What do you do for relief from flare ups?

[karl]

what do you do for relief from flare ups?

i'm sure its been asked many times before, sorry

i asked my gastro and she said there wasn't much i could do if i was flaring. i found that if i barely eat anything that day, i seem to feel better. i know that is a horrible idea though , considering that my weight is low to begin with. pretty much staying in the fetal position and sleeping helps a lot.

i'm not sure if i can take tylenol. i'm currently on prednisone for the next 32 days. i started on imuran about 2 weeks ago and i also take pentasa. i'm not sure if tylenol would really help with cramps that come and go. the nausea is the worst

i've had to miss class and work before, because of flare ups. if you have an important meeting or event coming up, sometimes you really can't let a flare up get the best of you. just wondering what everyone else does to help combat flare ups.
could drinking aloe vera juice help calm things down?

 

[elp888]

This may sound terrible to some of you, but i find that smoking a joint really helps me when i'm flaring. Cannabis is a natural painkiller and it relaxes both my (abdominal) muscles & mind. It also stops me from thinking about my pain/frustration.
I live in The Netherlands, so i'm not doing anything illegal, might be difficult in other countries...

take care,
e.

ps.
wouldn't do if i had to work or go to school though.

 

[karl]

yeah, i could see how smoking weed would help a lot. i'd rather not smoke anything though.

i wonder if some green tea with honey might help things out, i guess it couldn't hurt

 

[Keara07]

Hi Karl -
When in a flare, I used liquid diet or soft residue stuff to help alleviate symptoms - tylenol didn't do anything and in fact seems to cause more issues and I use now only when the fever spikes. Although I am 8 wks post surgery I still have CD issues but they are minimal compared to before surgery and that's aok with me.

One doc said to me about the eating was not to worry too much as long as I was drinking tons - plus if tolerable I use ensure (lactose and gluten free) drinks for vitamin etc replacement. When I was really bad and even water hurt, I just waited it out...or go to the ER for hydration through IV and pain relief - did that too. My understanding, is hydration is most important during a flare, but others here may be able to add to that.

Gravel has always helped my nausea, and made me sleepy - but I know many folks who get sick using it as well.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[BWS1982]

I've been flaring 9 months. Don't know of anything that's shown me a big improvement except potentially some antibiotics like Cipro and Flagyl, and I'm picking some of those up tonight.

 

[Ace]

As taboo as it is i also find smoking pot and a liquid diet is the only way i can make it through a flare up. For a year before my last resection all i did was vomit for 3-4 hours on end, and smoking pot was the only thing that could take away the vomiting long enough to get some fluids back in my body long enough to get rehydrated and take something for pain which the docs would not give me anything so it was usually tylenol or something over the counter before the next spell would hit. My chrones is very bad though,( as its all bad for anyone) but when i had surgery they said the 12 inches of small was 3 inches thick and strictured off to a hair, it was pretty nasty and its all going again, i really don't want to smoke the stuff just feel that i have grown out of that but again i get sick and its the only thing that works long enough for me to get some pain killers in and try to ease the muscle pain!

btw been reading the forum for about 2 weeks now and totally awesome, it is so nice to read the stuff people are saying and the ideas are awesome i feel so much empathy for you all and i wish you all the best of luck.

Jeff

 

[MollysHope]

Karl- Im by no means happy that you hurt but it makes me feel a little better that Im not alone. I have been a mess myself and so very uncomfortable. The only thing that gives me the slightest amount of relief is using my heating pad. Its one of those corn rice ones. I put it right across my middle stomach and lay on it. At first the pressure is uncomfortable but when i get situated it helps a little. (Im 24 and currently on no treatment, waiting on specialist at IU, diagnosed Dec 2008 with moderate to severe crohns. Affecting mostly colon and terminal illiem (spelling). Im really hoping for remicade because for me it really helped.) I really hope you feel better.

 

[blazeking]

Had a severe flare for 3 months followed by light/moderate flare im still in for 5 months..only relief I got and still get is cannabis cannabis cannabis. There just isn't anything else drug wise I know about that can help treat the symptoms (that isn't an immunosuppressive/steroid/biologic etc). Diet wise eat anything that is mostly or all zero fiber or soluble fiber.