Flares could last for weeks or months, and you might have mild diarrhea or cramps. About 10%-20% of people have long-term remission after the first flare. Treatment makes it more likely that you'll go into remission and stay there.
The symptoms can come on gradually, but they can also show up suddenly. And these can include diarrhea, fever, fatigue, abdominal pain and cramping, blood in your stool, mouth sores, reduced appetite and weight loss.
Crohn's affects approximately 500,000 Americans and is a chronic, lifelong condition that typically alternates between periods of relatively stable or absent symptoms (remission) and periods of symptom flare-ups that can last for days, weeks, or even months.
A Crohn's flare can totally deplete you of energy. Don't underestimate the importance of rest, says Dr. Horst. Make sure you're getting seven to nine hours at night, and don't be afraid to nap during the day.
During a flare-up, it is best to drink plenty of fluids and avoid foods that aggravate symptoms. Eating foods that are easy to digest and rich in nutrients can help ease symptoms and promote healing.
There are several reasons why someone might experience worse Crohn's or ulcerative colitis symptoms in the morning. Waking up increases colon activity in everyone. (The colon is the part of your large intestine connected to the small intestine. The other end of the colon leads to the rectum, which leads to the anus.)
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.
Over-the-Counter Medication
A group of medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — incuding ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and high-dose aspirin — are helpful in relieving body pain by blocking the production of inflammation.
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.
The pain is most commonly associated with Crohn's affecting the small intestine, though cramping of all kinds can occur no matter what part of your GI is inflamed. Many patients will experience abdominal pain on the lower right side of their abdomen or around their navel, typically occurring 1 to 2 hours after eating.
Smoking: Smoking can increase the possibility of a flare in Crohn's disease. Keep in mind that this could include prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke. Infections: Sometimes, infection of the gastrointestinal tract (such as c. difficile) can cause flares of symptoms.
Do You Poop a Lot With Crohn's? Some people who have Crohn's disease will go to the bathroom more often than people who don't live with a digestive disease. In severe Crohn's disease, diarrhea could occur many times a day. For some people with Crohn's disease, stools are infrequent.
And when you have an urgent need to go — which, for people with Crohn's, can sometimes be up to 20 times a day, according to Kaiser Permanente — maintaining an on-the-go lifestyle can be difficult.
Crohn's disease can lead to serious complications, including: Abscesses: Infected pus-filled pockets form in the digestive tract or abdomen. Anal fissures: Small tears in the anus (anal fissures) can cause pain, itching and bleeding.
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.
Stacking research has shown that complementary, nonpharmacological therapies including yoga, mindfulness, biofeedback, and diet changes can be used in tandem with medication to help reduce stress and calm Crohn's symptoms.
You may find that your Crohn's or Colitis makes it hard to get enough nutrients into your body. This may contribute to you feeling fatigued. If your gut is inflamed and sore it cannot soak up (absorb) the nutrients your body needs.
Without treatment, symptoms of Crohn's disease can be constant or may come and go every few weeks or months. When the symptoms come back, it's called a flare-up or relapse. The periods between flare-ups are called remission.