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HELP: Now I'm on Prednisone...

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 10/25/2007 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
sad  Well, I thought I was doing well, I was feeling a bit better about a week ago and thought the drugs were working. For the past 4-5 days i've been in so much pain, like I was when the flare-up started and was first diagnosed over a month and a half ago. Went to the doc today and he's putting me on prednisone and stopping the entocort until the inflammation calms. He ordered another CAT scan and bloodwork to see if the inflammation has gone down; he also thinks that perhaps the inflammation has gone down to reveal a fistula or possible strictures. Has that happened to anyone??? Have you felt better for awhile during a flare-up then went downhill quickly? If so, was is a stricture?

He is doing bloodwork to determine how bad my anemia is and to get a feel for where all of my levels are so he can put me on an immuno-supp. when I'm a bit better.  I'd love some feedback if anyone has had similar issues.

Posted 10/26/2007 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
hi jenny. i too was on entocort, was still having a lot of pain and was moved up to prednisone. i am still having pains every day and i also have a stricture. i think the pred really did help me out with the bathroom trips and has somewhat helped with the pain. i used to have "attacks" that would last for hours with no relief. now, i seem to get pain randomly and i usually give it time before i pop a vicodin. i get woken up with pain if i am laying on my side. i have no idea what's going on! my gi mentioned putting me on 6mp, i will find out if that is going to happen on tuesday. i would like to have some more tests to see if there has been any decrease in the stricture. i was told it was from scarring but some could also be inflammation.

so crazy this disease :/ i will update you if i find out anything after my appointment though!

hope you feel better soon!
Posted 10/26/2007 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply. I wake up in the middle of the night with pain, but I found it hurts worse when I'm on my back, it actually feels better on my side. That's interesting that your pain is worse when you're on your side. Good luck on your tests! So, I thought the only way to fix a stricture was to have surgery; or isn't a temporary fix that balloon thing?
Posted 10/26/2007 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
i am not really clear on what will be done as far as surgery. i assume a resection due to the 8 inches of diseased intestine i have. and i usually get pains when i lay on my right side. left seems ok. and forget sleeping on my belly! i have had most of my pain in my upper abdomen.

make sure you take calcium and vitamin d while on the prednisone. my dr forgot to tell me that but learned that yes you should take a supplement!
Posted 10/26/2007 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jenny The pred. should help and the GI is taking good care of you by checking for abcess and fistula's .Hope you don't have any but they can be painful .I was glad to get my fistula drained by surgery. Mine was very large so glad your getting it checked out. I used to find everything was worse at night for me. I did have a partial blockage which was painful and the pred. helped that along probably with the clean out they gave me for my scope. Yes make sure your bloodwork is good it can be very helpful .Try not to worry about stuff till you know things, but the best part is getting things checked to make sure your alright.lol gail
Posted 10/29/2007 6:20 PM (GMT 0)

A stricture is a narrowing of the bowel. A stricture can be caused by inflammation or by scar tissue (from prior inflammation and healing - each time the flare is gone, healing can build scar tissue) or both.

Any stricture, regardless of whether it is from inflammation or from scar tissue, or both, can cause problems like cramping, nausea, and vomiting. And partial or complete obstruction.

However, having a stricture does NOT mean that you are a candidate for surgery. If due to inflammation, it might vanish when the flare is under control. If due to scar tissue plus inflammation, even the scar tissue might not be a problem once the inflammation is under control.

However, if there is no inflammation but the stricture, because of scar tissue, makes it impossible for you to keep food down or causes misery that can't be relieved by meds, then it might be time to consider surgery.

My daughter has a stricture but the meds have kept her in remission for more than a year, so it poses no problems.     

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