Possible Crohn's Disease or Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

My boyfriend was in the emergency room for 11 and a half hours a couple of weeks ago with severe abdominal pain and nausea. His skin was a yellowish color and his temperature was 95 degrees. All his tests came back fine, except for small traces of protein in urine, but the doctor didnt say anything about this. After the cat scan, the doctor noticed that a small portion of the small intestine seemed to be swollen and iritated and he said it might be IBD or Crohns. He sent him home with a perscription for Prilosec and an anti-nausea. He has been doing a lot better since taking the Prilosec, but today he has been really sick. He has been complaining about how his stomach hurts and he has been throwing up all day. He cant even drink water or tea!! I dont know what to do...I have been doing everything I can to see if he will eat because I beleive that the reason he doesnt feel well is becase he gets so hungry that it actually makes him nauseus.

i think the vomiting is what is making his abdomen hurt and from not being able to eat all day it is making him more and more nasuous. Nothing i gave him helps at all. I tried giving him water, chicken broth, oatmeal, peppermint tea, etc etc, but he threw it all up after taking only a few bites/sips. He took a nap for a couple of hours and he slept fine and even said he felt a little better after he woke up, but then he just started feeling sick again. I dont know what is causing this or even sure what exactly it is because we never got a definite diagnosis. But everything he eats or drinks just comes right back up and he cannot keep anything down. we are trying to figure out what triggered this attack but cant figure it out...please help, I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!

hi angelica, I am a female crohns pt. who's had it for 27 yrs. IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) is named for Crohn's disease or Ulcerative colitis.

The symptoms your bf has is common with CD pts. If he still can't hold anything down, then have him call the GI & get in to see him so he can be reassessed and get him on something that will get it in remission. There are so many newer meds out there like Remicade via IV but needs authorization from the insurance, Entocort which is a steroid but doesn't get absorbed into the blood stream & won't cause the side effects like prednisone does. (moon face, weight gain, appetite). I have been on Entocort for a while and it has been helping. It's only used for ppl who have crohns in the small intestines so he could be a candidate for that.

The reason he is sore/not feeling well is because the gut is inflammed, he's been vomitting/nauseous, possible spasms, etc. Yes, he is hungry, but when we crohnies eat, sometimes that aggrivates the inflammed walls of the stomach & intestines. Think of it as sand paper going over an open wound. that is what it feels like in our gut.

Crohn's disease can occur anywhere from the mouth (sores), esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, and anus. There is no cure but can be put in remission w/medication or surgery as a last resort. UC only affects the large colon, rectum, and anus. Symptoms will vary in each person.

See if he can have a heating pad on his gut 15 minutes on 15 off or try those thermacare wraps (generic brand at Walgreens much cheaper) and move the disk part over the stomach so he can sleep with it for 8 hrs. I use that when I am in pain. Also, have him ask his MD for pain medication. He needs to have some sort of relief & shouldn't be suffering like that. (speaking from experience)

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America has a site you can visit where you can locate information on medical terminology, diet, medications, surgery,coping, and you can even locate a support chapter in your state where you both can meet others in the same situation are you are. They even have educational meetings where pts. can meet the drug reps from Remicade and Entocort, surgeons, dieticians, etc.

They have a toll free number you can call M-F 9 am - 5 pm
(EST) 888.MY.GUT.PAIN (888-694-8872). The lines are manned by health care professionals who know everything about IBD.

feel free to email me if you have any questions. I've learned to live with this at age 12. Had my 1st surgery at 17. I can steer you in the right direction on what to ask, where to seek help, etc.

If he still can't hold anything down, take him to the ER stat. You don't want him to risk getting dehydrated from not drinking. They can give him something for the pain via an IV & notify his GI that he's still not well & needs medical intervention NOW.

If his abdominal pain is located in the right lower part, then it could be appendicitis. From what you've described, it sounds like Crohn's Disease & that you've done all you can to help nuture him at this point. Since he's been sick all day & nothing has helped...take him to the emergency room again. Something may have developed or changed since your last visit. I never hurts to be a little paranoid when it comes to someone you care about.

Hope everything is ok!

Did they test his gallbladder? It sure sounds like he has gallstones.

i have crohns and chronic pancreatitis. i do not drink, but have been told at the er i must be an alchohlic,, i also had my gallbladder out unnecasrily.. to be diagnosed with crohns an entire year later... i have had many doctors who did not listen and instead gave me psych refferal. it is not imagined pain it is real just because your not bleeding from the eyeballs doesnt mean its not real. the docs wil NEVER tell you this but my solutions have been meds... prilosec for the stomach acids and ulcers in intestines.. low dose prozac or other for the depression. {{that comes when you feel like **** for so long and dont get better}}}} and vicodin. vicodin vic,, well yo u get it. when i am in that much pain, and cannot even swallow water without pain its the only way to give my body a rest. email if u want... i have been thru this...i know it sucks, u have to get thru one day at a time.