Two week long continuous flare...

[fosamoa]

Sigh...

I really can't take it anymore. I wake up in the middle of the night in pain. I'm losing weight. It's just horrible.

This is my first flare-up after remission following medication. My flare-ups prior to this were more severe I'd say, but a few hours maybe every week or two. This is probably worse because it's basically continuous. And the fact that I had a healthy period makes it all the worse, and pisses me off.

My doctor wants me to get an mri to see if there's more inflammation/it's spread. I'm scared... I'm taking drugs on the relatively less extreme side of things (apriso and entocort) and although this place is great, it exposes me to seeing the bounty of strong drugs (with strong side effects) that a lot of long time crohns patients are on/have gone through. I'm scared of starting down that path.

Probably my biggest source of worry is that I'm a college student and I was planning on studying abroad next semester. It's been a big thing to plan and I've been working hard at it since last year and everything was set up. However, if this keeps up, I don't know if I can/would want to. It would both hamper my experience and be detrimental to my health not having access to my personal doctor (plus I don't know what the medication situation would be).

Not sure what I'm looking for, but just want to vent.

-Bobby

 

[g12]

Hey,

Feel for you, i got diagnosed in college too. Is it localized Crohn's to one area, or is it spread out. If it's localized, they can do a resection surgery and basically cut it out. That's what i had, and haven't had ANY pain since the surgery, that was 12 years ago. If it's spread out, you probably are looking at something like remicade or humira, both shots. The key is to reduce or eliminate the pain so you can function better.

Good luck!

Gene

 

[JennaRae]

Fosamoa, I am so sorry your going through all of this. I hope your doctor has some better news for you soon. Have you asked about medications such as Remicade? Maybe these type of meds are just what you need. Or as stated above, surgery maybe helpful as well. Ask your doctor about these things. I learned after 10 years that sometimes doctors run out of ideas and its up to you to bring something new to the table. Good luck to you and any time you need to vent and get support you can always come here!

 

[anomiidae]

I had my first flare my second semester junior year of nursing school. The attendance policy for clinicals was so strict that if you missed three you failed the course. I missed two due to illness. I wore an adult diaper to make it through the semester without having to take a medical leave of absence. I do not regret it. If you can plan for what you'll need and have contacts and supports in place for emergencies that you could study abroad. Sometimes it is all right, in fact safer and healthier to let Crohn's control your agenda, but you must pick your battles. If you will be equipped to plan for your care abroad, I think it's worth a shot. If not, do not risk it and place yourself in an anxious arena.

 

[Catherine]

Where are you planning to study overseas? If itAustralia, drugs like aza should be to easy to access. Now drugs like remicade, that's whole other story and I think would be hard to access.

 

[723crossroads]

Hi and welcome to the forum!
I too have been flaring for weeks, but I have been able to control it most of the time with diet and taking the cholestyramine for Diarrhea. But I carry personal supplies with me wherever I go in case it hits there. I don't get the pains real bad unless a bM is coming on and then I have to immediately get to a bathroom.Only once in awhile a quick stab of a pain will hit elsewhere. I am not on Humira or remicade, avoiding them as long as I can because I heard they only work for so long on some people. What do we do when they quit? I hope you can find a solution to your problem so you are able to go abroad and fulfill your dream. Hugs!!!:getwell: