Hi all. I am brand new here and I thought I would get your feedback. I have never had any problems going to the bathroom- EVER. Last Monday I woke up with excruciating pain in my upper and lower stomach. I couldn't even move!! I wound up going to the hospital where they did a CAT scan, and then proceeded to tell me that I have Crohn's. I was held all week and discharged on Friday. I am currently on Prednisone and Protonix and also another bone pill. As much as I want to say that I feel better, I still feel horrible pain in my upper stomach. Is this normal?? What should I expect??
What to expect??
- Thread starter Weffie28
- Start date
Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:
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- Aug 17, 2009
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Hi Weffie
Welcome to the forum.
There is much information in these pages which you will find helpful and also many new friends who will be along to give you their experiences of Crohn's
It is my opinion that
You should be referred to a gastroenterologist and need to be seen very soon.
If the pain continues you should go back to the hospital emergency room without delay.
Long term you should be in the care of a good GI specialist.
Feel better soon
Hugs and beat wishes
Trysha
Welcome to the forum.
There is much information in these pages which you will find helpful and also many new friends who will be along to give you their experiences of Crohn's
It is my opinion that
You should be referred to a gastroenterologist and need to be seen very soon.
If the pain continues you should go back to the hospital emergency room without delay.
Long term you should be in the care of a good GI specialist.
Feel better soon
Hugs and beat wishes
Trysha
Thanks Trysha! I wound up back in the ER because I had a 7cm abscess!! Now my GI doctor wants to start me on Humira and I am so scared to!! All that talk about TB and cancers are really freaking me out. I'm thinking about getting a second opinion. Just not sure what to do at this point.
theOcean
Moderator
Humira is actually really effective for abscesses! I unfortunately got one last summer and I've been on Humira since November and notice a huge difference. Has yours been drained/turned into a fistula, or is it still just an abscess?
Also RE: Humira: although there is the warning of cancers, it's actually a lot less likely to cause side effects than other biologics like Remicade.
Also, prednisone should help with the inflammation/pain but it might also take a little bit before you start noticing a difference. It's usually pretty effective at calming flare-ups with Crohn's. It does have a number of side-effects though - it can cause temporary bloating in your face (which goes away when you're off of prednisone), increased or decreased appetite, and sometimes acne and hair loss when you're off or tapering (these side effects should also both be temporary).
If you have any other questions, I'll be happy to answer if I can!
Also RE: Humira: although there is the warning of cancers, it's actually a lot less likely to cause side effects than other biologics like Remicade.
Also, prednisone should help with the inflammation/pain but it might also take a little bit before you start noticing a difference. It's usually pretty effective at calming flare-ups with Crohn's. It does have a number of side-effects though - it can cause temporary bloating in your face (which goes away when you're off of prednisone), increased or decreased appetite, and sometimes acne and hair loss when you're off or tapering (these side effects should also both be temporary).
If you have any other questions, I'll be happy to answer if I can!
SarahBear
Moderator
Hi, Weffie! 
Don't worry to much about Humira. Untreated Crohn's actually increases your risk of bowel cancer and can cause just as many unpleasant symptoms and complications as any medication. Medication side effects are generally easier to deal with than the symptoms of Crohn's. You're unlikely to have more than a few, and those few will most likely decrease in severity and disappear entirely as you adjust to the medication. If the side effects are overwhelming, you can, of course, stop the medication (with your doctor's supervision).
Have you had a colonoscopy at any point? I'm surprised you were diagnosed off a CT scan alone.
You can read more about Humira and other forum members' experiences with it here. Feel free to post any questions or concerns you have regarding Humira there, as well.
Don't worry to much about Humira. Untreated Crohn's actually increases your risk of bowel cancer and can cause just as many unpleasant symptoms and complications as any medication. Medication side effects are generally easier to deal with than the symptoms of Crohn's. You're unlikely to have more than a few, and those few will most likely decrease in severity and disappear entirely as you adjust to the medication. If the side effects are overwhelming, you can, of course, stop the medication (with your doctor's supervision).
Have you had a colonoscopy at any point? I'm surprised you were diagnosed off a CT scan alone.
You can read more about Humira and other forum members' experiences with it here. Feel free to post any questions or concerns you have regarding Humira there, as well.
Thanks so much for the feedback! With those commercials and warnings about Humira I was really nervous!! TheOcean - with the abscess I had it drained. I do have a fistula in another area but my doctors are hoping that I won't need surgery. Sarah, I just had a colonoscopy done yesterday and my doctor said that he took 4 biopsies and I have an appointment next Friday to go over the results. He said by the CT scan, with all of the inflammation, and then with the abscess that they found 6 days after I was released, that there is no doubt in his mind that it was Crohn's. I am still trying to hope that it might not be after doing the colonoscopy... But I'm sure it's just wishful thinking!!
