My tummy hurts again

[sunflower]

Darn it!! I know it always does because I have Crohn's. But, it had been getting better, so I am sad. The Humira has been helping - or so I thought. My swelling had gone down and I was feeling so much better.

Now it is starting to feel all swollen inside and it is getting hard and inflamed. My stricture seems to be tightening again, too. I felt the poo "pop" through the narrow part when I went to the bathroom the other day, and everything that came out after that has looked like a log jam. :stinks:

Just when you think things are going good.

Oh well. At least life is never too boring!! :ybatty: Now I get to have another scopy! Hooray! (not):congratualtions:

 

[Crohn's 35]

Hey sunflower, I know how you felt. I too was on Humira for about 6 months and the pains were coming closer together and then stopped using it. If you think your stricture is getting worse, I would tell your Gi, and watch what you eat, because you could get stuck. Been there many times too. Just coming off a flare too..so get your scope and let us know when you are having it done. :hang:

 

[sunflower]

My scope is scheduled for the 11th. 11/11/11 Great, it is one of those memorable days - like I might NOT want to remember day. He said he was't going to do the full colon, but the order sheet I got says colonoscopy. Oh well. It is the same for me. Prep - then nap. Luckily they use the Propofol so I sleep well and wake up refreshed. My old doctor used demerol and versed and something else and I was always so groggy I couldn't remember what happened.

Gas and pain and lots of stools today. Still have to push through the stricture, so I do think it is clamping down again. I keep hoping I am wrong. But, I am just too uncomfortable to not have something going on. I am not as swollen as I was though, that is a plus. Before the Humira, my belly was blown up like a balloon. Now it is just swollen and sore. It doesn't stick out all round and hard like it used to.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Sorry you're having a tough time. If anyone knows how rough structures can be, it's me! Where abouts is yours located? Are you on any laxatives?

Hope the scope goes ok for you!

 

[sunflower]

Hi Michelle, this is my first stricture!! Thank you for replying. I am both terrified and frustrated.

Actually, I think it has been forming for several years, but no one really listened to me. I kept telling my doctors that my stool would only go so far, then it would just stop. It would sit there for a while, and then when it was backed up enough, it would push through. They kept telling me it was constipation. And, there is really no excuse for that because I have been diagnosed with Crohn's since 1992! However, since I wasn't having diarrhea, they said it wasn't Crohn's. It wasn't until I got this new GI that someone listened and realized that there was something going on. However, when he looked a couple of years ago, he didn't see the stricture. It was there a few months ago!! He put me on Humira and I thought I was doing better. But, it is back with a vengeance - sore spot and all.

It is somewhere in my colon, toward the left side. It hurts right above and to the left of my belly button. But, I think he told me it was only about 10 cm into my colon. Course, if they don't count the rectum in that 10 cm, I guess that would be about right?

I am not on laxatives right now. I was a few months ago for it. Right now I am having diarrhea AND having trouble passing it through! LOL!! Sounds crazy, I know. The frustrating part is that Humira seemed to be working well. It is helping the swelling and my arthritis symptoms. But, I started feeling bad a few weeks ago, and hoped it was a stomach bug. Now, I am just really sure it was not.

Ugh!

He said if the stricture doesn't resolve I have to have surgery. My first. And I am being a big baby about it. I am scared, but want it done at the same time. As long as they take out my "spot".

The "spot" is where I have felt this disease since about 1978. It is scarred up now, and the most "normal" part of that section is the polyps (according to the colonoscopy reports I have read). The bad part is that the "spot" is next to my rectum, and surgeons don't really want to mess with it.

Sigh.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

No that makes total sense to me. I'd find it nearly impossible to go for ages and when I did, it was just all gush out. It was very confusing at the time! I had my strictures for a good couple of years until they did a colonoscopy and couldn't get past 8cm into my bowel because they were so bad! I was kind of relived that I knew what was wrong at last!

I had a little one right where you said, then about 15cm of my sigmoid colon was strictured and I had one in my rectum which I had to keep dilating as it kept closing up too much!

In the end they suggested surgery to me which I decided to do. Because of the extent of my strictures, they decided the best thing was for me to have my whole colon out. I had the op 2 and half weeks ago now laproscopically and I actually love having a bag. No more worrying about going to the toilet!

Anyway, I don't mean to scare you but having an op with strictures can be a good choice. Especially if you are worried about obstructions. Obviously mine were really bad which is why they took everything out. But I wouldn't be surprised if they just wanted to resect the strictured part on you.

Please try not to be too scared though! It was my first major operation too and it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be