2nd ever flare, in hospital

It sounds like you are getting the care you need by gasteroenteroligists, even though being hospitalized sucks!

I would ditto patience being key. Internal-healing takes waay longer than you or I ever want it to take.

Were you on no medications prior to this flare?

What dosage of Lialda (4 tablets a day I hope/4.8 grams)?

Yes retention-enemas, mesalamine (like in the lialda) are good as are steroid enemas, and you can alternate between the two. Your inflammation is rectum and sigmoid, so the enemas are great for reaching that area.

Have they done stool tests to rule out an infectious cause like c-diff?

Ii assume it would take a day or more for the stool sample results while in hospital, as they would like to treat asap.

t's best to not wean off the rectal mesalamines. Hopefully, you'll get prescribed them once you leave the hospital. They will be helpful while weaning off the pred.
I hope yiu are prescribed to stay on them nightly for a few months and slowly taper to maintenance.

Would you mind to expand on the surgery you had that caused adhesions? It's good you know what's going on regarding that rather than just be blamed on flaring.
Antispasmodics such as dicyclomine could help.....hopefully.

Hope you improve quickly to get out of the hospital. Please keep us updated.

q

Oh wow....you've been through a lot of physical trauma.
Do you have any mesh in your abdomen?
q

Can the adhesions not be released?

What meds will you be be using now that you're out of the hospital?

q

Best to use the antispasmodic that helps for sure.

Definitely get on the mesalamine enemas.

I understand about another surgery to remove the adhesions and if they will happen again.
I think cauterising type surgery method Is what I've seen done.

Please keep us updated,
q

Sorry to hear you got re-admitted to the hospital, and are still struggling. I would ask for biologic medications, like remicade/humira, as you need something that will work fast and is much stronger than your Lialda.

Still in the hospital. Underwent colonoscopy yesterday which looked good. Awaiting biopsy results. Had CT enterography this morning. Got the results but waiting for the GI to explain since I’ve got no clue what any of this means. I did have a small bowel series 22 years ago that said crohns (the thickening of sigmoid), so that’s consistent.

1. Mild generalized ileus
2. Borderline wall thickening of the proximal sigmoid Colon
3. Difficult study with very little retroperitoneal or intra-abdominal fat.
4. Low lying cecum

I'd ask your doctor about all of these, once he/she does a followup with you. I'll take a stab at these, this is what I can gather on it. I'm no doctor, but maybe this will point you in the right direction.

1.) "Ileus is the medical term for this lack of movement somewhere in the intestines that leads to a buildup and potential blockage of food material. An ileus can lead to an intestinal obstruction. This means no food material, gas, or liquids can get through. It can occur as a side effect after surgery."

2.) Wall thickening can be suggestive of inflammation, and/or lead-piping (permanent thickening due to long standing IBD). Wall thickening affects motility, intestinal movement that moves waste along leading to constipation at one extreme, diarrhea on the other extreme, and never anything in between.

3.) There was little fat around organs and within the abdominal cavity. An interesting xray finding but whether it matters or means anything, I don't know.

4.) Notes that your cecum is in a different location than expected. Can be meaningless, but if you're having problems with constipation, blockages, or pain within that reason then it could be a contributing factor.

Again, I was readmitted on the 8th-11th... I reflared and I was having extreme pain. Repeat CT showed the colitis/thickened area of the sigmoid along with a tiny (3mm) ovarian cyst.

I was seen by a colorectal surgeon after my GI and I agreed this has to be related to the mass amount of adhesions. The surgeon was nice but told my GI he wouldn’t do surgery as my situation wasn’t urgent. That pissed my GI off! He wants to avoid an emergent situation (as do I). The surgeon did order a pelvic ultrasound that showed my ovarian cyst grew rapidly in 36 hours from 3mm to 4cm (I have a 4 year history of chronic, large ovarian cysts); so a GYN specialist consulted me and wasn’t impressed.

Needless to say, my GI was not happy! He asked if I wanted to go home, of course I said yes! Yes, because these consults with the other services have gone nowhere! He agreed 100% and gave me names of GYN and colorectal surgeons he wants me to see along with a referral to pain management. He apologized, told me he genuinely thinks I need the adhesiolysis surgery and possibly the scarred section of my bowel resectioned depending on the extent of damage.

So, the plan is to find a GYN and colorectal surgeon willing to go in and deal with my belly together (GYN for possible ovary/cyst removal). As of now I only have the pain management appointment for June 4th; the two other referrals were not entered yet.

Interestingly enough I went 9 days without a bm. This with taking mirilax daily, 3 dulcolax a night for 4 nights and several enemas. I didn’t have any increase in pain (it’s stayed constant for the past month) just nausea and no appetite. I’m positive I had at least a partial blockage. I took mag citrate yesterday and I’m now going. *I know I should have returned to the ER, I realize how serious this can be. I know it would have meant admission but I just can’t deal with the way my husband acts like I’m such an inconvenience when I’ve been hospitalized (entirely different subject for another time). I’ll add, I’m always either super constipated or running to the toilet. No in between. I mentioned this to the GI, he’s certain the way my bowel is adhered with scar tissue is the culprit.

If this occurs again I’m definitely calling my GI. Perhaps a surgeon would then take my situation seriously. (I’m kicking myself for not taking myself but I’m also glad things are moving)

Quite the mess!