Ibd
Hi , 17yrs ago I was admitted to hospital with a small bowel blockage , the blockage cleared itself within a few days and I was discharged. They carried out follow up colonoscopy and ct scan and found some tiny ulcers in my ilium . Stated I possibly had crohns and put me on Pentasa , was on pentasa for a year had no symptoms and was taken off it and discharged. Prior to the obstruction I had a back disc issue and had been self medicating with ibuprofen for months at a high dose so at the time of the obstruction I put the bowel issues down to the ibuprofen. Have had no bowel issues since ( 17 yrs ) but a few months ago took around 12 ibuprofen over 4 days , few weeks later started with bowel issues, bloods all clear but cal protectin came back at 83 , have carried out a second test this week and it’s now 284 which points to ibd . Got app with gastro but just wondering is it possible for crohns to lay dormant for 17 yrs ? And for me to have an adverse reaction to ibuprofen which has caused this flare up ? Symptoms at present are stomach ache , bloating , bowel moment once a day on a morning ( what I would call a fluffy stool ) also a calprotecin level of 284 , what are the usual levels associated with crohns
Hi
, I'm so sorry you're having new issues and symptoms! That is never fun. While I am not a doctor, some of these symptoms do sound they could be an IBD flare. On the other hand, there may be other conditions or problems that are associated with these symptoms. (And in regards to your calprotectin score--it's hard to know what would constitute as normal or elevated because different tests can have different scales. Your doctor should be able to give you a better sense of what 284 means on their scale.) I'm really glad you have an appointment with a GI coming up, as I think they will have more answers for you.
We do not know for sure how this illness works, though we have some guesses. You can read more here: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/what-is-crohns-disease/causes There is a possibility that Ibuprofen could contribute to a flare-up, and I know many people, including myself do stay away from it. But each person is different and sometimes figuring this kind of thing out can be trial and error.
Please let us know how your doctor's appointment goes! -Eshani (IBD Team Member)
Hi
. The research is mixed and there is some controversy among gastroenterologists on the role of NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, when it comes to exacerbating or potentially even being trigger/cause of IBD. Here is an research article looking at the role of these drugs in exacerbating IBD: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4703528/. Here is one that notes that "A possible association between the use of NSAIDS and the onset or relapse of IBD has been repeatedly suggested" and looks at the research that existed at that time: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4034022/. As Eshani noted, we are not medical professionals and I don't know the answer, but it may be worth discussing with your doctor whether, at a minimum, you are one of those people who should avoid these drugs. Wishing you the best and please feel free to keep us posted on how you are doing. Richard (Team Member)
