If you have pain and want to take something over-the-counter, Lee suggests acetaminophen (Tylenol). Celecoxib (Celebrex) also appears to be safe for people with IBD in remission for brief periods of time. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation says that Tylenol can be used up to 3,000 milligrams per day.
People should contact their doctor when they notice the first signs of a flare-up. Medications and bowel rest may help, and if severe symptoms or complications develop, surgery is an option. Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent flare-ups, certain lifestyle practices, such as exercising regularly, may help.
Eating certain foods can sometimes help relieve the symptoms of a Crohn's flare-up. Refined grains, low fiber fruits, lean proteins, and yogurt are some options.
Water Is the Most Hydrating. It may not sound exciting, but the best hydration when you're managing Crohn's disease is H2O. There's no other beverage that will work harder to help you overcome the negative effects of Crohn's symptoms, experts say. This is especially true when diarrhea strikes and you become dehydrated.
The length and frequency of a Crohn's flare are highly individual, says David S. Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at NewYork–Presbyterian in New York City. According to Harvard Health Publishing, a flare can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Flare-ups can happen after months or years of being in remission.
Although there's no firm evidence that any particular foods cause Crohn's disease, certain things seem to aggravate flare-ups. So a food diary can help you identify personal triggers. Beyond that, limit dairy products, eating smaller meals, stay hydrated, and try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation.
Rest is crucial during a Crohn's or UC flare
In other words, rest is crucial and naps are always a good idea. Of course, if your body isn't calling for rest, then that is another story. But if you feel you need it, go for it!
If your bowel movements are suddenly more frequent, you can't keep up with your hydration, you're experiencing significant pain, or your medication stops working, it's time to go to the hospital and get the flare under control. There, they can rule out any infections and administer medication or hydration by IV.
We won't sugarcoat it: Getting through a flare-up sucks. Crohn's disease symptoms like abdominal pain and cramping, heavy fatigue, and nonstop diarrhea can range from uncomfortable to straight-up painful, and they tend to get in the way of day-to-day life.
The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that people with Crohn's avoid NSAIDs when possible because they could cause symptom flare-ups as well as stomach or intestinal ulcers. Using NSAIDs raises your risk of an emergency hospital admission for your Crohn's.
It is generally considered safe to take paracetamol if you have inflammatory bowel disease, however if you need to take paracetamol for longer than three days, or have a new pain, you should speak to your IBD team. Two paracetamol tablets every four hours, up to four times a day is considered a safe dose for adults.
The pain that Crohn's patients feel tends to be crampy. It often appears in the lower right abdomen but can happen anywhere along the digestive tract. “It depends on where that inflammatory process is happening,” says Nana Bernasko, DNP, gastroenterology expert with the American Gastroenterological Association.
Symptoms of Crohn's disease can also include inflammation in the colon. Merely waking up in the morning stimulates the colon to start moving again. (It slows down — a lot — while you sleep.) Because of that, if someone has an active IBD flare that involves their colon, their symptoms could worsen when they wake up.
One way Crohn's can affect sleep is by causing you to wake up at night, according to Dr. Ceppie Merry of Healthy But Smart. As such, people with Crohn's can have less restful sleep than those without it, even if they get more hours of sleep.
To help your body digest fibrous foods during a flare, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCF) recommends avoiding the skins of fruits and vegetables; raw produce, especially cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower; and high-fiber whole grains, and opt for low-fiber fruits such as bananas and melons.
People with Crohn's disease experience flare-ups, during which symptoms like diarrhea, cramping, fever, fatigue, and joint pain are active. Flares can be triggered by factors like dietary changes, new medications, antibiotic use, stress, or infections. Sometimes, the cause of the flare-up is unknown.
Research suggests that certain probiotics found in yogurt help remedy Crohn's symptoms, and yogurt will give you a nice calcium boost too. Look for yogurts that contain “live and active cultures,” as not all yogurts contain probiotics.