What is a "flare"?

[Chap]

Hi,

I just joined the forum and posted a short intro earlier. I have mild CD and would like clarification on what a flare-up is, and how it differs from the agonizing bouts when I eat the wrong thing, get a small intestine blockage, and have to go to the ER for morphine and prednisone.

I always called these trips to the ER "flare-ups" but now I'm understanding that the flare is more when the auto-immune aspect of Crohn's kicks in, which simply makes me *vulnerable* to bowel blockage. I have no clue when this happens - I don't have bloody stools or diarrhea EVER (well, so far ... ;-)

Have I got this approximately correct? If I knew when I was "flaring", I could be extra cautious about what I eat during those times.

Thanks,
Chap

 

[Mountaingem]

A flare is anytime your symptoms become acute, that requires extra medication to supress the immune system enough for the symptoms to stop. Flare symptoms can very from somewhat milder to so severe it requires emergency treatment. Just as "remission" doesn't mean a complete absence of symptoms, a flare doesn't have to be a huge event, but brought on by food choices, etc.
If you need morphine and pred, and emergency treatment, you definitely are having a flare. Unfortunately you probably need stronger meds, and if that's the case food choices are only a secondary issue, meaning it can help to be careful but won't fully control your symptoms. I hope this helps!

 

[crazycanuck]

Sorry mountaingem I'm going to strongly disagree with you on the extra meds or stronger meds to get off a flare. I just flared for a couple weeks and I have not increased or changed my meds whatsoever and I'm feeling much better now.

However Mountain is right about the symptoms just become more readily present I guess is another way to say it. For example when I get "sick" or flare I get wicked diarrhea, blood, weight loss, and loss of appetite for a period of time. It could be a few days, weeks, or even months. Its the point in time when your disease is not under control and I believe the term "flaring" was probably based off the idea that all the inflamation we suffer from is becoming more inflamed at the time. Usually when I'm flaring I try to concentrate on what I'm eating and to stay away from the foods which bother me most, or for you the ones which cause the most discomfort. Also stress can set off many a flare so if you can help to reduce some stress during those times it can only help.

Best of luck and I hoped that helped some, kind of rambling on like an idiot at 1 am haha.

 

[Chap]

So I guess my question really is, how do I know when I'm having a flare? I don't ever have (diarrhea, blood, weight loss, and loss of appetite).

The only time I know I'm in trouble is when that burning-pain-across-the-abdomen is occurring, from blockage after having eaten something roughage-y, and then it's too late.

 

[farm]

A flare-up is when you are NOT in remission. Active Crohns disease.

You could have a flare without many or ANY symptoms showing. A flare could also cause several smptoms including but not limited to: fever, pain, diarrhea, weight loss, etc.

 

[alexandros8]

I agree with farm- from personal experience. I was flaring and didn't realize it... I was w/o pain but a colonoscopy showed that I had a very bad situation going on.

The disease comes and goes in remission. My experience has been that while in remission, you can still have many symptoms, especially after eating things that disagree with you. A flare is when the disease becomes "active" and inflammation increases in your gut.

 

[imisspopcorn]

I think we can all agree that flares are very subjective and mean different things to different people.....The bad thing about this disease for me, when I was first diagnosed, was not knowing if I had eaten something that just didn't agree with me, or if it was the Crohn's.....My doctor finally said, "Food borne illness is a rare thing, it is more than likely the disease."...A flare is when you don't have good consistent control of your disease....

 

[Mountaingem]

Sorry mountaingem I'm going to strongly disagree with you on the extra meds or stronger meds to get off a flare. I just flared for a couple weeks and I have not increased or changed my meds whatsoever and I'm feeling much better now.

However Mountain is right about the symptoms just become more readily present I guess is another way to say it. For example when I get "sick" or flare I get wicked diarrhea, blood, weight loss, and loss of appetite for a period of time. It could be a few days, weeks, or even months. Its the point in time when your disease is not under control and I believe the term "flaring" was probably based off the idea that all the inflamation we suffer from is becoming more inflamed at the time. Usually when I'm flaring I try to concentrate on what I'm eating and to stay away from the foods which bother me most, or for you the ones which cause the most discomfort. Also stress can set off many a flare so if you can help to reduce some stress during those times it can only help.

Best of luck and I hoped that helped some, kind of rambling on like an idiot at 1 am haha.

You know, you make a very good point about not necessarily needing extra meds/stronger meds. I should have clarified I was speaking from my own disease experience but of course everyone is different in what works best for them.

 

[Crohn's 35]

To me a flare is when I just go into pain and takes days or weeks to it to settle. GAS, bloat and pain... really sucks!

 

[katiesue1506]

I KNOW when I'm in a flare. Diarrhea, anemia, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, pallor, lethargy, sometimes that weirdo constipated-diarrhea... gas, and hair loss.

 

[violetcreams]

Katiesue, you just described my life

 

[pcbgirl227]

I agree Katisue and Violetcreams! That is a flare for me without a doubt!!!

 

[Becky]

To me a flare is when I just go into pain and takes days or weeks to it to settle. GAS, bloat and pain... really sucks!

I agree with that^^

I do not consider diarrhea a flare b/c I have it all the time. I it a flare when I have pain.