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no, no, no.....going into a flare.

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/22/2008 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have been having pains for about a week that would almost drop me to my knees and then go almost as quickly as they came. I knew something was up, I just wasn't sure what it was.  Well last night I was on the toilet with explosive D and really painful cramps, and also some bloody mucus.  This just really sucks, I don't want to be in a flare, I don't want the pain, I don't want to cry. 

I guess my question would be (other than looking for some sympathy from people who know what I am going thru wink ) ..........

is I am wondering what meds I should be looking into. I am currently only on Asacol for my IBD but I am thinking I need to go up a level to something a little stronger.  I have only ever been on Asacol and Salofalk enemas and suppositories before.  I am hoping that I can keep this flare to a minimal by sticking to water, tea and very light food but if things don't improve I will have to go in to see my Dr.  Any suggestions.......I have already made it clear to my Dr that I do not want to take pred unless that is the very last resort.  What meds have you found helpful?????

Thanks in advance.

(I may be sending out invites to my pity party, look for them in the posts.... smilewinkgrin )

 

Posted 9/22/2008 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Ah Man!  That sucks!

I am new to all of this, so I can't recommend anything.  I just knew I felt great on my week of prednisone.

Posted 9/22/2008 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear...I have been on 6mp for almost a year and dropped down my dosage early in the summer and started flaring about two weeks ago...So I understand...litteraly one day your fine and the next morning you wake up in a flare its veyr frustrating...As I mentioned in a nother thread of mine...I have been in the gym for about 8 weeks and have made some great gains in muscle and weight and hate to loose them all because I have no appetite...I have stuck to my reoutine though maybe went from 5 days a week to 4 but I do feel better when I go...I also am seriously considering becoming a vegetarian again. I did a few years back and had no symptoms...no flares and felt absolutley wonderful...I think that ultimatley that a vegetarian diet is where healing will begain for me.

Posted 9/22/2008 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I would ask about Remicade or Humiria. I have been on remicade for 5 years it has been a wonderful drug for me.

teddybear
Posted 9/22/2008 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Prednisone is usually what they try first. See if they can bring the flare under control. That's what happened to me in May. I too am only on Asacol. So when I flared it was a round of Prednisone for me, then back to Asacol which is keeping me in remission it seems (fingers crossed).

I'm not looking forward to going up the medication ladder, even though Pred has some not so fun side effects, seems like the other drugs have some worse ones! Good luck, and get in touch with your doc to see what they recommend!
Posted 9/22/2008 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies so far.
What about entecort instead of pred.? Has anyone had any success with this??? I have heard so many terrible things about pred. and I am really scared of taking it.

A little more about me besides an undetermined IBD I also have fibro and chronic fatique and have just began dealing with some peripheral nueropathies.  My Dr believes all of these things are stemming from my IBD. I have terrible back pain and joint pain as well.  Is there one of these meds that may help with all the external manifestations I am facing????? Thanks again, Joanna.

Posted 9/22/2008 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
That happened to me so my doctor changed my medication to pentasa and added alinia as well. Pentasa is basically the same thing as asacol but it is in the form of time release capsules so it is more likely to hit the affected areas and ease inflammation. Prednisone also works wonders, but you cannot stay on it forever and there are side effects you MAY get that you might not want(though I think they are much better than the pain of Crohn's).
Alinia is just an antibiotic. I take that twice a day and then take a good probiotic at the end of the day to try and balance things out.
Posted 9/23/2008 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
You could try Entocort. It is a steroid also but has less systemic side affects. When I am going into a flare the thing the works the best and the quickest is Prednisone. You might want to try the Entocort and have them add 6mp at the same time, then as you wean the steroid, the 6mp has time to kick in. Good luck!
Posted 9/24/2008 3:32 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks again all,  I have my list of questions and looking over my choices and will take them in when I see my DR.

Posted 9/24/2008 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
If you are in terrible pain I would go to the ER. Or call the doc on call at your GI office. You shouldn't have to deal with the pain! They can give you a T3 presc or maybe vicodin or percocet. Many believe that in the first signs of a flare that you need prednisone but there are other treatments at the discretion of your GI. I'm pretty much a Crohn's newbie as I was diagnosed only two years ago, but my aim whenever I get pain is to make sure it goes away as soon as possible (not just the pain but the underlying problem) because the longer it stays the more damage is done to the intestines and colon. I always make sure that I am able to pass gas because I had an obstruction scare (not quite an obstruction though thank goodness) last year and it scared the crap out of me. I developed the near obstruction in only one day of agonizing pain.
Posted 9/25/2008 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
For the short term, prednisone is a great drug for reducing inflammation and pain. But the symptoms can get way out of hand if you're on if for more than a month (hello bacne). If you get flares often, definitely look into remicade. Yes, the pain SUCKS. I'm going through a stress flair right now (stupid college). Don't worry, you're not alone

18 yr old f, Crohn's dx'd 2002. Meds: azathioprine (immuran), prilosec
Posted 9/25/2008 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
I know exsacly how you are feeling i am having a flair up myself and trying to keep it semmy undercontroll myself it so sux dosent it but all we can do is try stay possitive even thats hard to do somtimes,all the best and thinking of you. sorry my spelling is pritty bad....
Posted 9/25/2008 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry so many others are flaring right now,it isn't fun at all.   I am on liquids for afew days,  I tried to eat dinner the other night, chicken and mashed potatoes, and even that hurt, so liquids it is. I have to get on something more than asacol 'cuz I haven't really left the flare I had in April of '07!!!  Not always as painful as right now, but never in complete relief. NWIM????  (((((Hugs for all the others suffering.)))))
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