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Inflammation concentrated in rectum

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted Yesterday 8:22 AM (GMT -5)
So I have been having somewhat of a flare since around Thanksgiving.  Yes, it has been that long, and ongoing.  I had to take antibiotics in Nov and I think that triggered it.  I have had 2 Remicaide infusions since then and am still not back to "my normal".  My dr started me on Pred in mid-Dec (40 mg), which I only took 30 mg of and then tapered down myself as I felt better - bad idea, since I am still not better and went back up to 40 mg mid-January anyway.

So I just got a bunch of test results back - all my blood work is NORMAL, stool samples (c. diff, parasites, all the terrible things) are NORMAL, my CAT scan was NORMAL and even showed no inflammation!!! 

SO WHAT IS GOING ON?!?

It feels like it's concentrated in my rectum, so my dr said I may have internal hemm. that are bleeding, etc.  He wants to me to come in for a flex sigmoidoscopy next week.

does anyone else seem to have this issue?  :::TMI::: I have mostly formed stool but lots of other stuff - it's like my insides are falling out sometimes - I have gas and pain and blood.  Not a ton of D and not a lot of mucous anymore.  Usually the pain, etc is during the day but I have been waking up at night a few times (always a bad sign).  It is not as bad as it has been in the past but I just feel like I am not getting back to 100%.  I can do everything else normally, I go to work, I exercise, I have a normal appetite, etc but I am getting these isolated incidents throughout the day.     

Am I getting better, just more slowly than before?   Any thoughts are welcome!

Posted Yesterday 8:49 AM (GMT -5)
I have also had a peri-rectal abcess about 2 years ago so do have a past with problems in that area - I had a colorectal surgeon do surgery then, it healed and I was on my way.  I don't have a fever and none of my blood work, etc indicates any sort of infection right now.

I guess there is no other way to figure it out other than actually having a look with a sigmoidoscopy, right?

Posted Yesterday 9:04 AM (GMT -5)
I would have the sigmoid done so you have the complete picture of what is happening down there. Maybe you have a periannal ulcer or alot of scar tissue from your previous abscess. Whatever is happening in my experience the remicade works wonders for periannal problems. All the best.

Julia
Posted Yesterday 10:04 AM (GMT -5)
I agree I would have the test to rule anything else out. I have felt really sick before and had test results come back normal too.
Posted Yesterday 10:38 AM (GMT -5)
I think your situation is worse than mine, but I'm flaring there too. I have internal and external hemmies that are REALLY swollen. Started out thrombosed and have come down. Has your doc given you anything for the hemmies? Rx anusol have helped with the inflammation and calmed things down a bit and I sit on a plastic "donut" ... sitz baths, etc. Witch hazel wipes, but these are probley suggestions which are too simple for your complicated situation .....

I'm going to ask my doc to see if I should have some sort of scope soon. Since I"ve flared since Nov, I've now had ulcers in my mouth, esophogus, scalp and now my nose, and given that I have abdominal pain, I would imagine there is more inflammation "up there" too ... so keep us informed of what they find. I feel for you ...
Posted Yesterday 1:02 PM (GMT -5)

Hi Wendnesday2007,

I am new on here but not new to the issue of abcesses in that area!

Yes, for me scar tissue, not Crohns inflammation(to start with) will cause that kind of pressure in my rectum.

Especially if I have had more gas than usual and/or trips to the bathroom. I also have external skin tags (ya like hemmies) that just add to the pressure and pain. Sometimes after all the sits baths and heated packs, I just cave and stay off my feet til the swelling goes down.

I too am on Remicade and it does help, most of the time. Good luck with your test and I hope there is a simple answer for ya!

Posted Yesterday 5:47 PM (GMT -5)
ust a suggestion...Because of my rectal problems, I am sedated for any sigs that  have....I had one done unsedated and it was close to the worst experience I've had. 

How often are you having your remicade infusions?  I have had to move mine up to every six weeks instead of every 8 sometimes to get me back on track after I've flared. 

Posted Yesterday 7:33 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you!  I appreciate all the responses!

It's frustrating because all the tests (CAT scan , blood, stoo, etc) came back normal and it wasn't until I reminded my GI that I am still seeing so much blood that he wanted the sigmoidoscopy.  I am waking up in the middle of the night and am in the bathroom for ages, or on the ground with pain but am totally fine for at least 70% of the time.  I have not experienced this before, I am usually either sick or I am not.  In between is scary because at lease before i knew if I was getting worse and headed for a flare or gettting better and recovery was in sight.

I have my Remicaide this week and it has been 6-ish weeks the past 2 times.  I don't understand how the CAT scan can show no inflammation though when I am having pain in all areas of my abdomen (which could be gas maybe and the scan just doesn't show that the area is tender).

Thank you again for your posts - it's hard not knowing anyone else in real life that has this. :(

Posted Yesterday 7:47 PM (GMT -5)
That is the worst part of the disease, in my opinion, all test come back ok...so why then all the pain and suffering. I think we forget that we can have unrelated issues..yup like good old hemmies! :)
Man...a plain old cold throws me for a loop!! A Crohns problem, now that is just old news...LOL
Again good luck!
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