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Posted 5/14/2009 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Howdy howdy all. I've been having a time lately with this DD and need some advice or past experiences on this subject.  Right now I'm in my second major flare since I first became ill with CD back in 04. I went into remission in 06 and started having symptoms again in October of last year.  This flare is sort of the same as the last one, except my TI is apparently blocking off for a few days at a time and then reopening?  I didn't know that was possible but the GI says it's sort of normal with blockages and narrowing.  Anyways, a few weeks back I started to have this horrible tender pain in my right side.  It's so bad that when I walk it feels like someone is poking me in that spot over and over again.  Then came the blood in my stools and yeah, I saw my GI today and he's telling me he thinks I have an abscess there.  So I just start Flagyl and Amoxicillin, ontop of my Prednisone and the ABT874 infusion.  I guess my ? is, is it normal to get an abscess along with inflammation?  If anyones been in that situation, how did it turn out or how is it going?  I'm just confused right now.

Thanks for reading my post :)

Jamie

Posted 5/14/2009 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
The ABT 874 is an inflammation suppressing biologic, and so it may also be suppressing the immune system. This could be the cause of the abscess - reduced immune response. This is not that unusual for the biologicals, so the antibiotics become necessary. You might want to consider taking probiotics because the antibiotics will eliminate the beneficial gut bacteria and leave mostly the antibiotic resistant nasties (possibly C. difficile, but certainly other potentially harmful ones). Look for a Lactobacillus species mix and try to avoid ones with FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides) or lactose in the formula.
Posted 5/14/2009 10:14 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry you are experiencing this!! I hate abscesses!! Because the abscess walls-off the infection, antibiotics can't get at it. Did your doctor talk about draining it? Hope you feel better ASAP!
Posted 5/14/2009 10:19 AM (GMT 0)

I'm by no means an expert, but I can relate my experience and what I learned. My daughter had an abscess at her TI about 5 months ago. I'm not sure if antibiotics will work for you, as the abscess is a fairly thick sac, and the medication can't seem to penetrate it. In her case, and from what I understand the common treatment is, to have the abscess drained, and then leave a drain line in for about a week. Then antibiotics can start to work on any infection left over. Usually Flagyl. The complication with this is there might be a fistula attached to the sac. This is the case with my daughter. That can be stubborn to heal. Once again I'm no expert. I'm sure others here will chime in and give advise. Good Luck with the treatment. Do not let this go too long, as you wouln't want the abscess to burst. 

Tom.

Posted 5/14/2009 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses guys. No, my doctor didn't talk about draining it, I have a CT scan for next tuesday to see if that's what it is. I guess the antibiotics are all preliminary because that's what he believes it is. Thanks for the mention on what type of probiotics to use. I've never taken any before but I guess now's the time to start. I hope your daughter is feeling better 73monte! If this really is an abscess, it's the first one I've ever had and boy does this hurt. I hope I can be as strong as you guys are. Thanks for the information guys! I was really curious.
Posted 5/17/2009 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Tom, I was wondering if your daughter's fistula healed and if so, what did she do to heal it?  Was it through medication or what?  My daughter has a fistula that was a result of an initial operation taking 12 inches off her intestines and a fistula formed and she still has it and it comes out below her naval.  Her g.i. put her on flagyl but it hasn't healed it.  She would like her to go on Remicade but we do not like what we hear about the long-term effects of it.  We are searching for natural methods that have anti-inflammatory properties.
Posted 5/17/2009 4:04 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Sherry-ann,

As of right now, we're still not sure if her fistula is totally healed or not.  Fortunately, it never came to the skin, as it stopped at the abscess sac. The Dr.s were somewhat concerned about a recurrence, but felt that with medication it has a chance of healing. She's been on Imuran for awhile now, which is suppose to have a positive effect on healing fistulas. She was also on Flagyl for quite awhile. She goes back in the middle of June, and they will likely do another SBFT to see what the state of things are.  Our GI had suggested Remicade as well, but like you the biologics really scare me. I don't know of any natural approach specifically for fistula healing, but it would be great to come across something that worked. Good Luck with the treatment for your daughter.

Tom.

Posted 5/18/2009 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
your surgeon should most likely know if its a true abcess without a CT scan easily. Ive had 22 RECTAL abcesses and I've had to have everyone of them drained, and not in the office like close to all of them are done,I have or had so much rectal disease that it was to painful for me to have done in office, I would have to have outpatient surgery for each one. flagyl is a good antibiotic for abcesses though. I've nevefr once heard of biologics causing abcesses.

I have to say one flare in 4 years is excellent. I'd be estatic if I was in that realm. I'm more along the lines of 5 or 6 hospitals ADMITTANCES a year, and like a dozen or so ER visits.
Posted 5/18/2009 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Oh CrohnsPatient!! 22 abscesses?? I think I am going to faint. I had 3 in 18 months and that was plenty, thank you very much. What meds are you on? What region are they in? Mine are in the perineum. The I&Ds were all in the OR. The only blessing from CD -- my colo-rectal surgeon says CD patients need to go in the OR so he can check it all out for further complications (like fistulae). How may fistulae do you have?
Posted 5/18/2009 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have a tube in my side right now draining an abscess. It sucks. Oh well that's life with Crohn's. I can't wait to get this ball and chain out of my belly.
Posted 5/18/2009 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Oh ick!! Tony when are you going to get it removed?
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