Inflamed intestines - anyone else feel this way?

[Juls]

Hey everyone. Hoping some of you might help me to figure out what's going on with my stomach lately. I have Crohns and have had a resection in the past for a narrow section of the bowels which was causing blockages.

Things have been going well since then - but every now and then I get what I THINK is inflammation of the intestines. Usually comes on shortly after eating lunch. I get very achy and then I can feel almost a thickness/inflammation on my lower right abdomen. If I lie down I can physically feel a mass form in my stomach and slowly go away and then form again under my hand. And you can see it as well. LIke it is getting inflamed, and then subsiding, and then inflaming and subsiding,,etc. I don't believe it's a blockage - as I have had those in the past and there is not the same kind of pain with this. And no vomiting or diarrhea or anything. Just an achy uncomfortable feeling in the stomach. It usually passes within a few hours if I remain lying down and relaxed.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced this? I'm pretty sure it's inflammation - but I'm wondering how I can help prevent this. Obviously the pentasa I'm on isn't working as well anymore......and I more would like to find a natural method of healing anyways. Might be something to do with my diet, I'm just not sure. My main concern is that the intestines will close in more and more each time this inflammation occurs...which will cause blockage for the future. not cool.

Thanks!
Julie

 

[Dustin]

Hi Juls,
It sounds like you can see/feel the food passing through your system. I can't say I've ever had that happen to myself. It could be that you have a narrowing which is causing a "bottleneck", where the food going through gets slowed down at that point because the opening isn't as wide - just takes longer for stuff to pass through that section. I have had them widen a narrowing before during a colonoscopy - might be something to check out.

Good health and best of luck.

 

[LadyVik]

Hi,
When I first got diagnosed, one of the docs at my doctors showed me how to "feel" if I was inflamed, Push down on the lower left side of my stomach and feel for a sausage. I don't really know why she showed me this but I've experienced it a lot of times, though I've never seen it or felt food pass through it?? Maybe something to discuss with your consultant??

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Hi,
When I first got diagnosed, one of the docs at my doctors showed me how to "feel" if I was inflamed, Push down on the lower left side of my stomach and feel for a sausage. I don't really know why she showed me this but I've experienced it a lot of times, though I've never seen it or felt food pass through it?? Maybe something to discuss with your consultant??

Maybe this is why many GI's have commented that my stomach feels 'soft'. I never really got what they meant!

 

[Brad P]

This sounds like me now. I have issues in my duodenum, ulcers/inflammation and a fistula. I feel food passing through, expanding/contracting/bulging. I don't have any pain though oddly enough. I feel ok in the morning and a bit hungry but later in the day I feel somewhat sickly after eating.

 

[teeny5]

I have had the "sausage tummy" myself. That is exactly what I told my Dr. when I first went with my first Crohn's symptoms. Mine was the areas where inflammation was and it would bulge when food passed through that area.

 

[theend2]

I feel when the food or at that point really it's poo that passes through. I feel it on the left side all the time. Almost everyday.