Remission verses flare

[ataloss]

remission verses flare

So this will probably seem like a dumb question but I am really new to this crohn's business. How do you know when you are in remission?? And how do you know if you are about to have a flare?? If you have been doing ok but then starting have abdominal pain does that mean a flare is coming?? Is there anything you can do to help prevent the flare if you think its coming....or do you just wake up one day and boom you are having a flare up. I don't even really know if those questions make sense. All I know is that my doctor is trying to get me into remission and hasn't really been able to tell me much besides remission is goal. Any advice??

 

[CrohnsHobo]

For me a flare is continued problems. When I say I am in remission I only have those regular symptoms once in a blue moon. Usually when I eat something I shouldn't but then back to normal the next day or so.

When I flare those symptoms just don't go away.

 

[dreamintwilight]

Unfortunately it seems to be different for everyone. I am still struggling to figure out what my signs are that tell me I am about to flare. I've heard from people that it is ANYTHING that changes in your bowl habits or "normal" feelings. So, if you typically have 2-3 BMs/day and notice you are having 4-5 regardless if there is pain, you could be going into a flare (unless you know you ate/drank something like coffee or something that tends to make you more regular). I know that's not very specific. Some people know right away because they feel really run down and maybe feel a little more bloated after eating.

I would say if you experience anything out of you "norm," you could try and counteract going into a worse flare by sticking to a low fiber/low residue diet that is easier on the gut. I think I've noticed for me, once I feel out of the norm I have to go as far as a liquid diet because I have strictures and my gut is already pretty narrowed.

Abdominal pain tends to be a pretty good indicator that something isn't right. So, take it easy with your diet and if it gets worse call your doc especially if you get a fever and/or experience vomiting.

As far as remission...I think docs say you have reached remission when colonoscopies and scans show up with no inflammation in the parts of your bowel that have shown active disease. So, some people can feel fine, but still technically have active disease. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Astra]

Remission for me is going for a long time without loose stools,watery D. abdo pains, gas, bloat, fatigue, joint pains, headache, pain, fatigue, sore eyes, mouth ulcers, fatigue, pain and so on

Relapse for me is all of the above, and then some, for days on end, and it never stops.
such an unpredictable bitch, you never know when she's gonna raise her ugly head!
Finding the right med, and diet, can/may put you into remission, but when inflammation strikes there's not a lot you can do about it. Rest is crucial for healing, and avoiding stress. For major D, a low residue diet works for me during a flare. Then I stay in bed and watch crap daytime TV.
But, projectile vomiting is a different thing altogether, this could indicate a narrowing, a blockage or an obstruction and shouldn't be ignored, see the doc asap,
It is confusing, and scary, but in time you'll recognise symptoms and triggers and be able to manage your illness, it just takes practice and time.
fire as many questions as you want, and have a scoot round the forum's threads for info on Crohns
xxx

 

[kenny]

I figure the odd pain and a day or two of loose poo is part of my remission still. Its any sign of infection like night sweats/chills and a few days in a row of bloody poo that I worry about.

It is all about playing with diet and taking care of myself at this point. It is easy for me to push myself toward a flair but I have always been able to bring it back so far.

 

[teeny5]

Remission for me is not having pain all day and being able to go to the bathroom 3 times a day or less. When I am flaring not only do I have pain and go a ton, but also have nausea and fatigue. My doctor can tell when I am flaring because my ESR sky rockets, blood pressure drops, I become anemic, my pulse races, and I tend to lose a lot of weight.

Right now I am in a weird in between stage. Not really flaring, but some days feels like it for sure. Been getting nausea after eating all the time. Sucks!

 

[Chrismac]

I'd agree with teeny5, for me remission is not having pain all day and going to the bathroom only 1 or 2 times. I also have fatigue, so feeling energised for me is a big sign that I'm in remission. But the thing is.. I don't think I've been in full remission for 7 or 8 years or so.

It definitely varies per person. I know that sucks to hear, that there's no straight answer but because the disease is different in location and intensity everyone has different levels.

 

[Jennifer]

I've been in remission since my surgery in 1999. The main thing is that I'm not in pain. I may have a little pain every once in a while but that's not uncommon. I'm not in pain that last for hours or all day/days and my energy level is generally normal. I'm also not having any bleeding but can have occasional mucus (really not that often and over 10 years its probably happened twice that I can recall). For me, if I were to start bleeding, then I'm having a flare or if the pain returns and never leaves then I'm having a flare. Can it be prevented? I don't think so. For me, no matter how I change my diet or pray to the voodoo gods, the flare will happen. To avoid having to take Predinsone what I do is contact my GI right away (waiting allows problems to get worse) where they will usually alter my meds to see if that takes care of the problem.

 

[Lydia]

I define remission as no pain and no symptoms. There are different modes of flare for me; mild moderate and severe. I had a four year remission once, with a couple of hiccups in between. You can get symptoms during remission but if they dont last more than a few days and overall you feel great, its safe to say you are still in remission.