TI Abscess Treatment?

Hello So quick explanation: I have been diagnosed with crohn's in my small intestines (only recently began treatment), my flares are getting worse and seem to never go away unless I am given a high dose of prednisone, and I had an appointment to start Humira/Remicade (or something of the sort) in 2 weeks.

Now for the change. Last week I was admitted to the hospital with a 5cm abscess on my Terminal Ileum and a few random fistulas beginning to form throughout my intestines. On the 5th day a team of GI doctors and the main Dr on my case decided that no drainage was needed that the abscess would heal with antibiotics alone. Apparently they can't access the abscess with a needle to do a simple drain and I am not sick enough for surgery. Though after 5 days of antibiotics no change had been noted in the size of the abscess.

My question for you guys is: Does it seem normal to treat a 5cm abscess with antibiotics alone? I am currently in a flare which they also didn't seem too worried about. Currently I am taking Entocort, Flagyl, and Vantin. Has anyone else had treatment like this for an abscess? I would ask for a second opinion but I literally seen 4 seperate GI specialists in the past week and they all agreed with the treatment plan.

I'm rather new to having crohn's and this is the first time i've had anything this serious so I am extremely stressed out about this situation and honestly kind of scared as to whether or not it will be resolved.

It is *tentatively* an okay plan, but you need to be careful about it. You especially need to be on the watch for c. diff. You should be taking a probiotic to combat this. I highly recommend Florastor, which is the most effective in combating c. diff. If you search Florastor on this forum, you'll find a lot of posts about it going into details as to why it's the best.

Also, just make sure you're keeping watch on development of these. I think that you should start Remicade in spite of the abscesses, but that's just my opinion. That will help get things under control at the root as opposed to just trying to fight the symptoms/complications (like abscesses).

I really think you need to somehow push to have the drain put in. Antibiotics don't seem to work unless the abscess is opened. Usually, they do a CT guided drain, and leave it in for a week or so, until it drains clear, and stops draining. The antibiotics will heal the rest. I would also strongly recommend Remicade at this point, as Remicade has a great track record for healing fistulas. Hope you get this taken care of, and start feeling better soon.

Hey, just saw this and hoping you are feeling better! To add to what others have said: I am currently flaring and currently dealing with a perianal fistula. Remicade is supposed to work miracles *on some people* to heal fistulas and antibiotics *should* take care of the abscesses. I'd give the docs a chance to heal you without surgery, and just know that it will take awhile to see if your treatment is working. So try to stay calm because this is going to take weeks/months. If the GI's you have spoken to are all *in the same practice* together then I would seek an unbiased 2nd opinion with a GI who is not affiliated. But, it sounds like they are trying to avoid surgery and that is generally a good idea.