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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 7/25/2009 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
I have been trying to figure out if I am trying to flare or if its just one of those bad patches.  I tend to have bad periods that last a week or so, then I go back to MY usual.  Last Friday (7/17) I had the a small bout of stomach flu, I knew it was the stomach flu, because my husband was sick on the same day with similar symptoms.   I tell you that because its been like this since then.

Anyways, to my latest.  I have had a yucky gut with alot of bloating all day lately.  Nothing super bad and I am able to go to work, and only seem to be having a little softer stools not D, but still only about 3-4 times a day.  My usual is 1-2 a day, so really not much increase there. Anyways, yesterday I had that same stomach blah and bloating,  and just came home from work and tried to relax and put my heating pad on my stomach.  Seemed to help and went to bed not feeling too bad.

But about midnightish that all changed.  I got woke up and needed to use the bathroom.  I was in there for probably 30 minutes with horrible cramping and spasms.  Didn't have D so much as it was more like pudding (sorry tmi).  What was a new experience for me was how weak and lightheaded I got, I was so sick and shaky I was afraid I wouldn't make it back upstairs to bed.  I had gone downstairs to use the bathroom there so I could heat my bag (microwaveable corn bag).  Oh my gosh, I felt horrible.  I finally got back upstairs and took a Librax and put my bag on my tummy and eventually went back to sleep.  I woke up a few hours later and had another loose stool, but didn't get as sick as the first time.

I always hear you all describe this happening to you all the time, but for me, I don't ever remember feeling like that.  I have experienced obstruction pain, but this was different to me.  I almost wonder if it was a partial obstruction that cleared.  Since my resections my symptoms have changed alot, so sometimes I get confused if its the Crohns or not. 

Do you guys have any idea what happened?  That kind of scared me a little.  What's wierd is I feel fine this morning. confused

Hugs

Gail*Nanners*

Posted 7/25/2009 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
No sign of old blood, Nanners? It might be a good idea to have a blood draw done to check for anemia, etc. (((hugs)))
Posted 7/25/2009 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
I have experienced similar symptoms. If what had happened to you had happened to me last night, then today I would be talking fiber supplements to either a. get me regular again or b. not get regular and know something is up. Good to hear you feel better today, might have just been some bad food you ate.
Posted 7/25/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
C2 luckily no blood, and do already know that I am borderline anemic. I get so frustrated because I have not feeling so hot, but all my tests results come back normal. Grrrr!!!

AllHailDietmar, Last night was not a case of being constipated. I take stool softners everynight and they allow me to go daily. And fiber is not my friend as I have the stricturing type of Crohns. Normally, I too would have thought it was something I ate, but this time I can honestly say that wasn't it as I have stayed strictly with my safe foods.

Just hope this is not the start of a flare. Beleive it or not I actually am feeling better than I have in a few days now. Hope its not just the quiet before the storm. Or maybe I will get lucky and lastnight cleared the problem:)

Hugs
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 7/25/2009 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
I've been going through this for a long time now Gail. The only difference being is I do have diarrhea, but my goodness
the bearing down pains that comes with it, make my whole body shake...
I'm playing the waiting game, it'll either improve, or it'll get worse. I'm thinking there's quite a lot of inflammation as my
CRP levels are high. Perhaps this is what is happening to you.

My thoughts are with you LOL.
Posted 7/25/2009 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Nanners, I know what you mean. I think our disease is similar (stricturing). I very rarely have bouts where I get all weak like that (almost always the evening or middle of the night) and then feel fine when whatever it is passes. Maybe it is something getting caught up in our strictures. I know that I've gotten stomach bugs at the same time as my hubby and then been off for a few extra days after. I think it just disrupts something about our Crohn's.

I hear you on the bloated/sick tummy thing too. I was like that ALL day yesterday and only ate the mildest food. I know it's not a flare though because I had a scope last week and got the best results ever. Of course, my GI reminds me that since I have a major stricture I will feel it from time to time. I'm assuming that's what my bloating, pain, sickness was. Hope you are much better today and stay that way.
Posted 7/25/2009 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Nanners,
I don't know if this is the case for you, but I have had two separate episodes when another family member had stomach flu ( diarrhea, etc) They would get better in 24 hours, and I would stay sick with horrible cramping, bloating etc. Both times, I took Cipro and got better within 48 hours. My GI said that when healthy people get stomach viruses, their immune system responds normally, but with IBD once we get a bacterial imbalance, it is a challenge to get well. I do take probiotics now, which I think helps, but I still need the Cipro now and then, The antibiotic Xiaphan is also used for this purpose, but I haven't ever tried it. If you are not better, I think you should call your doc. I hope this helps, and you feel better soon!
Posted 7/25/2009 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Nanners, god you poor thing i experienced something like that a few times at the beginning of last year which thinking about it now could of been a warning sign that my crohns had raised its ugly head. My stomach would bloat and have cramps that came in waves and would need to go to the toilet  i would go to get a drink and would be crawling back up the stairs on my knees because i had no energy. after 48 hours i would be back to my normal self  Do you think you maybe a little dehydrated as you are going to the loo a bit more?I hope that its not a flare sweetie you have been through enough  glad your feeling better if you get it again i would get checked out take care Bev x

Posted 7/25/2009 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
The pudding sounds like there is a reaction to gut bacteria happening (mucous). Whether it is the stomach flu or other bacteria that caused it is hard to say, but gut infections of any kind can trigger a flare. Better baby your gut until it starts to feel better. Try doubling up on your probiotics and eating light - maybe soup or something predigested.
Posted 7/25/2009 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Nanners, very interesting about stricturing type of crohn's just learned something new (thanks google). I usually take fiber supps when I get loose stool (my G.I says this means that there is more left behind) or constipated. Do you drink alot of water?
Posted 7/25/2009 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Nanners, I've always interpreted those symptoms as being caused by poo scraping over ulcers. My theory is that there are some parts of the body that aren't able to send normal pain signals, but can still cause all the side-effects of pain (teariness, lightheadedness, exhaustion, irritability and so on).

This is just a theory and i've never discussed it with my doctor, but it has made sense to me over the years.

I think it might be a good idea to call your specialist and get yourself checked out. I think *something* must be wrong for you to be feeling this way.

*hug*

Ivy.
Posted 7/25/2009 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
I get the weak, shaky feelings just from the pain. Any time I get those kind of cramps and spasms it takes A LOT out of me.

I had a bad night last night too. We went out to dinner, buffet mind you. Where you want to stuff yourself silly. I was FINE all day! Half way there I start feeling the cramping. I barely made it in the place and in to the restroom. Lots of pain, and D. Have no idea where any of that came from. I sucked it up and thought maybe that was it. So we are waiting for a table, and BAM. So I rush to the restroom, where I'm telling you I had 2 seconds from not making it. So back home we went. I was so disappointed. Just those little things that everyone else gets to do that make me mad when I have to miss out.

Anyway I hope you are feeling better today! We are off to try again at the buffet in a few minutes. Think I'll take a few Immodium as a back up. But I know exactly what you mean about those "rough patches". I get those too. But for you it could also be a combo of some left overs from that flu. They tend to drag on a bit.
Posted 7/26/2009 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

You are the best, can I just tell you that. All day yesterday I felt much better than I have been, and today doesn't seem bad either. So my thoughts are that I may have had a partial obstruction that cleared. But boy was that scary. Just the cramps and weakness and lightheadness was something new and scary for me.

I do think its time for another SBFT at least, to make sure nothing is going on in there. I know after my last SBFT the radiologist doctor even told me there was some narrowing at the reconnection site, but the GI said nothing to worry about. Its been 2 years since then so maybe its time for another, maybe something has changed. I also think many of you are right and it just took longer for me to get over that stomach bug. So the combination of the two just knocked me for a loop.

So again thanks for your support, I am glad to be feeling better.

Hugs,
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 7/26/2009 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to add that the last time a BAD stomach bug made its way into my house, my husband was sick for a few days. This is a man who hasn't missed a day of work in years. I got the same thing and I was in the hospital for 5 days or so. It really does take us longer to get over the slightest tummy bugs, much less a bad one. So be good to yourself for the next little bit and see how you feel.
Posted 7/26/2009 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Chiming in later here, but just wanted to say I'm glad you are feeling better.  I've experienced the same type of thing (usually middle of the night) and I think you are probably right about the partial obstruction.   ((HUGS))

Posted 7/26/2009 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
So glad you are feeling better Nanners!
Posted 7/26/2009 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like my typical night, as of late. But last night was uneventful for me, maybe it was passed to you lol. Whenever I feel like that, I do what you do; heating pad + sleeping meds and hope I fall asleep between spasms.

Hopefully tonight will fare much better for you.
Posted 7/27/2009 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Pimfram, can you please not pass your partial obstructions:) I do well enough on my own. LOL
Posted 7/27/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Haha. Hopefully you'll get over yours before much longer. I remember having symptoms like that for a solid month before I finally went to the ER, right before I was diagnosed.
Posted 7/27/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Gail
I sure hope you are feeling much better and you don't have this again tonight. I have walked in those same shoes. I bet it was alittle obstruction and once everything passes you will be fine. I've done this at nights before and it lasted about aweek then things let up for the good. The nights have always been my worst of times with the crohns cramping the worst for me. Hope this passes for you soon.
Posted 7/27/2009 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
Well third day in a row since the incident and I still feel much better. So I must have cleared whatever it was. Phew!!!
Posted 7/27/2009 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hey gail...I was away so I missed the start of your post.  Glad you are feeling better.  Just wanted to say I have this every so often too.  I am normally D (unlike you), but every so often there is that mushy day and I get exhausted, shaky and tired.  I have noticed these happen when I have had some cramping around my reconnect site a short time before this.  My hubby and I just had the flu and this happened to me then.  It also happened when I ate some bad tomato sauce.  I keep an extra large fuzzy towel in the bathroom just to wrap around myself when these things happen.

It seems anything that irritates my resect site will make me shaky...especially now that the site is 19 years old and getting a little more inflamed every year.

Keep babying your gut for a few days and stay well.

Posted 7/27/2009 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Gail -- glad it has passed. What a relief.
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