Cramps cramps go away!!

I have been flaring for some time now and my flares always include cramp pain right at the point of my colitis.

I am on a pred taper at present after contracting cambylobactor and it sending my colitis crazy! All other symptoms have gone and stools are formed with no blood or mucus with BM twice a day (normal for me when in remission). I am no longer anaemic and am putting weight back on slowly. Last blood work two weeks ago showed CRP now under 1 and I am also now just in the therapeutic level for azathioprine after being on it for 6 weeks with allopurinol. So all seems good.

But I can't shake the cramps and that is what is hard to deal with in the day. Why when I have no other flare symptoms am I still having pain? Is this going to go really slowly or is it a sign that things are still bad?

I have another blood test next week so will check CRP again.

Anyone else with any insight in to this?

My cramps are all day and not just when I am having a BM. I would not have minded if that was the case but its because it is all day that I am finding it difficult to get on with my day.

Liam - your condition seems similar to mine. I also have left sided Uc and currently in flare. I also had an 8 year remission with asacol. Gosh don't you miss those days?! But finding it difficult to reach remission now. how come your doctor didn't try azathioprine with you before going to remicade?

I'm not sure that it will work for cramps depending on what is causing them but have you tried an antispasm medicine? Your GI might prescribe one like Levbid or Bentyl. I've used it in the past to help with spasms in my rectum and sphincter.

Boy do I miss those days!

I'm not sure why my dr went right to Remicade. He did say that the immunosuppressive drugs take a while to start working and we didn't have time for that. Well, I'm 6 weeks into Remi with no results yet..

Yeah the immunosuppressants take a while to work. about 3-6 months.

My cramps are horrid and are lasting all day long so I'm really struggling. I reckon it's something to do with inflammation as even though my stools are ok, I feel as though they are getting a little looser but that may be down to what I ate today as there are no other symptoms. Also my cramps went when I was on a high dose of pred and now I'm on 15mg they are back and painful. I am debating on going back on 20mg for a while longer but even on that dose I started getting the cramps but stool was still fab.

The pain is just right in one spot where I have moderate colitis. I'm going to start rectal meds tonight to add to my regime and I've emailed my GI nurse too.