Is this Crohn's Disease coming back?

10 weeks ago, I had small bowel resection surgery. My recovery has been progressing nicely until yesterday. Yesterday around 6PM, I suddenly developed sharp abdominal pain around my incision area. 2 hours later the pain was almost gone for a short period of time so I ate my supper. But then the pain came back and lasted well into the night. I was debating if I should go to ER last night, but I didn't, because my past experience told me that they could not do much at ER. This morning I still have some lingering pain, but it is getting better. I had normal bowel movements.

My question is: does this mean my Crohn's has come back to me? Or is this something else. I read many literature on the internet. Some articles say surgery patients can develop bowel adhesions after surgery. Could this be bowel adhesion? I just do not know what to do. Thank you.

You need to tell your GI and/or your surgeon. Tests need to be run. There's nothing we can advise beyond that because we have no idea what you're dealing with.

Would think they would opt for an MRI, as it's the least invasive. I would push for that before considering a pill cam. As for diet, you know that beef/steak can be hard to break down and digest. Stick with boiled chicken, white fish for now.

The new GI doctor said that I would take a fake pill first. It gets stuck, it will dissolve by itself. If it gets passed, then I take a real Pill Cam. The MRI or CT Scan may not detect minor inflammation per the doctor.

By the way, I sent a message to this new GI doctor through the patient portal and also left a voicemail with his assistant. But I heard nothing back. What does this mean? Does it mean he thinks it is nothing to be bothered? Or does it mean he doesn't know what happened to me? Or is he upset with me? I am just wondering if this is normal and should be expected. Thanks


edited for spelling error

Post Edited (EruditePaul) : 6/3/2023 9:53:29 AM (GMT-8)

Your colorectal surgeon should have had you follow a low residue diet limiting tough meats for 6 months after surgery--especially with a history of adhesions. Plus you need to chew your food at least 70 times per bite and eat very small meals or snacks throughout the day while readjusting after surgery. To this day I am very cautious when eating. I chew until it's almost liquid. It takes me a very long time to eat. Instead of "meals" I just sorta "graze" throughout the day. If I eat too much meat in one setting it can wreak havoc with my system. It's painful going thru and it occasionally gets stuck in one place for awhile. I also make sure I don't cook meat until it gets tough, I also steam alot of my foods and I eat a lot of fish and chicken. When I want beef I make "loose meat" sandwiches out of fried lean hamburger thats been fried broken up and then boiled in chicken broth....and sometimes I toss in a few thin noodles...served over a piece of toast it helps with the beef craving while being easy to digest., (Tomatoes based sauces really upset my system,)

If you get very nauseated and it does not abate or if you start to vomit or are in a lot of pain... Go to the ER. Don't chance it. The portion that's newly connected can be fragile so you need to be careful.

On the pill cam. I've never had it or the dissolving one done. One of my friends has and hers dissolved. She said she could feel when and where it got stuck. She upped her hot drinks and it eventually passed--but she could tell it was there... She didn't say if she was in pain.

Ditto on reaching doctors... But hopefully you've heard something and are feeling better.

Please let us know how you are.

Clo

Last night and today my abdominal pain returned again. I feel like it is gas pain, because I feel there is a lot of gas in my intestines and the gas gets trapped inside. When the gas expands and becomes a small balloon, it hurts especially hard on where my anastomosis (connection) is.

I felt wonderful during the first two months after surgery. Now I am into my 3rd month after surgery and am experiencing more pain. I am wondering if this is caused by food or caused by Crohn's recurrence? I ate mostly liquid food during the first 1-2 months. I read online that some people had Crohn's recurrence only a few months after surgery. I have a GI appointment in early July.

I would like to provide an update on my original post, to share some medical info.

On 6/1/2023 and 6/15/2023, some 2-3 months after my small bowel resection surgery, I reported abdominal pain. I asked if it was Crohn's coming back or bowel adhesion. I was debating if I should go to the ER.

On 7/16/2023, I had a MRE with contrast ordered by my GI. The report says: "the patient is status post small bowel resection. The residual small bowel distention is satisfactory. No evidence of mucosal thickening or abnormal enhancement. The small bowel motion is normal. No evidence of strictures, fistulas or abscesses. The colon is grossly unremarkable."

My GI said that from the MRE, there are no signs of recurrent Crohn's Disease.

Good new Paul,

Hopefully the peace of mind will be of benefit.