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Swollen, painful areas in both axillae: Reactivation of Crohn's?
I have Crohn’s disease and had to stop taking Stelara last year due to recurrent illnesses. Just before Christmas, 2024 I developed swollen, painful areas in both axillae. My GI doctor, my PCP, an infectious disease doctor, and a hematologist/oncologist have no idea what caused this. A CTA showed a collection of fluid in my axillae. Could this be a reactivation of Crohn’s after being in remission? Has anyone had this experience?
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@skypledger while Crohn's can have extra intestinal symptoms, they seem to be things like joint pain, eye inflammation and skin rashes. It seems weird that it is both armpits. Is your C-reactive protein test normal? Is the fluid encapsulated, or diffuse? Have they thought about aspirating some of the fluid and testing it?
I had the swelling removed from my right armpit. Within 3 months it had grown back just as big as before. I don’t know if it was encapsulated or not but it was a lipoma that was benign. It’s a head scratcher. My last CT Scan of my abdomen with oral contrast showed reactivation of Crohn’s with a greater area of inflammation in my small intestine with a small area of impending obstruction and starting development of fatty liver. I’m on prednisone in decreasing dosages while awaiting insurance approval of Tremfya. I had noticed in the past months increased joint, back, neck, and muscle pain. After my primary doctor and my rheumatologist called my GI specialist, an appointment miraculously opened up that day. I was turned down for a consult at Mayo GI Clinic even though I’m currently being seen in the breast clinic. It’s been quite an ordeal bouncing from consult to consult without getting answers of any kind. Meanwhile, I have no answers for the lipomas, chronic constipation, and now developing fatty liver. I’m tired!