Trapped Gas and Cramps

I would say, from my experience and how my GI explained it, you're healing from the flare...and the severity and/or the location in the rectum has regressed.

What other meds are you on? And what was stool consistency like before how they are now?

q

Hi @Quincy. That is certainly an interesting theory and I'm all for it, I do hope this is the case but I'm curious to know why we would get worse with symptoms rather than better?

My calprotectin did go down from 3000 to 40 over the past 3-4 months but is back in the 150's now so that's a bit concerning for me, however I didn't have the trapped gas and cramps while at 3000! just blood and rectal pain..

@CCinPA, nothing new to be honest. I have recently introduced VSL again this past week to see if that would help with the gas, bloating and overall ill-feeling.
When the GI put me on weekly injections (started last Monday) he said I could switch the 4g enemas I took 3 times a week to the nightly 1g suppositories because he believes the inflammation is right at the end (I told him that every now and then, especially if constipated, the BM would have blood integrated into it).

I have been on the supps now for since that appointment which was the 30th so for about 2 weeks. I switched it for a 4g enema last night to see if it would help but if anything my BM's are a bit more loose today.

In general lately the BM's are solid but with fluffy edges if that makes sense. Go between 1-3 times a day. I have terrible fissure itching/burning too around the anus but that's been happening for a while now.

1Wish

When I started Remicade 7 years ago I went thru a period like this. The Remicade caused fast healing which led to thicker colon walls... Which led to trapped gas, spasms, partial obstructions and finally a Colostomy. (They changed my diagnosis to both UC and Crohn's so my treatment plan changed regarding surgery..) But my case came on suddenly and was always severe. This was diagnosed by MRIs, CT scans and scopes during a 3 month period. We thought we were getting it under control but even with dilation I ended up with a colostomy 1 year later.

My colorectal surgeon prescribed antspasm meds and a steroid cream with buildt in pain reliever for my anus that I used even while I had a fissure.

On my numbers....they were all.over the place so unable to help you there.

I'm Sorry you are going thru this. I hope you find some answers.

Clo

I find lying on my left side helps to get the gas out! If you're not afraid of sharting that is.

Nobody here is going to be able to tell you for sure what is happening. It's all secondhand information.

In my view, the only reasons for gas to accumulate would be increase in fermentation or reduced motility. If both are happening, then that would be the worst version. Increase in fermentation is related to diet or motility that is suddenly slowed (like due to healing). Decrease in motility is due to UC healing. When motility slows, gut bacteria that were normally being flushed out by rapid transit now have a chance to re-establish. So the gut flora environment may be reconfiguring because you are getting better.

If your gas problem only started a week ago, then it's too soon to know if this is a transient problem or not. If you are in the process of healing, then it could be a transient healing sign... like your gut flora are reconfiguring. If the gas is particularly foul, it could be a regression. You should also examine diet.

As you can see, there are many possibilities.

I had hoped that maybe things had settled down a little for you.

Things are different for everyone. I can only tell you what I have gone thru... I am that "worse case scenario" person that runs around unwilling to accept that I am as sick as I am....so put it all in perspective. You probably won't have the same issues but......sometimes something you have read might help.

According to my GI the rapid healing, scar tissue and changing bacteria in my colon made it difficult to process foods and produce gas. It's a "process" some people go thru - it's also a symptom that your colon isn't working properly. Scar tissue may not function the way regular colon tissue does, this causes different bacteria, gas, digestion and motility issues.

GI and CRS also indicated it could be a very small change in your diet... An herb, different salt or pepper..different brand of something that was causing flares. I kept a thorough food diary... listed how I felt, BMs, and the time for everything. Huge PITA. But it did help. Seasoning salt that I would use occasionally ...just a tiny sprinkle... it sets my colon off. It swells up, I get distended with Trapped gas and pain. Others items or brands... Yikes!!

There are different types of obstructions. I get inflammation obstructions where something I have eaten upsets my colon and it starts swelling. One time it lasted off and on for 3 months, 2 dilations, 3 hospital.stays and a colostomy. I have also gotten an obstruction caused by the scar tissue and motility, and another caused by a hernia.

How I felt....on all of them... I could feel food slowing down while digesting. I felt full even when I didn't eat anything. Rumbling could be throughout the entire colon but the gas pains were usually sharp and in the same areas...and eventually all noise stopped. Nothing would come out. Then the nausea would start, cramping and then vomiting.

With a colostomy, I do get partial obstructions that have cleared on their own if I stop eating, drink clear juices, soda and eat SCD chicken soup broth, and take milk of magnesia. They are painful and located where the CT shows thickening of the bowel wall. When the rumbling and gas return.. then I know it's safer.

To try to get rid of the gas.... Laying on my side, bringing my knees to my chest, vibrating heating pad, warm soaking baths... Or pointing the shower head where the pain is.. and finally pacing the floor.

I have forgotten... When was your last scope?. Has your GI done any MRIs or CT scans, or x-rays to try to figure out what's going on? And is your stool fluffy or fluffy and sorta "wrapped" in a white mucus?

It just sucks when you aren't feeling well. Sorry you are going thru this.

Clo

Post Edited (clo2014) : 7/18/2022 12:32:27 AM (GMT-7)

My last scope was about 7-9 months ago but they said the same thing, inflammation last 4 cms, no mention of anything else, said rest of colon was fine.

I do have parts of the BM covered in a white substance but Im assuming that is the mesalazine suppositories I am taking nightly. I recall this happening on the first bm of the day only. That and the oily drips that come out beforehand…

I have a dairy that I write symptoms in and looking back, this trapped gas issue started on the 27th on June and has gradually gotten worse. On the 25th of June I attended a wedding and cant help but think if it was something I had to eat or drink, I dont drink white wine only red but did have white that day.

However, even that morning of the wedding I had urgency and loose / diarrea so may have already been starting.

I haven’t recently had MRI or CT scans of my colon and will ask the GI about this, in fact I will call today to see if I can see him about this whole issue.

I also have my weekly humira jab today shortly at home.

Im still doing the Vivvomix probiotic which is the Spanish version of visbiome I believe (the original VSL)

Post Edited (1Wish) : 7/18/2022 3:40:15 AM (GMT-7)

If I have bad gas for a few days or a noisy stomach then I'll have a couple of doses of Pepto and it helps me out a lot. I have a different setup than you because of my j-pouch but I do find Pepto to be effective for gas issues (not flares).