What do you do during a flare up

[Kyra]

I know my sons lays in his bed or on the couch all day with a heating pad and movies. Husband does the same :lol: also he likes to eat a lot of warm things like soup or hot tea. So what do you do during flares

 

[Aphrodite_x]

I swear by ice poles....I dont know if you call them different over there, ice pops or something? And my little cow hot water bottle, lying in bed and sleeping on and off. Only thing that helps! I lose my appetite completely during a flare

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Sleep is one of THE best things when I am flaring. Whether I want to or not, your body just demands that you lie down and rest. Moving about just takes too much energy out of you or is far too painful sometimes. I also have books set up in the bathroom as well as a foot stool for those times you know you are going to be in there for a while.... I wish I didn't have to work during flare days but bills still need to be paid so I push through the day to the best of my ability and have no energy to do anything but sleep after I am done.

My appetite also comes and goes. When I am able, I eat a lot of soft foods like mashed potatoes, rice, greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, salmon, boiled chicken breast (I usually make simple clean tacos with chicken, cilantro, tomatoes, greek yogurt and lime juice to spice up my diet a bit ) and drink smoothies, green tea and juice vegetables. I try to avoid as much dairy as possible but eggs and greek yogurt seem to be fine by me.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I may or may not be flaring right now - I'm having symptoms that are really atypical for me, so I don't know. So anyway, during this current flare or whatever it is, I'm pretty much carrying on as normal. Working, exercising, etc. I've had to cut back on my exercises a little bit (no abdominals exercises right now!) but otherwise I'm doing things pretty much the same as always. Resting a bit more and eating a bit less, but fairly normal for the most part.

During a "typical" flare for me, I'd have severe symptoms and would be home on the couch watching bad daytime TV. Then after about 2 or 3 days, I'd get so sick of bad TV that I'd probably try to go to work. I'd feel miserable at work but would push myself to get through the day - and then would spend the next day or 2 or 3 back on the couch. That's how it usually goes for me. I can't stand just sitting around feeling worthless and doing nothing, so I push myself to do something worthwhile even though my body really needs rest. I'm quite stubborn that way. But it never works out and I end up probably not healing as quicky as I would have if I'd just allowed myself to rest properly. Maybe someday I'll learn to slow down a little bit.

As for what I do in a flare, for entertainment? I have a Kindle Fire and a Nintendo DS - portable entertainment is a must when you're running to the bathroom a lot. I can play one while the other is charging up and vice versa. I actually have a little portable TV too but it gets awful reception, so it's more trouble than it's worth. And if I'm sitting on the couch for long stretches, I often will crochet something to at least keep myself somewhat occupied. My heating pad is a must and so are my most comfy sweatpants and fuzzy slippers. Comfort is very important in a flare. I drink a ton of fluids because I get dehydrated easily in a flare, so I usually have 4 or 5 different drinks in front of me when flaring. And I need my cat near me, she's my comforting little buddy and will even follow me to the bathroom. When I'm not in the bathroom, she seems to know I'm not feeling well and will sit very near me and just quietly purr for me and keeps an eye on me. I seriously do not know what I'd do without my cat!

 

[JustAYoungLad]

Anything to that helps you take your mind off it.

Definitely get a TV Box set of something you enjoy, it's like a 20 hour movie .

24, Prison Break and The Walking Dead is what I'm currently watching. Going to get Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad in the future, as I hear a lot of good stuff about them.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Yes! Catchting up with tv is also something I do. But then I get bored. So I use the forum here and the chat room or I read books and play some games on my laptop. None of that requires me to move about

 

[723crossroads]

Flaring today and my thumb is just throbbing from arthritis pain. I keep going and have urges, Took lomotil. Am going to take Questran too as soon as my meds have time to absorb. But I have to go clean a house. So hard when I feel like this. I have a 45 minute drive too. Praying I make it! Flaring sucks!

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I like to sleep it off as much as possible. Like cuddling up under a blanket on my couch watching tv with ensure and water right next to me and anything else I need like heating pads.

 

[Crohn's gal since 1989]

Anything warm! I like to hold my warm mug of tea against my belly as it cools. I catch up on "girlie movies" that my husband won't watch, today it was "Water for elephants" & "Dear John!"

 

[myajde84]

I like to stay on the bed too and watch movies or read manga on my tablet.

 

[Danico85]

I swear by ice poles....I dont know if you call them different over there, ice pops or something? And my little cow hot water bottle, lying in bed and sleeping on and off. Only thing that helps! I lose my appetite completely during a flare

Ice poles are great for crohns/colitis.. obviousley dont cure it or anything but the feeling of the coolness on the stomach is good

 

[Aphrodite_x]

Ice poles are great for crohns/colitis.. obviousley dont cure it or anything but the feeling of the coolness on the stomach is good

Agree agree agree! I am honestly living on them right, full drawer in my freezer just full of ice poles constantly!

 

[darster]

Anything to that helps you take your mind off it.

Definitely get a TV Box set of something you enjoy, it's like a 20 hour movie .

24, Prison Break and The Walking Dead is what I'm currently watching. Going to get Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad in the future, as I hear a lot of good stuff about them.

Not to get too far off topic but I just had to say watching the Walking Dead will take your mind off of things for a bit. :eek2: Love that show! Can't wait till October till it's back on!

 

[Danico85]

Agree agree agree! I am honestly living on them right, full drawer in my freezer just full of ice poles constantly!

lol i can get the mr freeze ice poles you used to buy off the ice cream van. there brilliant. infact im going to get one just now.. is that wrong? its 11.30pm haha

 

[Jennifer]

I call my GI and get my meds adjusted and go on the Low Residue diet. Other than that lots of rest while watching TV and movies and coercing my husband into giving me more back scratches.

 

[Summerbaby84]

I lay in bed, sleep, and watch past seasons on Greys Anatomy or the Twilight Saga movies. Both are like one run on story. I have my cozy spot heating pad for pains. Oh, and chicken soup from this Italian restaurant. I always buy it by the half gal, I will live off it for days when I am sick. Not that much of this helps, it's more of a comfort thing.

 

[lblair]

Sleep amd bland foods!!Hope he feels better soon!!!

 

[Aphrodite_x]

lol i can get the mr freeze ice poles you used to buy off the ice cream van. there brilliant. infact im going to get one just now.. is that wrong? its 11.30pm haha

Where can you get them at 11.30pm

I went to get them Sunday morning about 8...my shop had none I ended up with a jubilee!! How infuriating are they to eat?? I still have it!

 

[723crossroads]

Just buy them at the grocery store unfrozen and stick the whole box in your freezer and then you have them for whenever. I enjoy tapioca when I am flaring. Kozyshack is the best!

 

[Aphrodite_x]

Just buy them at the grocery store unfrozen and stick the whole box in your freezer and then you have them for whenever. I enjoy tapioca when I am flaring. Kozyshack is the best!

I do this! Every weeks food shop a box goes in, but I'd run out Sunday morning

 

[723crossroads]

Better get two next time

 

[mish2575]

I like to sleep it off as much as possible. Like cuddling up under a blanket on my couch watching tv with ensure and water right next to me and anything else I need like heating pads.

This right here.

 

[bettyboop12]

Is there a sticky for this? Just came across this post and found it useful. Nice to know that during a flare, lying on the sofa with a blanket is normal!
Although I know I should rest, I lie on the sofa looking around thinking what cleaning needs to be done! I tend to say to myself, 'do the hovering then you can relax.' Probably does not help!

I also believe im okay but as soon as I go back into work I regret it! As I have to come home again!

 

[LemSat87]

Most of my flares started when I was working, usually during a stressful time of the day. When I would get home, I would immediately get into bed, turn the TV on for some background noise, and sleep. Almost every time I would wake up feeling great....that and if that didn't work usually a low dose pain killer would help.

 

[bettyboop12]

Sleep and rest seems to be the key! Definitely tv and something to read. I find the day passes so quick though when I'm not doing anything which bugs me! I like having productive days, even when ill!