Tracking symptoms helps recognize Crohn's disease flares early. Flare-ups can be triggered by a variety of factors including changes in diet, new medications, infections and antibiotics, stress, and changes in the underlying disease itself.
Pare down your diet.
Rollhauser recommends avoiding fat, spicy foods, alcohol, and fiber, especially during a flare-up, because they can worsen diarrhea and cramping. “Bland foods and clear liquids are best during a flare,” Walker-Oaks says.
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.
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.
A Crohn's flare-up may last just a few days, or it may persist for several months. 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.
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.)
A flare-up is a reappearance (or worsening) of your symptoms. There are many things that can trigger a flare-up including missing your medication or taking the wrong dose, eating foods that irritate your GI tract, or even drinking carbonated beverages. Many studies also show that stress can trigger a flare-up.
Causes for Crohn's disease are not completely known. Researchers believe genetic, hereditary, and environmental components may play a part in the condition. And while stress does not cause Crohn's, past research shows it can affect IBD and Crohn's disease.
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.
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.
Does Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis get worse with age? Both conditions can change as you age, but not necessarily for the worse. For some people, their condition may improve over time due to a treatment plan that works for them. For others, it may worsen or stay the same.
Other symptoms of Crohn's disease include but are not limited to: -diarrhoea -abdominal pain -fatigue (extreme tiredness) -unintended weight loss -blood and mucus in your faeces (stools) -Anaemia or malnourishment -Intestinal Inflammation -Pallor, clubbing, aphthous mouth ulcers.
For people with Crohn's or Colitis, fatigue can be: Physical (low energy or strength, a feeling of heaviness). Mental (low motivation, concentration, or alertness). A feeling of 'brain fog'.
Coffee Has Its Pros and Cons
In either case, the high amount of caffeine in coffee can aggravate certain unpleasant Crohn's symptoms. But some people with Crohn's tolerate coffee in small doses, such as a morning cup. “I think it's fine for people to have their morning coffee,” Dr. Longman says.
Opt for mango and banana during a Crohn's flare, and skip berries with seeds, which might irritate your digestive tract, but feel free to include blueberries. Fluids also keep you hydrated.
Most commonly, Crohn's affects your small intestine and the beginning of your large intestine. However, the disease can affect any part of your digestive tract, from your mouth to your anus.