How long is your typical flare?

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I read something in another post about 3 weeks being a long flare. That shocked me because I thought typical flares lasted months. I'm only on my second one. The first was 6-8 months, with two of those months being undiagnosed. This one is going on 3 months so far. I had 7 years of remission in between flares.

I have a rule of thumb (that I pulled out of nowhere) to give it 2-3 weeks before declaring it a flare and calling the doc. Then I have to schedule an appointment, most likely schedule a scope, get meds ordered. I just started Cimzia for this flare on Friday (called the doc mid-December, scope early January).

Is it not normal to have a flare last for months? Can you have short flares? I just assumed it was IBS when I would have diarrhea for a couple days that would go away on its own. Should I be calling the doc earlier than 2-3 weeks into a flare (assuming I ever get back into remission)?
 
Hey Stephanie, My typical flare (before this last year) would last a few weeks. It was crazy, I was not diagnosed so I would go to the ER and they would take blood, things would look ok. They would send me home with pain and nausea meds and I would sleep for a few weeks and wake up fine!! People thought I was crazy. My symptoms were way different then too....mostly nausea and pain. This past year....Ive been flaring the entire time and been hospitalized 5 different times for over a week!! Every time this past year, I got worst and worst. My symptoms of pain and nausea were still present but along with D or C, severe vomiting , fever, blood pressure issues, and body temp issues. So for me as my disease has progressed the flares have gotten longer and worst!! I think you can have a mild flare for a few weeks....but typically I think its longer than that.
 
My symptoms consist of cramping, nausea, and diarrhea. A typical flare lasts about a week. My doc has told me how fortunate I am.

Over the holidays though I was sick for about six weeks. I kept thinking it'd pass like usual. I finally made a GI appointment and suddenly got better a few days before it so canceled.
 
I was diagnosed 20 years ago and used to flare periodically at first. Eventually the chronic flares became so frequent that I basically had symptoms all the time. I had good days and bad, but it was there to stay.
 
My last flare lasted for a year on and off. I refused to see the doctor because after 3 or 4 weeks my D would calm down and then 2 weeks later wouild start again. My GI told me never to wait always go to the ER when this last for more than 2 weeks.
 
I would leave it a week then contact your doc... though saying that I'm 2 months in and have only told my GP, not my gastro consultant but then he's a complete bum!! I put mine in 2 categories. A small flare (lasts less than a month) and a big flare (lasts more than a month) Mine are usually the big ones. In the past 4 years I've had remission for maybe 10-12 months, the rest I've been in 1 flare or the other!! But I hate going to A&E because it takes hours to get seen etc... so I rather deal with it at home. And when my bum consultant decides to send me my injections, I'm not so bad :)
 
But I hate going to A&E because it takes hours to get seen etc... so I rather deal with it at home.

I hate going to the emergency room here for the same reason. I have to be at death's door to stumble in. My GI doc gave me a set of "rules" regarding when to break down and go and they've helped me a lot. After I take a certain amount of meds and give them a certain amount of time if I'm still sick I'm to go to the ER as it could be a blockage.

I recently read an article about how SOME awful ERs have people who have to wait a WHOLE HOUR!! I told my husband, "Where are these ERs where the wait is only an hour? I'm moving there!"
 
Im quite new to this (diagnosed crohn colitis Nov 2010) and had 2 flares, 1st one lasted about 2 weeks , 2nd one has been going 2 weeks and still suffering a bit now. Was hospitalised with my current flare. My symptoms for both were bloody Diahrrea, nausea and vomiting, Abdominal pain,fever,cramps,mouth ulcers (same symptoms both times but much more severe the second time around) Couple of months sounds awful , really feel for you.
Lol Partly cloudy , i want to move there too ! my last visit was 8 hours
 
Hi,
I was diagnosed in 2005 8 weeks after having my 1st child. I started flaring up when I was 27 weeks preg and put in hospital as the docs wanted to take my appendix out. I managed to keep that and once baby was out they did the colonoscopy and endoscopy. I then had a flare up just after Xmas of 2005 and ended up in hospital with a bowel blockage. That flare up only lasted 3-4 weeks and since then I have been in pretty good health and minimal drugs until October last year when it all came crashing down on me. And it still is just as bad. So thats been over 4 months now. I have such bad D, nausea, cramping, gas, pain etc that I'm really really scared that it's not just crohns anymore!!! I am scheduled in for a colonoscopy and endoscopy next Wednesday under a general and I'm freaking out about the results.
But as for flare up durations? I guess it can last as long as it lasts. Thats one thing I'm learning over time is that it's so unpredictable.
Whats Cimzia?
 
I guess technically the last 12 years have been an ongoing flare up for me. Since its all about the inflammation in the intestine. I've never quite been in remission before. Sometimes its way worse than others, of course, but is always just lingering around.
 
I too am recently diagnosed (January 2011) but my flare up has been going now for just over a year and has become progressively worse in tha time. It started out with just bad cramping & D once every couple of months... Then weeks... Then days... To 3 or four times a week... Now almost every day accompanied by severe waves of nausea, stomach pains on & off throughout the day, muscle aches, joint pain & severe fatigue... And that is despite having started treatment (I am only on 4,500 mg of Salofalk which is Mesalamine /Pentasa, my GI doesn't want to give me prednisone as I am already overweight... (it would appear that I put alot of weight on between flares!!) and I can't have remicade due to having had several close shaves to cancer & constant flu symptoms) so back to the topic at hand... This particular flare is my worst & longest but I have been flaring since my late teens & most of the time it was over in a week... I figured I just had gastro... Hence only being diagnosed now... So I guess the answer is that is length varies dependent on triggers, treatment, severity etc...

I just hope they find a mirical treatment soon cause mine ain't working!! Lol

28 yo female
Diagnosed Jan 2011 (but suffering on & off for around 10 years)
Meds - Pentasa & vitamin supplements (although I have an appointment on the 2nd of may... I assume it will change then)
 
I was diagnosed last May, symptoms longer than that, and a recent MRI indicated that the Crohn's is still active...but less than a while ago. Progress. But I'll let you know how long my flare lasts once it's done. :biggrin:
 
Before being diagnosed in janurary, last year I would flare will last for 2 weeks and go away.. But this flare since this year still has been going on since feburary. So it's been 2 months now and it seems to be calming down a bit now.. I think the 6mp is working, but we will see in a few more months
 
my longest flare up was 2 years long...ended last year for about 3 months then came back and is still going...now getting ready for surgery this summer
 
My flares are also short (for now). When this started last June, the pain/nausea/D would last about a week, with a few weeks in between each flare. since I am still undiagnosed, they are starting to get closer together and longer...two weeks flaring, one week fine, etc. I am currently flaring, and was hospitalized for it, and it has lasted three weeks so far.

I agree with others, when your flares are so short it is SO hard to figure out what it wrong. However, I have been to my GI in the middle of a flare (I was relieved I ended up sick during an appt) but he ended up not doing any tests that time. >.< The tests at the hospital were also normal...I'm thinking these flares will have to get longer and stronger before they will pay attention.
 
My flares are also short (for now). When this started last June, the pain/nausea/D would last about a week, with a few weeks in between each flare. since I am still undiagnosed, they are starting to get closer together and longer...two weeks flaring, one week fine, etc. I am currently flaring, and was hospitalized for it, and it has lasted three weeks so far.

I agree with others, when your flares are so short it is SO hard to figure out what it wrong. However, I have been to my GI in the middle of a flare (I was relieved I ended up sick during an appt) but he ended up not doing any tests that time. >.< The tests at the hospital were also normal...I'm thinking these flares will have to get longer and stronger before they will pay attention.


I had exactly the same problem... When I'd flare I'd make a docs appointment... By the time the appointment came round the flare would be over and all of my test results would be clear... My flares became more frequent, longer & more severe... But my tests were always clean... I had a colonoscopy, gastroscopy, MRI, CT scan a million blood tests (thank god the blood tests kept showing inflammation & anemia or the doctors might have stopped looking...) in the end I had a second colognoscopy followed by a pill cam... The colognoscopy picked up inflammation in the large bowel... The pill cam picked up 3 separate small ulcers in the small bowel & several areas of inflammation....

Next flare u have request a pill cam!!! In Australia providing u have had a recent colognoscopy & show signs of anemia Medicare (NHS?) picks up the bill...

All the tests I had showed NOTHING till the pill cam and yet there was so many areas of inflammation... Could be worth a try???
 
I had exactly the same problem... When I'd flare I'd make a docs appointment... By the time the appointment came round the flare would be over and all of my test results would be clear... My flares became more frequent, longer & more severe... But my tests were always clean... I had a colonoscopy, gastroscopy, MRI, CT scan a million blood tests (thank god the blood tests kept showing inflammation & anemia or the doctors might have stopped looking...) in the end I had a second colognoscopy followed by a pill cam... The colognoscopy picked up inflammation in the large bowel... The pill cam picked up 3 separate small ulcers in the small bowel & several areas of inflammation....

Next flare u have request a pill cam!!! In Australia providing u have had a recent colognoscopy & show signs of anemia Medicare (NHS?) picks up the bill...

All the tests I had showed NOTHING till the pill cam and yet there was so many areas of inflammation... Could be worth a try???

yup, pill cam is my next step! The docs at the hospital are pretty sure most of my inflammation/ ulcers are in my small intestine since colonoscopies/ upper endoscopies aren't showing anything.
 
yup, pill cam is my next step! The docs at the hospital are pretty sure most of my inflammation/ ulcers are in my small intestine since colonoscopies/ upper endoscopies aren't showing anything.

Good luck I hope they find it so that they can get you on some treatment & feeling better soon... I'm writing this from the toilet at 12:32 am my time... So I sympathize with you!!!

Keep me posted on what the pill cam finds!!!
 
I have UC, so it may be a little different than Chrons. My flares usually last between 6-10 weeks. I agree that you should get treatment within a week or two. I waited 3-4 weeks this time, and it was worse thatn usual because it went untreated.
 
A flare for me will last as long as it takes for me to get my butt in gear and to the Doc for treatment.....I have literally gone YEARS with having symptoms/flaring before deciding it was time to get new treatment.....
 
I was diagnosed 30 years ago.

My first flare lasted about a year and a half until they operated. I was in remission for 8 years after that.

Since I was 16 I have flared off and on, but not for a defined length of time. I haven't taken any meds that have worked for me in any way. Much of the time it feels as though I'm bouncing for surgery to surgery. It's been 12 years since I went under the knife for Crohn's, but I have had a few years in there that weren't too bad. That doesn't mean I wasn't in terrible pain or w/o D everyday, just means it wasn't bad enough to knock me to the floor.

This past year and half has been solid flare in a big way. In and out of the hospital with a partial blockage - first time I've ever had any blockage issues.

And then there's my mother. She was diagnosed when she was 12, operated on when she was 16. Sometime after I was born she had a blockage and emergency surgery. Other than that she deals with D and has to watch what she eats, but is otherwise completely fine.
 
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