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I might be admitted. ..again

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/26/2015 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've been dealing with belly pain and low grade fever since Nov 1st. I went to the dr on Nov 6th. He just gave me Norco and said to call my gi dr if it doesn't get any better. Well I saw gi dr on Nov 11th. She ordered bloodwork and a ct scan. Well the bloodwork came back normal and ct scan showed only severe constipation. The only time my crp were elevated was when i had cdiff.So since then I've been taking a stool softner, 3 cap fulls of miralax daily, 3 laxitives daily, and nightly fleet enemas. You would think that I would be living in the bathroom by now however I've only been having ONE watery poop a day. I told my gi dr that things weren't moving and that I hurt really bad. She called in a lactulose enema for me to use for 2 days then call her on Saturday. If no improvement then she will admit me. Well so far not much improvement and my belly pain is getting worse near the ileum valve and the decent ingredients colon. I could barely eat any of the thanksgiving meal. My pain is worse. I really think my crohns is also flaring up.
Posted 11/26/2015 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
How rough! I am so sorry. Why does it always get worse around the holidays?
Posted 11/27/2015 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Scifigal, stress of the holidays maybe? That really sounds painful! I hope something starts moving more for you soon!
Posted 11/27/2015 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
I really hope things get moving too. I really don't want to go back in the hospital again. Since I was diagnosed with crohns in April 2015 I've been in the hospital for a total of 5 weeks and have had 3 surgeries.
Posted Yesterday 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Well...good news. I finally was able to get my new meds yesterday. I have to mix 300ml of lactulose with 700ml of warm water. Insert like an enema and then hold it in for as long as possible. So if anyone out there is dealing with severe constipation this regimen works. I was in the bathroom at least 10 times during the night. Good for bowels but not sleep. I still have to give my gi dr an update. Im still having a lot of belly pain, inflamation im sure, and now my anus hurts from all the watery poo. Back in April I had some severe bleeding fissures due to excessive D. I sure don't wanna go there again.
Posted Today 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Just wondering how many of you out there have a dr that tells you everything is fine just because your bloodwork is normal?

Also, isn't constipation a form of an obstruction?

Is it normal to have belly pain while in remission?

I was diagnosed with crohns only 7 months ago so im still new to all of this.

Well, I gave my gi dr an update on how the lactulose enemas is going. The enemas worked on getting things moving however im now having a LOT of D. And now it is somewhat mucusy. My belly hurts sooo bad. It hurts all the way from my rectum to the transverse colon as well as my ileum area. I have extremely loud bowel sounds...like embarrassing loud. And get this my dr said this is all normal and she will see me in the office Dec 9th (already scheduled appt). I don't want to take any pain meds cas it may cas constipation again. Help! What do I do?
Posted 11/30/2015 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bucko,
Sorry you are having a hard time. Where in your intestines is your Crohn's located? What were the three surgeries that you had for? How do you know you are in remission? Was the CT totally normal besides constipation? For some folks, their CRP never elevates, so you can't always go by that. Have you had a fecal calprotectin stool test done/

I'm pretty sure a CT scan would show an obstruction, so I doubt that's the problem. I have Crohn's in remission after having ileo-colic resection surgery, but I have had IBS, primarily constipation all my life. You can have constipation from slow motility, which doesn't necessarily mean that you have active Crohn's in you colon, but that the peristalsis of your colon doesn't function normally. If you are now having a bunch of D, you can probably lay off the lactulose enemas....that was to help get things moving. I always get a bunch of mucous when I poop a ton...so don't worry about that. It sounds like your GI needs to help you with a plan to get things to function more normally. That might be with fiber, laxatives, diet, etc.
Posted 11/30/2015 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Well from what it sounds like at least you are feeling better? I too seem to flare during the holidays. I tend to identify the holidays with a certain amount of stress which in turn has an impact on my gut. It's tough to avoid.
The mucus is usually typical of active crohns. I guess you could consider constipation a form of obstruction. It might be a symptom of something else. Pain meds slow you down and can cause constipation not sure if you are on them...

It is frustrating when a dr tells you that there isn't an issue since the bloodwork came back with in range. I too had some bloodwork done recently and the CRP was raised. It was with in 'range' so he waived it off. I have a feeling it's tied to Crohns. I don't understand how any inflammation falls with in a normal range. I would think ANY inflammation is a reflection of something wrong.
On a little bit different perspective...if your leg was broken wouldn't your bloodwork come back fine even tho your leg is broken? Blood work isn't the all seeing answer. I think some docs just don't know what to do besides check temps, poke and prod and do the bloodwork. Get another dr or specialist.

Sorry kind of went off on a rant there going thru some stuff of my own. In any case I'm sorry to read that you've been going thru so much in a short period of time. Sounds like 2015 has really sucked.

I don't believe a CT can really do a good job on verifying whether Crohns is active or not. Pain, mucuos, gut noises, etc... kind of sounds like active flare to me. If you had surgery on your gut to remove the Crohns it very well could be your gut is still healing. If the issue continues a scope might be ordered just to get a good idea of what is really going on. I don't know your history but you should be on some sort of maintanence drug at least which should be helping you even if the Crohns has been removed.

Good luck and just try to take it one day at a time. You'll get it figured out and in time there will be better days ahead.

Post Edited (JAB) : 11/29/2015 8:58:22 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/30/2015 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
CT scan should have showed a narrowing, but it doesn't always show active Crohn's. And bloodwork can be normal during a flare-up; it depends on the person. Some people's inflammatory markers will rise, other people's won't: my GI told me that once. He said I was one of the ones whose inflammatory markers do rise (which obviously makes his job a bit easier). If your GI isn't aware of this, either make her aware or find a new GI because you don't want to be dealing with somebody who doesn't believe you.

Constipation isn't a form of obstruction, no. In constipation, the passage of stool isn't physically blocked by narrowing, etc. There's just slow motility for whatever reason. It can happen in Crohn's. I've had spells of terrible constipation in between the more usual diarrhoea.

I'm not convinced that what you are going through is "normal". The pain doesn't sound normal. The low-grade fever doesn't sound normal. Severe constipation can cause abdominal pain, but your constipation has resolved and you are still in pain. On the other hand the enemas will probably screw you up for a couple of days. If your symptoms aren't any better by the time you see your GI, I think I would request a colonoscopy.
Posted 11/30/2015 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Gumby--ive had an abscessed anal skin tag removed. I've had botox injections in my inner anal spincter muscle. And I've had an abscessed internal and external hemeriod (size of golfball). I assumed I was in remission cas my dr said I was doing good and having no symptoms. Dr said the only thing noted on ct was constipation. I've never had issues with constipation before I got crohns.

Jab--I only took pain meds Nov 6-9 and that was only once a day, at night, so I could sleep. It didn't help so I quit taking them. I am on maintenance meds methotrexate and budesonide. I also take fulic acid and vit D. My crohns is in my descending colon sigmoid colon, perianal, and terminal ileum. It hurts to even touch my belly and im nauseous . I've also had an abscess the size of a grape in my tongue and 2 abscessed teeth. And cdiff twice.

Nice cup of tea--I agree with requesting a colonoscopy. It's been almost a year since I had one. I did have a sidmoidoscopy like 6 months ago.I agree, I think my crohns is flared up. So im assuming I'll have to change my meds or increase them
Posted 11/30/2015 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Well guess what folks my dr finally called me back. She seems to think my problem is still just constipation. However she has decided to admit me to see if I need more aggressive treatment or further testing done
Posted 12/2/2015 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Well yesterday my dr sent me to the er to have an abdominal xray. Well they ended up doing a ct scan. They said there was some crohns activity but not a full blown flare. However they did find a bleeding cyst in my ovary and a fibroid in uterus. The cyst is bleeding into my abdomen. Also im not able to keep any food down. They admitted me tho
Posted 12/2/2015 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully you will get some pain meds and fluids and start to feel better soon. Take good care!
Posted 12/2/2015 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
They are now testing me for cdiff since I've already had it twice in the past.
Posted 12/3/2015 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Good news the cdiff was negative. Im going home today. I will followup with my gi dr next week. The gi dr will schedule a colonoscopy with a biopsy.
Posted 12/3/2015 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you are going home. I hope you are feeling a little better!
Posted 12/4/2015 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like your on your way to getting things figured out. That's good and I hope you are feeling better as well.
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