Crohns flare up?
 

I'm unsure if I truly have Crohns I did some research and the symptoms I have sound very much like Crohns. I've had this stomach and lower abdominal issue for a few years now but I'm a little scared. Since I'm over seas and have no health insurance I am worried it may be appendicitis. On top of all this I have anxiety issues a mixture for disaster as I'm told. If it is Crohns having an anxiety attack will only make it worse. Not sure what to do.

Hello.

If you're away from home and think you may have appendicitis, you really need to be seen by a doctor. It's not usually something that can wait.

Do you have a fever?

I felt warm but I wasnt burning up took a cool bath and also had ibuprofen. The fever faded and the pain in my stomach wasnt extremely terrible. The location of the pain was on the right side like apedicitis but it's where its always felt uncomfortable right near my pelvic bone. Does appendicitis develop really quick? I also have what I think to be a tooth socket infection right tonsil is also a bit swollen could that've caused the fever? Another note I had three day old chicken and chorizo which was very spicy. Whenever I tried to burp I wasnt really able to also feeling bloated..... I know a lot of factors here I'm just not able to go to the doctor right now it's night time here. My anxiety is just amplifying things.

Appendicitis usually has a fever, and vomiting. Diarrhea is not typical with it.
Bowel sounds are diminished with it.

Are you taking antibiotics too? For that throat and tooth?
Antibiotics can upset the bowel flora and cause colitis (there would be diarrhea with that). Colitis usually has more bowel sounds.

Spicy hot food can cause bowel pain, if there is any inflammation present there. Infections from extracted teeth can migrate to the GI tract.

You should really see a doctor.

It is possible to have a "grumbling" appendix and that can be accompanied by a low grade fever over a period of time, however after reading your dental posts I would have to wonder if the way you are feeling today is related to that even though you've had some tummy issues for a few years. Your temp and other symptoms could be coming from the tooth problem.

I'm sorry this is happening to you while you're away from home. Keep rinsing that mouth out with salty water as suggested by Bryanna. Your fever and gut issues could be related to that if it's an infection. I take it you're not on antibiotics?

as mrsD suggested, you really should see a doctor.

I had been taking antibiotics before the tooth was extracted might that have caused coliti, my stomach does seem to make a fair bit of noise. I just felt it may be Crohns I've been to doctors before no one has ever given me a real answer I've been told it could be gird or Crohns or ibs. It's such a faff to get a real answer I've also been told it could be due to my anxiety and stress levels. If this helps any my stools are yellow sometimes I go to the toilet feeling like I really have to go and ether nothing comes out or this jelly like substance comes out occasionally having small amounts of blood in it. None of my stools are solid they are sometimes diarrhea but that's not too often. And it's always that same spot that has always had a bit of a dull felt pain I've had it about 2 years now.

I will go to the doctor as soon as I can I just dread the cost for meds and doctor visit whilst in the UK :( really stressing about this :/ not only that but I really am frightend of hearing bad news of its something really bad. I'll panic.

There is a mucus colitis:

http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-i...us-colitis.htm

And antibiotics can cause colitis...that is for sure.

Also, a deep pelvic pain may be infected a n a l glands. These hurt and give a fever too. They are typically treated with Keflex.

You really need to see a doctor to figure this out. In the meantime yogurt and/or kefir will help some. They will restore some of the lost bowel flora.

MrsD and Lara,
Thank you both very much you've both helped me out more than the doctors I've been to ever did! So yogurt and I'm not quite sure what Kefir is? I've been worried a while that I may have had Crohns. I heard Crohns inflames everything over time and you constantly must take meds that really mess with your system. :(

May I ask what's a good site that will give me some more detail on mucos colitis other than the one you just posted?

I'll post this one in case mrsD doesn't get back right away.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/000246.htm
Irritable bowel syndrome
Alternative Names
Spastic colon; Irritable colon; Mucous colitis; Spastic colitis

Edited to add: I hope you are feeling a lot better than earlier.
It would be very worrying to become ill overseas and away from home.
It's natural to be anxious, but please see a doctor or call someone if you start to feel worse.

Stay away from the spicy chorizo and chicken that's 3 days old! ;)

Kefir is a liquid type yogurt. However, the organisms it provides are more strains, and more of them than most yogurts.
In US, Lifeway is becoming common in many stores now. I get ours at Kroger's.

http://www.lifeway.net/

Theirs is lactose free and gluten free. It is very delicious and in many flavors too. I like the peach and cherry ones. It is like a smoothie. You could use it as a base (say the unflavored one) and add your own specific ingredients if you make smoothies at home. Lifeway has 12 different strains in it, whereas most yogurts have much less.

@Lara,
Will do no more spicy old fridge food XD woke up this morning feeling 110% still have my occasional belly ache but the yogurt helped that lessen too!
Steadily rinsing with warm salt water and taking ibuprofen to help things along hopefully I can enjoy this last week before I have to go back. :)


@mrsD,
Brilliant I'm so glad they've got lactose free I'm slightly intolerant to dairy and don't drink much milk products at all I've almost cut them completely will that make me feel off too?

I was surprised today when I had yogurt it didn't send me into a bad stomach ache I didn't have a lot a small bowl half full but still seemed to help.

When you get back home, get some Activia too. It has a strain not commonly found in other yogurts. You can rotate them.

My husband has yogurt for breakfast every day. I usually use the Kefir.

Some Greek yogurts are really problematic though in the US.
They thicken them with a gum... called carob bean gum (aka locust bean gum), which feeds certain GI bacteria to ferment it, and that causes gas and bloating and for me at least diarrhea.
Chobani is one but others have this ingredient. So it is best to get gum free yogurts. I believe using antibiotics changes bowel flora and nasties take over...and these are the ones who ferment the gums. Taking antibiotics kills off beneficial bowel bacteria allowing nasties to move in and make trouble.

If you take acid blocking drugs like Zantac, or Prilosec they too will cause gas, bloating and diarrhea because they inhibit the breakdown of protein which then goes on to ferment in a similar way. The purpose of acid in our stomachs is to 1) break down protein into smaller bits for the enzymes from the pancreas to further digest, and 2) to kill the nasty germs/organisms before they move further down into the body. Acid blockers are good for the short run, but every day forever...not good for us at all!

I am glad to hear you are feeling better...just getting less anxious and learning here can really help that fear factor. ;)

I'm also pleased to hear you're feeling a lot better.

I'd go easy on that ibuprofen though. Not the best thing to take for too long if you've got gut issues to begin with.

Is there any othe fever and pain reliever that's not as harsh just so if a fever reoccurs I can take that instead?

Is there any activia that is lactose free?

If I have yogurt whilst on my antibiotics when I get back in the states is that okay?

That's what I joined for to learn so as to not over react and as an anxiety/ panic attack sufferer it's really worth learning things that can save me from doing my head in :)

Most yogurts have very low lactose because the process to make them consumes the lactose in the milk used.

Lifeway advertises its lactose free... but most yogurts are very tolerable.

Read those labels.... those gums can really do a number on you!

I would think that something like tylenol would be better than ibuprofen.

Edited to add: I don't have any bowel issues, so I'm just going on what I know about the effects of ibuprofen with long term use. I find ibuprofen gives more pain relief than other OTC pain relievers... that's the problem. mrsD would know more about use of it being safe in the short term

Hi MoparDakota

If you suspect that you have Crohn's Disease then it is important that this is checked out by health professionals. This is something that I know a fair bit about - a dear (now deceased) IRL friend lived with it for many years.

The standard initial investigation is a colonoscopy - if it confirms a Crohn's Disease diagnosis then a clinical care team will be able to discuss treatment options with you.