New to chrons need advice.

[bruni31]

Hi i am a 33 year old male, oct 16 2007 i had crazy stomach pain, so i went to the emergancy and they told me it was my appendics, and they were going to do surgery that night, well when i woke up, they told me i had a perforated bowel and it was not my appendics. and it was caused by chrons, up till this point, i have had no symptons of chrons? Now since the surgery i go to the bathroom more often, and have had loose bowels since, my gi says its because of the shorter bowel.. Well i do not know what a flare up is? I am not on any medication i go for a scope april 8th till then i am knd of scared. i lost 20lbs but gain back 15lbs. Now if i have any kind of stomach pain i think that i am going to need surgery, maybe i have a fast acting chrons which can perforate a intestine qucikly, Maybe my chrons flare up present to late, and its already time for surgery?
I have so many question, i am in the southern ontario area, any buddy in this area, i can sure use the help. Thanks Dave

 

[Kev]

Hi Dave Welcome to the forum. sorry to hear your introduction to this disease was as drastic N quick as it was... There are some folks who go for years with vague, undiagnosable symptoms... guess the grass is always greener on the other side. Anyway, dont' jump at every twinge or unusual pain. Resections can have that effect w/o anything going on. Try to sit back, take it easy till the scope is done. The fact that you aren't on any meds is a really good sign that things are under control. I know this hit you out of the blue, but the doctors know what they are dealing with. Just track/note any symptoms/issues, relay that info to the GI/Surgeon/doctor in charge, and give yourself time to heal, OK

 

[bruni31]

Thank Kev

 

[TammySue62]

Hi Dave and welcome
I am from Hamilton and maybe I can steer you on the right path
Can you give us a bit more info?

 

[bruni31]

Oct 16 2007 first had pain and surgery
well i am 33 year male
no prior proplems
i had 6" of small intestine and 5" of large intestine removed by the ileum
tested the pieces they removed and tested postive for chrons
i did 3 months of flagy
every since act 16th i've have had loose bowel movments?
never had loose bowel movments before, so am i in a flare up?
took 3 months to fully heal had wound infection.
i can pretty well tolerate any food.
i really would like to know what a flare up is?
i also am in Hamilton
Thank so much i am glad i found this site

 

[BWS1982]

A flare up in contrast to "remission" is kind of like being cancerous and in remission from cancer....it's a period of time lasting just days or even months/years, without any of your Crohns symptoms....obviously the flare up is the other time, where you're symptomatic. Maybe another analogy is like if you are allergic to cats, and you are around cats, that would be your flare up, you get dizzy and start couging and sneezing....then when you leave the vacinity and return to normal status, you're "out of the flare up"...

I was in a 4.5 month remission last summer in '07 (best time of my life since Dx'd) and I ate practically anything I wanted, including dozens and dozens of foods that would send me into immense suffering now. Something though at one point (stress, or a disagreeable food choice? who knows) sent me into a flare up in mid August.

Normal bowel movements, no signs of the disease....the only reminder during remission you even have of Crohns is from any meds you have to take for maintenance....ah those were the days...

 

[Keara07]

Hi Dave -
Sorry to hear about your Dx - I am new to this as well, with just a dx after my ER visit last Dec but I showed (hindsight 20-20) symptoms for a few years - however, I didn't have surgery as they did multiple tests incl CT and Xray and ruled out appendix (and about a dz other things)- but found out today surgery is imminent in the summer.

It does sound like CD though - I was more bothered by pain for year than movement issues but there were days....always chalked them up to the *ulcer* meds or bad food choices, but I know better now. No ulcer, bad gut.

I asked the forum about a flare up as well back in Jan/Feb as I was unsure too - there's a few links if you type in flare in the search part to this great forum. Everyone has a different way of describing them, for me, it's down to when I don't have any symptoms I guess and I haven't seen that bright light since Nov, for this attack, or if you consider the ulcer pain (which wasn't an ulcer) then about 15 months now...but who knew? CD never even entered my GP's head and I was completely unaware, even with two aunts living with IBD/IBS.

Others consider having bad D or constipation part too - as my days are completely changing, one day D, 6 days nothing, 4 days D, 4 days nothing....etc etc....then that's tough for me to judge. I think my *flare* will end when my gut no longer feels like I have spent 12 rounds with a boxer. Even on the steroids and ASA.

I hope you feel really better soon!!

 

[drew_wymore]

Hey Dave-
You'll quickly learn that flares are different for everyone as Keara said. I'm sorry to hear it hit you so fast, I like you, had absolutely no symptoms and then got hit pretty hard. Good thing you've got a diagnosis now so you work towards getting better!

 

[bruni31]

Thank you guys it nice to know that i am not alone, anyways i apperciate all you advice and comments, thanks again. Dave