I'm New Here..My Husband Has Crohn's..

[Wildflower]

Hi everyone! Super new to forums

My husband, Russ (Age 29), was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in late 2008 while stationed in Turkey while he was serving in the US Air Force. It hit him like a brick wall...He finished out his duty there and came back to the states. When he got back he had all the bouncing around on medication he could take...They finally put him on Remicade, but due to his AFSC(job), the side effects were messing up his work. He was undeployable due to CD and couldn't arm up (wear his weapon) so they medically retired him. He had to stop taking Remicade due to $$ and retiring from the USAF. He has tried several other medications since (predinisone(sp?), Imuran, etc..) and the VA has decided to put him back on Remicade. (Has not started it yet)

He has always handled his symptoms very well...other than a few flare ups every so often...but they have never been as bad as they are right now...

The day he started taking Imuran things became horrible. He could hardly get out of bed, he wasn't really able to eat, and he was running a fever...After a few arguments with his doctor...he was able to convince his Dr. that upping his dose was just making the situation worse. He just stopped taking it...he really didn't have a choice...He couldn't do anything (eat, sleep, move, etc.). When he started Imuran he weighed a healthy 175-180lbs...after about a month in a half he weighs 144... He is 6'1" :ywow:

It wasn't till Sunday that things really went south...We were at my cousins house, and Russ was going to mow his lawn for him (he had just had back surgery), which was no problem for Russ. Physical stuff never bothers him bad. Russ came inside and had only been mowing for about 5 mins. He was white as a sheet and could hardly stand. As we were getting ready to leave he began throwing up. I had never seen him vomit before...We got home and he went to bed...he couldn't move without hurting . I didn't know what to do ( I knew there wasn't anything I could do). He wasn't running a fever, he wasn't bloating too bad...He just hurt everywhere...He was down most of the day and at about 8 pm he just ran to the bathroom and made some progress...he felt better.

He was fine till this morning...he left for work. Wasn't feeling too chipper when he left but it was morning and we aren't morning ppl :/ . But he came home 2 hours later....went right up to bed and can't sleep because he cannot stop throwing up, and he hurts so bad he can't lay still...I'm actually not in there because I was annoying him with the "Are you okay? Is there anything I can do?" banter. He was only a little warm 99.1 F . He can't keep phenegran down. I'm just at a stand still with my husbands worst enemy...CD Flare up! :sign0085:

I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions on what he might be able to eat or drink to make him feel better..?

 

[David]

Hi Wildflower and welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's trouble, my heart goes out to the both of you

Frankly, based upon what you're saying and as tough as your husband sounds like he is, I'd take him to the ER. If he is in terrible-can't-lay-still pain and is vomiting, they need to make sure he doesn't have an obstruction or something else that is serious. I'm not a doctor, this is simply coming from reading way too many like anecdotes.

*hugs* to you both. You're in my thoughts.

 

[Angrybird]

Hi there and welcome to the forum, glad you have come to get some advice. I can only agree with David about getting down to the ER to check to see if there is a blockage going on, again this is based in what others here have experienced. Wishing you both all the best and pls let us know when you can on how you got on.

AB
xx

 

[Wildflower]

Thanks for the tips...He refused to go to the hospital but said he felt better this morning...He was feeling good enough to go to work in the rain...lol...It just scares me when he wont be more open about going to the hospital.

 

[David]

I'm glad he's feeling better this morning. However, he may have a stricture that is causing narrowing of his intestines which is leading to partial or full obstructions. IF that's the case, what he was experiencing can come back and it can be a life threatening situation. I'd let your GI know what's going on so he can evaluate if he does indeed need to be checked for stricturing or other issues.

 

[Angrybird]

Good to hear he is a bit better this morning. Definetly get onto the doc about this though.

 

[Wildflower]

I think his doc is a little unprofessional...he has brought these events up to him and he just kinda changes the subject...its quite frustrating..but we are moving so he will have his old doc...Praise the Lord!