospital for this??? At times of day I feel totally fine then in an "episode" I feel like I'm gonna die. So frustrated.

Sending you support.

 

[Bufford]

Flares are like storms, hard to predict, and each one different. There are the small ones I and probably others simply ride out, but those larger ones make one reach for the doctor's office or worse the ER. When the hurt becomes bad one must reach out to the doctor before more damage takes place. One has to pay attention as a flare can easily get out of control, better to make the call early than late when in doubt.

 

[DougUte]

If I feel pain starting up, I call my G.I. He usually gets me in pretty quick in that condition. If the pain is increasing, then I go to the ER. Better not to wait and have this disease do more permanent damage to my gut. Please don't wait too long.

 

[Missmissie]

Still in the hospital tried full solids since yesterday and I don't feel good! Want me to do solid diet tomorrow and I don't want to! I did wait waaaay too long to come to the ER so I definitely did a number on my guts. I don't expect to feel 100% overnight of course, but just some more positive progress would be nice to see...

 

[Crohn's Veteran]

To L Millas, the initial post. Never wait to go to the ER when you are having issues. Going to the ER will relieve symptoms, they will run tests and it will show your GI doctor that there is a serious problem. In that, waiting to go to the office and trying a new medicine is not what you need. It shows that this is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed.

I also take Humira. It is meant to be taken bi-weekly. I take it weekly. If you are on it bi-weekly, you may need to be on it weekly. It has made TREMENDOUS difference in putting me in remission. I also take Imurean and Pentasa.

All in all, never wait, go to the ER and tell them the tremendous pain you are in and your symptoms.

 

[Crohn's Veteran]

Still in the hospital tried full solids since yesterday and I don't feel good! Want me to do solid diet tomorrow and I don't want to! I did wait waaaay too long to come to the ER so I definitely did a number on my guts. I don't expect to feel 100% overnight of course, but just some more positive progress would be nice to see...

I am so very sorry you are going through all of this. I can definitely understand what you are going through. You are in the right place and I would recommend staying until you feel well enough to go home. When I was in the hospital every time, they would not let me leave unless I could keep food down and have a bowel movement.