Lower Abdomen Issues | Arthritis Information

Before my Remicade infusion, I was having a lot of "aches & pains" in my lower abdomen. The it mostly hurt below my belly button. It felt like it was my intestines. I also had a hard time dropping a deuce and it was painful if I did not get at least something out.

I could not get much out because for a while there I was not eating much. I did not eat because of the pain in my lower abdomen.

I get like this when I have inflammation and when I am not doing so well.

Well... the day after my Remicade infusion... all the "aches & pains" I had in my lower abdomen and not being able to drop a deuce went away. And I have not had any thing wrong with my lower abdomen.

It is no longer tender to the touch or to even press down on like it was.

I am just wondering if anyone else gets anything like this?

joonie39434.8003356481sort of...I get diarrhea and a lot of lower abdomen pain with that when my RA gets out of control...when something finally works for my joints then the intestinal inflammation stops too.Thanks for the reply, Marian. Now I do not feel alone or weird, or that it is all in my head.

I get a lot of that. I was hesitant to respond because I also have Crohn's which is inflammation of the digestive system. Most of my pain is where you are describing.

Marion is probably right, it's all inflammation, and when it's aggressive it can spread everywhere.

I am happy to hear you are feeling better :)

Before I was DXd I had RA flares in every joint of my body.
The biggest pains were in my groin and lower abdomen.
I was having trouble putting the fire out and trying to put another log on the fire.
In fact I could not move any muscle that did not seem to affect the lower abdomen.
I was reduced to crawling with tears streaming out of me before I decided that something was wrong.

I haven't had that lower abdomen pain since I got onto the drugs.

I am happy to hear that, Stephen. I am glad you have no more abdomen pain since being put on meds.

SarahP - Thanks for the reply, too. I am hesitant to tell RD about my problems, as it just results in more trips an hour away and burdening people to take me. I hope I do not have anything like Crohn's.

Hope you are both doing well. Thanks Blessed, I so hope it does not come back. It is the pits...

Mine follows my inflamation pattern too. Sorry you have this Joonie...it is the pits. I hope the Remicade helps!!

Ya know, marian that makes a lot of sense. That when your RA flares up you flare up intestenally as well. RA does affect your whole body right? I thought that the pains sounded like Chrons as well, Joonie, have you been checked for Chrons? Not that I want you to have something else but it might explain alot. And dont they give Remicade to Chrons patients? Glad to hear that the abdominal pain is not bothering you anymore and I am SO HAPPY to hear that the Remicade is helping as well...Autoimmune disorders go hand in hand with gut dysfunction. Most of your immune system is located in your digestive system.

I have been researching this for years and have been able to control my RA with drugs and diet. I am moderate to severe. If I wasn't doing anything to change my diet, my RA would be completely out of control.

A lot of people with RA also have undiagnosed celiac disease and/or other food intolerances. Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are tied to these as well. Most doctors will tell you food has nothing to do with any of those disorders. Not true.

Susan

Man... I so do not want another problem. That is why I have not mentioned it to my RD. I will probably mention it to her if it starts up again. But if it does not... not mentioning it.

Thanks for the replies everyone. They were very informative.

That is why I do not like to mention about things hurting always have to come back for more testing or see how some med is working. She is just to far away to keep finding someone to take me and then waste their gas.

Do ya understand now?

I might mention it next year when hubby gets back his vacation days again, he already used them up taking me to Dr appts.

Oh mine is deffinately part of the flare. It responds to well to the pred anyway for me to think other wise. I have been on aloy of antibiotics and other meds and that of course causes problems on it's own. I noticed it so well this time as they would not give me the pred till after i got the blood work. They said it would interfer with the blood work. So i remember being in the waiting room at docs and the nurse called and i was walking bent over clutching my stomache. When she asked why i was walking that way i said spastic colon. But the pred did clear up that right away. I was taking the pred for the RA and sjorgrens of course so it surprised me. Now today i have different issues. Joonie
I take an acidophilus every day which I find helps my bowel. Also I've just started drinking chamomile tea - it's supposed to be anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and antibacterial. It's very soothing ... I don't mind the taste. Perhaps it might help.
Anna
The bowels can swell if you have Crohn's but you can also get uterus inflammation. It has been proven (someone had an article shown here) that odd spots can swell.

My swelling is very low in the pelvic area and i can feel mine around to the back. What it is, is swelling of my bowels or uterus or both, depending on what my RA wants to play with.

It only happens with horrible flairs, like when i eat potato chips (one of my foods i can't have).

Be sure to have it checked out in case Crohn's does develope. I don't have it, as of yet, but they are watching.