Looking for some information

Hello everyone,

I'm glad I came across this messageboard. I have been dealing with Crohn's for 16 years. My recent remission was  for 20 months. I recently had 3 episodes since Memorial Day, It seems they come every 2 months now!

I take 6 MP and Pentasa. My crohns deals with bowel obstructions only.  I asked my specialist if there was anything I could take when I know its going to start to help ward it off, he thinks preinsone. Does anyone else take this is or anything else if they feel the bowel obstuction coming on??

I also have a hard time the last three times with cramping of my legs when I am vomiting and getting dehydrated.  I have my stomach to worry about and then the cramps in the legs start, they are so painful. I'm hoping that someone can help me with this that maybe has dealt with the same experiece.

Thanks Bunches!

The leg cramps are probably due to electrolyte imbalance if they happen following vomiting and dehydration. Pedialyte or soda water would be useful for both hydrating and adding some electrolytes. Pedialyte is preferred, but soda water is better than nothing - and better than gatorade or similar sugared sports drinks. The sugar can cause problems like gas and bacterial growth in the small intestines. BTW, sukay's comments are spot on.

Thanks for your quick responses!

I have a Colonoscopy scheduled for January. I should have had it done earlier in the year, but I was waiting on a call from the doctors office after they needed to get information from my surgery for appendix last year from the hospital first. It was my fault I didn't call them back and get it scheduled earlier.  I hate the thoughts of drinking the Go Lightly! But, I figured I have to put that behind me and move forward because I have Crohns and need to deal with it.

Yes, When I am in a flare, or I should say after the flare up, all I want is water, I have no appetite until a day passes and then I move on to soup broth which makes me feel better, I stay on the liquid diet until everything opens up again and then I start adding foods in and my appetite is back to normal. All this usually takes about 3 days for me after the flare to get back.

I will get some Pedialyte and keep it here when I need it. I will try drinking it before the vomiting starts in hopes it stays in my system during it all.

As for Banana's I do eat them and try to eat them more.

I will asked the GI about the Entocort.. I need something to help me through this and hopefully hit it before it strikes.

I'm guessing because of my GI's I have had in the past I am in no better place then when I started 16 years ago.

First GI started me on Asacol took that for a year and had bowel obstructions everyother week. He first told me when he met me in the hospital that they way I had crohns he didn't see me getting any surgery in the future. Then a year later he tells me, maybe its time to think about it. It because he had me on the WRONG meds. I have it in the Illiem not after which is where Asacol helps the most. I switched Gi's and really like the doctor. But I went once a year and when you tried to call to talk with him, his assistant would speak with you and I felt like I was getting no where. So I left him last year and found a new GI, someone closer to home and  more personal.

Small Update... I looked up all the Potassium Foods. I have been eating alot of the Potassium foods all along. I have an appointment with my regular doctor today. I will asked him and see what he thinks I should do. I will let you know.

 

Well, I went to my PCP today to follow up on some blood work he had me do. He is a new doctor to me, I wanted someone closer to home and I think I will be very happy with him. It turns out for some strange reason I have a urinary tract infection, which I have never had before. I'm on antibotics for it right now. No signs or symtoms to let me know I had this, just the urine test found it. Anyway, I'm wondering if perhaps that since the infection is something our bodies would try and kill off and since having crohns, my body decided to get rid of the invader but of course attacked my small intestiine instead since it is the weakest part of my body??? And perhaps I have been dealing with this for a couple of months. I will look into it.

Meanwhile for the Crohns Specialist, I see him in Feb. I know it is a long time off, but where I work at we are allowed so many days a year and if you take "unpaid" days off, you can be out the door. I have used 9 days this year alone (vacation days) for Crohns days and then 2 days to see the specialist this year. I have no more days left until January starts again. I got on the Family Leave Act at work after the first episode this year in late May, since the days were unscheduled, so they don't hold that against me. But what I am going to do is call the Specialist and asked him if perhaps the tract infection could have played havoc with me.

My regular new doctor knows about Crohns, but not enough and I guess he wouldn't want to step on the Specialist
I will keep you posted

Thanks so much!

BeeSting, Do you take the calcium magnesium mix everyday? How much? I'm also wondering if you "stay home" through the bowel obstructions or do you go to the hospital? And what meds are you on?
It has been awhile but I believe I do have strictures, if I remember the doctor correctly from the past. I'm sorry I feel so uninformed, but it is because my specialist would ask how I was doing.. I was only having 1 obstruction a year, they would just give me the precriptions and send me on the way. I will be more informed with my New GI, once he gets all the facts in.

Thanks again