Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis Support Group

hello!i was diagnosed 9 years ago.i am now 20.i wish i could help, but i must say, almost every flare i have is different from one another!!!i usually do have diarhea, pure water.yes i get very sore joints, not my back though. this is usually because of dehydration my doctore tells me.sometimes i throw up.sometimes i dont.and ALWAYS have INCREDIBLE abdominal pain in both or one lower side.yes, sometimes i can feel a hard something in my lower abdnomen, my doctor has told me this is from the inflammanation being so bad. i always have very high fever, and bad night sweats and will have to change my lovely gown sometimes as much as 4 x a night.
though my last flare, barely a month ago, i only had terrible pain, very high fever and had a minor blockage.that was a first for me!i hope i was able to help you out!

Hi, my diarrhoea is watery but I don't get joint pains really. Terrible abdo pain too but not fevers very often.
Over the years I've come to believe it depends where in your bowel the inflammation is, whether you have blockages or inflammation or both, that dictate what kind of symptoms you get. I didn't get diarrhoea for years, I was just sick!
The one thing I think we all get is putting up with it all, no matter what the symptoms, and I'm sure you'll read stuff here that makes you go "Oh, cool, it's not just me then....."
Good luck

I'm a bit of a freak in Crohn's world- I actually gain weight and get constipated when I'm flairing! I also have the Crohn's arthritis- mostly hurts in my hands and feet- but also lower back and right knee and right shoulder. I also get VERY tired with the flairs. I'd mention the Knots to your Dr.- it may just be lymph nodes that are swollen (and the usually are with Crohn's) but it bears mentioning. I also get sharp pain on my lower right side (my disease is in my ileum.... Where is your disease located?

I was diagnosed in 1997. Everyone is different with their flares, but the main thing with Crohns is the diarrhea, cramping, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite. Bad flares can cause fever, also if you find yourself constipated with cramping and vomiting then it is most likely a bowel obstruction. I have had several of those over the years where I always end up in the Hospital. Crohns can also cause arthritis which I feel it in every joint of my body. Crohns can also cause eye problems. Your eyes can start getting very sensitive to light and you can also have catteracs. My eye Doctor also has Crohns so he always does a complete check up on me.
As for the diarrhea, it can be different colors depending on what you eat. You just want to call your Doctor if it is black and teary. My GI has a picture on the wall of the different forms and colors of stools so I can tell him what mine has been looking like.
I had surgery last year where they removed 21 inches of my intestine and 6 months after I had a Colonoscopy and there is no more signs of the Crohns. My hugs and prayers are with you.