Crohn’s Disease- maybe start of flare up, what do you do?

[millymollymichael]

Just wondering what others with Crohn’s Disease do if they think they might be at the beginning of a flare up? I’ve taken this afternoon off work as I really need to rest. I feel so drained. Is there anything you do in this situation that can sometimes prevent it becoming a full flare up?

Complete rest, low residue diet and a call to your IBD team for steroids if that doesn’t work. Are you on any medication?

I am just coming out of the worse flare of my life so feel your fear

Thanks @ForLoveNotMoney- I’m sorry you’ve had such a bad flare up. It’s horrible isn’t it.

Although I took this afternoon off work, I’m not at the stage where I think I should take more time off. I’m hoping I can get enough rest by cutting back activity outside of work. I’m still in the probationary period of a new job so that doesn’t help. But at the same time, I want to do whatever I can at this stage so that it doesn’t escalate into a full on flare up. Would love to avoid steroids. I will switch to a low resident diet and see what happens. Thank you.

*residue that was meant to read!

I hope a bit of rest helps. This is a literal shitty disease!

Thanks @ForLoveNotMoney- that’s very true!!

Do you have a plan? What meds are you on currently?
I only use mesalazine but my plan states to increase it if flare starts, then I need to do bloods and stool sample. If raised and increased mesalazine doesn't work, I contact IBD team for escalation of drugs.

How are you feeling @millymollymichael?

Poor you I hope you are feeling better.

I think you need to contact your IBD nurse, it depends how bad the flare is but in the past I have done various things to try and contain it eg

Elemental E028 drinks (complete nutrition which absorbs in your stomach so stops your small intestine/bowel having to work) I successfully warded off a few flares with this by existing solely on this for a few weeks.

Short courses of steroids eg a week at 7/6/5/4/3/2/1 or a few days at 30mg (check with a health professional obv, I think you can take 30mg for 4 or 5 days without having to taper)

Low residue diets never helped me

I was on and off various drugs for a few years then I tried Azathioprine and it was a miracle cure for me. The only time I have had a flare in the 30 years I've been on it was when I was pregnant and I had to take a low dose of steroids alongside it then. Don't give up on trying new drugs as something may work wonders for you

DH is very ‘lucky’ with his crohns and has little trouble with it but he always contact his IBD nurses who always want to test calprotectant levels and do a blood test.

Thanks @OldieButBaddieyes I contacted the IBD nurse and went to the hospital yesterday for blood tests and stool sample etc. I was an Azathioprin for many years, will Adalimumab as well, but was taken off Azathioprine last year and now only on Adalimumab. Would love not to have take a course of steroids but I didn’t know about short course like you describe- that would be better.

@ForLoveNotMoneya bit better thanks. The low residue diet has helped for definite, but I stupidly ate v unwisely yesterday, and even drank booze (was a stressful week!) which was silly and hasn’t helped 🙄

Yep I did contact them and that’s exactly what they ask me to do. Will be interesting to see the results.

@OldieButBaddiewhere do you get the Elemental E028 drinks from, are they prescribed?

I hope they can sort you out quickly and get you back on track 🤞🏻

Yes they were prescribed, you could ask the IBD nurse maybe?
Why did you stop the Azathioprine out of interest? I have been on it for over 30 years with no issues (other than being high risk during covid!) I take about a third of the dose I should and it keeps me 100% fine