Crohn's Question.

[Deleted]

Does anyone with Crohn's get canker sores during flair ups?
I was reading about them last night because I've been getting a lot more than normal lately (right now I have two, and a third one starting) and I read that they can be a symptom of a Crohn's flair up. I've never heard that anywhere else, but I've also had worse than normal lower GI issues since mid-January so now I'm wondering if they could be connected. Yes, I already have a doctors appointment scheduled and I plan to ask her about it then, but I'm curious to see if anyone who has been diagnosed with Crohn's gets them as a symptom.

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Apr 10, 2013 20:19:01 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I had ulcers in my mouth, my throat, and all through my intestinal tract. When they did my scopes and biopsies they couldn't diagnose them as crohns. I guess they didn't meet criteria. They aren't sure why I ended up with them or why I got so sick. They did go away with some high dose steroids though. They were so painful! I was in the hospital for quite awhile because of them.

That 2.5 years ago and I hope it never ever happens again!

Both of my endoscopies have been normal, so I don't think they're anywhere other than my mouth right now, but they just hurt so bad! I woke up this morning and half of my face was swollen because one is on my lower right and the other is on my lower left. Now there's one starting on my lower left, and I'm starting to feel like I may never be able to comfortably eat again.

[Deleted]

I have crohns and I get canker sores. It's a symptom of the disease. Remember Crohn's can attack any part of your GI tract so it makes sense you can have ulcers in your intestines and in the mucosal lining of your mouth. Google "Crohn's and canker sores" for more information.

Canker sores were my earliest symptom of disease (frequently appeared in childhood) - dentist blamed stress. Not totally off but obviously now I know the stress exacerbated the damage from Crohn's

[bcv513]

My experience is pretty much exactly what tacom said. I can remember being a kid and my pediatrician making up some sort of rinse because I had so many canker sores.

[caramia]

Hmmm, that's weird- I've never even had a cold sore. H gets them but I don't...

[aimeedyan]

Yep, they are a pretty common symptom. I always know a flare is coming on due to one.

At my worst, I've had them throughout my mouth and down my throat. My GI always calls in that "magic mouthwash" to the pharmacy when I get them really badly. I swish, and while it's numb for a few moments, take a bite or chug some Ensure. Wash, rinse, repeat.

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Apr 11, 2013 20:58:46 GMT -5 caramia said:

Hmmm, that's weird- I've never even had a cold sore. H gets them but I don't...

Cold sores and canker sores are different things. Cankers are in the inside of your mouth, not caused by a virus, not contagious, and they hurt like a BITCH. The whole right side of my face is swollen this morning and my jaw is now aching for some stupid reason.

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Apr 11, 2013 22:55:23 GMT -5 aimeedyan said:

Yep, they are a pretty common symptom. I always know a flare is coming on due to one.

At my worst, I've had them throughout my mouth and down my throat. My GI always calls in that "magic mouthwash" to the pharmacy when I get them really badly. I swish, and while it's numb for a few moments, take a bite or chug some Ensure. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Do you know what the mouthwash is? Is it Chlorhexidine, or something else? Because I could pick some of that up at work, if that's the case.

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Apr 12, 2013 5:43:28 GMT -5 @pixiechinchilla said:

Apr 11, 2013 20:58:46 GMT -5 caramia said:

Hmmm, that's weird- I've never even had a cold sore. H gets them but I don't...

Cold sores and canker sores are different things. Cankers are in the inside of your mouth, not caused by a virus, not contagious, and they hurt like a BITCH. The whole right side of my face is swollen this morning and my jaw is now aching for some stupid reason.

I should probably add that I'm sure cold sores aren't fun, either. Sorry, I woke up really cranky this morning thanks to my swollen face and my inability to eat without wanting to cry.

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Apr 12, 2013 15:22:17 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Apr 12, 2013 5:45:03 GMT -5 @pixiechinchilla said:

Do you know what the mouthwash is? Is it Chlorhexidine, or something else? Because I could pick some of that up at work, if that's the case.

It's prescription. It's got lidocaine in it so it will literally numb your mouth.

Gotcha. I work in a dental office so I can get a lot of those prescription mouthwashes without making the extra trip to a doctor or dentist.

[pugs3602]

I have lupus, which is an autoimmune disease like Chron's. I get ulcers in my mouth when it flares up.