Stabbing Pains?

[mygutssuck]

Hi all

I'm still waiting on the GI appt, was told it would be sometime in February. I go for some blood work this Friday, so who knows, maybe they will want to see me sooner if there are any issues with that.

I have been getting these nasty stabbing type pains in my lower right abdomen, they come and go, but are getting more and more frequent. They sometimes go into and around my belly button too. When they are acting up really bad, the diarrhea gets even worse. Still get intermittent blood when I go, but nothing like in October when I want to the hospital, and not very often. When I don't have stabbing pain, I do have a consistent dull ache that will get worse when I get the stabbies. A friend mentioned maybe it could be adhesions from a hysterectomy I had a few yrs ago, but I thought maybe Crohn's or both? Wondering if anyone else gets this type of stabbing pain?

I go back to work soon after our holiday break and am trying to figure out how to deal with them there. At home I can lay down with heat pack, not so much at work. At times, they have me double over.

For meds, in case anyone needs to know: Still taking 8 Pentasa a day (4000mg - 2 500 mg pills 4 x a day), but I did stop for about 5 days around Christmas (bad idea). Back on track with them now because I felt pretty awful off them. Also taking daily Zantac for nasty heartburn, Gravol for nausea, Tylenol everyday for pains/headaches, and Imodium for the diarrhea when I have to work/want to go out. No Pred since end of November.

Thanks in advance for any feedback, I really appreciate it.

 

[SarahBear]

Hi, mygutssuck!

Stabbing pain is not unusual for me, although it's not my most common type of pain, either. In your case, it definitely sounds like it's being caused by Crohn's. If your hysterectomy was done several years ago, it's unlikely that it would start causing you problems now, and if you're having diarrhea with the pain, there has to be some sort of digestive system involvement.

It's not quite as effective as a heating pad, but you might want to try an adhesive heat patch. I get them from CVS - they're just little rectangles that stick to your clothing (you're not supposed to apply directly to skin) and use your body heat to warm up. I sometimes wear them when I'm having stomach problems at while at work.

It definitely sounds like stopping Pentasa could be a factor here. These medications take a while to build up their effectiveness, so stopping them or altering the dose can really throw things off. How long have you been taking Pentasa?

 

[Kero]

I get stabbing pain usually if I need to use the washroom For the most part mine is a deep constant pain which seems to be spreading lately. I hope you feel better soon, waiting sucks so much

 

[mygutssuck]

Thank you so much for the reply SarahBear, I really appreciate it

Sorry to hear you get the stabbing pains too, they are awful! I tend to agree that it would be odd for the hysterectomy to be affecting me now, but my friend insinuated I consider adhesions, so I thought maybe she was on to something.

Thanks for the tip on the heat patches, I forgot about those! Used to utilize them before I had the hysterectomy. They were amazing; I'm definitely going to look for some, thank you

I only started this round of Pentasa in October. I really didn't think it was doing much, other then giving me headaches and icky skin, etc, but my husband said he thought I seemed better on them, so went back on them. I did feel pretty awful those days off too, not sure if coincidence or not. (My family Dr had ok'd me to go off them for short stint to see if they were the cause of the headaches or not; he's not much help with this though.)

I feel like all I do is stuff pills in myself trying to feel somewhat normal and it doesn't seem to be working too well. I guess I just have to be patient and hope these blood tests show something so they hopefully get me in sooner then February. I would really like to feel better soon.

Again, thank you so much for taking the time to respond and for the great tip Hope you are doing well!

 

[mygutssuck]

Thank you for the response Kero Sorry you are experiencing this as well. This waiting is really no fun, hoping the long wait to see the specialist is worth it. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[afidz]

Where is your scar from your hysterectomy? If it wasa while ago, it could be scar tissue building up. I have hada lot of surgeries on my abdomen and get stabbing pains or general discomfort where the incisions were.
Do you still have your appendix? Crohn's can make your appendix inflamed.

 

[mygutssuck]

Hello afidz, Thank you for the response and questions

I had a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy, (for adenomyosis), so I have 3 little scars outside and 1 inside (sorry if tmi). Interestingly, there is 1 on lower right and in belly button, near where get stabby pains, so maybe it's scar tissue pains? That same side hurt a lot after the hysterectomy too.

I do still have my appendix and this stabbing pain has been occurring for the past few months, although it is more frequent and painful lately. I'm just not sure what to think of it. No fever, but am taking Tylenol.

Hope you are doing well!