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Pain management for active crohns with possible non functioning gallbladder.

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/2/2013 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Help! Last Thursday I experienced the worst pain of the 32 yrs I've had crohns! I thought I was having an obstruction Doubled over with indigestion , nausea, and then vomiting. After A CT scan , X-ray and Ultrasound I was told I had no stones and may have active crohns causing inflammation and narrowing. After the colonoscopy it was confirmed active crohns but the pain never got better, I can't eat ANYTHING with out nausea, swelling and indigestion. The pain is not typical . Between the top part of my stomach between my rib cage. It's a constant dull ache until I try to eat or drink. Then whatever I eat or drink seems to sit there not being able to move, digest , only cause pain. My Lortab is not working! Please share methods of pain relief !
Posted 3/2/2013 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SueSueBell, What types of meds are you on for your Crohn's?
I would get into your GI doctor asap.
Posted 3/3/2013 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Teddybearweiser - You should call your GI. While pain medication is helpful, it can cause more harm than good with gastro issues because it slows the GI tract and can cause constipation. You really want to work at finding what's wrong and fixing that. Are you on medications for your Crohn's?
Posted 3/3/2013 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I haven't had active disease for the last 5 yrs. I've taken everything there is. I've had CD since I was 16. Now at 44 I'm experiencing different symptoms and pain. Tues I will see my Gastro doctor and he will put me on humira or another IV transfusion drug for the active Crohns. However I don't think that is the problem. 4 resections, obstructions and several fistula repairs I thought I had it all. I fear my gallbladder is to blame. Would my Gastro doctor be the one? Colon rectal surgeon along with a general surgeon? Who makes that call? Ultra sound showed NO stones however a non functioning gallbladder could be just as bad?
Posted 3/4/2013 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SueSueBell,
I'm not a doctor, so take what I tell you with a grain of salt. I had my gallbladder removed 3 weeks ago. I had stones. I also have Crohn's (since 2005). From what I've been told, there is no correlation between CD and Gallbladder stones (or problems). As far as I know, the gallbladder simply stores bile. Once removed, the body adjusts over time by growing larger bile ducts in the liver (or something along those lines) so that one can resume a normal life without it. I've been on Humira for 10 months and feeling great. No side effects, no more CD pain. I doubt your pain as you describe it is related to your gallbladder. Ask your GI about Humira. BTW, 3 weeks without a gallbladder now and I can feel my body adjusting. I still have more frequent BM's but getting much much better.
Posted 3/6/2013 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Might sound stupid or hokey but worth a shot anyway. about a week after I had surgery (sub-total colectomy)I woke up with the most horrible pain I had ever had, spent the night sleeping or trying to sleep, doubled over with my head on the couch. Finally in the morning after about 8hrs of excruciating pain I realized it wasn't from the surgery at all it was my Gall bladder from all of the food I was eating, I was afraid to really try many foods even though the dr had cleared me to eat anything, I was eating beef stew, chicken noodle soup and scrambled eggs etc, High fat, soft foods. Though I never had gall stones I had several gall bladder attacks from high fat foods in the past. Long story short, as soon as it occurred to me it was my gall bladder I got up and juiced a lemon and mixed it with a large glass of water and chugged it. about an hr later the pain was half gone and I juiced another lemon and drank it with another glass of water. An hour later the pain was completely gone and I just stayed away from the fatty foods and it didn't come back. Definitely worth a shot to try it, hope it works for you.
Posted 3/7/2013 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the advise! I've been in the hospital for three days now. HIDA scan could not film by gallbladder . My small intestines are dilated so they called it normal. Endoscopy, normal... Biopsy taken for celiacs disease. Now scheduled for another CT scan. Off of all food and beverages. Haven't eaten solid foods for over a week and have lost 7 pounds. Already under weight... TNP is being talked about with pic line. I'm so frustrated!!! NORMAL???? What's normal about this. I'm not wanting them to find something, certainly if it worse than CD, but I know I'm not normal. I'm scared I have a none functioning gallbladder and they are dismissing it. Wish me luck . I'll be starting Humira soon and hopefully feeling better soon. ;(
Posted 3/7/2013 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
How could the HIDA scan not film your gallbladder? Was it blocked by the small bowel? That seems like a reason to call the test inconclusive, not normal.

My GI disagrees with Poissonlune. Inflammation near the bile ducts can cause gallbladder problems. He has seen a correlation between active Crohn's and gallbladder issues.

I had a HIDA scan three years ago and my gallbladder ejection fraction was at the low end of normal (35%). It took longer than usual for them to run the test and I found laying on my back for the duration to be excruciating. I really hope to never do that test again.

I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 3/7/2013 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Amen Kazbern! Just informed that the contrast I'm about to drink will kick my butt! I dread this! I know it will set me back a week. I plan to share your info with my doctor! Thanks ;) CT scan here we come!
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