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Constipation in Crohns

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/4/2017 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
My husband just had the million dollar workup at Mayo for his Crohns pain. All procedures show no active CROHNS which is great..... but why has he been hospitalized twice this month due to abdominal pain?

The gi thinks my husband is having constipation with his Crohns. Does anyone else have this?
Posted 2/4/2017 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, it was particularly bad when I had strictures. I suggest that he experiement with either ongoing Miralax or Senokot with stool softeners. Miralax is a little safer...it adds water into the colon so stool is easier to pass. Since my re-section surgery, I have slow motility, but the stool varies from soft to diarrhea, but I still feel backed up. I take 1/2 Senokot every other day and that keeps me going so I am in less pain. If you are satisfied that they have tested for all disease, then either see if any of his meds may be adding to constipation or his diet as well.
Posted 2/4/2017 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
Ive been dealing with some constipation myself due to inflammation in the rectum and very enlarged internal hemorrhoids. I have to take miralax twice a day to keep things soft and moving. But i still have the pain from the active crohns right now. I mix the miralax with hot sweet tea and it tastes fine to me. Since your husband isnt having active crohns is he taking pain meds for the abdominal pain? Narcotics can constipate you real fast. At least it did for me in the past. When i was in remission i would have abdominal pains and my dr said it was IBS. Maybe he has IBS as well as IBD.
Posted 2/4/2017 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Does your husband have any strictures (narrowings) caused by scar tissue? That can cause severe pain.

Otherwise, yeah, it could be constipation or slow motility or even bad gas. How often does he have a BM?
Posted 2/4/2017 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Where exactly is the pain? Agreed with others about strictures causing a lot of pain. Sometimes they are too small to see on MRIs. Mine was, but thankfully it was seen during a scope.
Also, Could it be soft tissue pain caused by another autoimmune issue? I had abdominal pain when the crohns was not active and that was what it was believed to be. It eased up and I haven't had it much if at all since starting other meds to target the unknown soft tissue issues.
Posted 2/4/2017 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Labradorite,
What another autoimmune issue you were diagnosed with? You said a soft tissue disease?
Posted 2/5/2017 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
I just started going to a new Rheumatologist thats affiliated with the other doctors that i go to so there will be better communication. Im still in the investigatory stage so i don't have a diagnosis yet. the GI and Rheumy are pretty sure that i have something else thats causing my pains. The Rheumy suggested a long list of diseases that are possible and more frequently seen in people with a preexisting autoimmune disease especially what she considered soft tissue diseases. She gave me Plaquenil to try for two months while we wait for lab results. The Plaquenil is used for a variety of autoimmune diseases. I really didn't expect it to work but within about three weeks I noticed I had fewer instances of pain and aches. I have a follow up next week so I'll be able to find out the results of the blood work and if I'm any closer to knowing why its working.
Posted 2/5/2017 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
After years of suffering with abdominal pain, and after being told it was this or it was that I found a surgeon who knew what it really was. I had surgery to remove scar tissue that was restricting portions of my large & small intestine. It has made a huge difference, am I pain free? No but nothing like how I suffered before. I was also told it was constipation (wrong) it had nothing to do with it. Scar tissue was the culprit.
Posted 2/5/2017 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
chronie1985 can I ask what state you are in? Also, what did the surgery for scar tissue removal entail?
Posted 2/5/2017 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
I should add (aside from the "it could be something else") I have had many bouts of constipation. the last time it was related to a stricture that was fixed by dilating it. Did you mention where your husband is having the pain?
Posted 2/7/2017 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
His pain is right below his sternum and lower right quadrant; worsened by eating.
Posted 2/7/2017 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I live in Illinois and the surgeon used the latest technology (robotic assisted) for accuracy it was done laparoscopic so the healing was a breeze. The surgery took about 3 hours for my particular situation, and my hospital stay was only 2 days. The feeling that there is something clogged up is gone. The best part is that problem was taken care and not being sent from one doctor to another with nothing being resolved. Hope you find some relief.
Posted 2/9/2017 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Chronie1985: That is interesting.... So was the surgery to remove adhesions? Or was it actual narrowing of your bowel that was corrected?
Posted 2/13/2017 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
I have constipation all the time with my crohns.
Posted 2/13/2017 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Jenn4dex,

Can you elaborate on your symptoms and treatment? Are you using Miralax? And is your stool actually formed or is it still loose? The peculiar thing with my husband is his stool is pretty loose...
Posted 2/14/2017 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
I know a lot of people here with strictures and blockages cant use the psyillum(sp?) products but i too have swings between diarrhea and constipation and have tried many products. the psyillum products like metamucil really seem to regulate both for me.
Posted 2/15/2017 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, The surgery was intended to remove adheasons, it was like my food would get to a certain point and just sit there until it fought its way through. After the surgery that painful feeling is totally gone, there was scar tissue wrapped around 2 locations of the colon and lots everywhere elsethat was removed. I've had 5 major surgeries and they were not laparoscopic. The adhesion removal was and the recovery was a breeze. It's sad how many years I suffered before getting someone to help me, but I'm glad I had this surgery though.
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