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crohn’s and colitis

Read and learn more about crohn’s and colitis. For more, visit the Crohn’s Disease website DrCrohns.org

Q: why do some people discrimate againist people with crohn’s/colitis/ibs?
i don’t understand this. people think this is funny. i suffer problems like this and sometimes my friend thinks it is funny.

A: It has to do with their immaturity. For some reason, many people think that bathroom functions are funny and the fact that some people have diseases that cause them pain and diarrhea, makes even more amusing to them. I understand that people who have to wear colostomy bags get this sort of abuse, too. Try to imagine what kinds of names they get called. It’s not pretty.

Q: Can clinical tests effectively distinguish between colitis and Crohn’s Disease?
Hello,
I had a colonoscopy done a week ago due to some severe abdominal pain and was subsequently put on Asacol. I got the biopsy results back today, and I either have infectious colitis or Crohn’s Disease. Based on my research, it is difficult to conclusively distinguish between colitis and Crohn’s. If I have infectious colitis, will I be on medication indefinitely? Or, is there anyone out there who knows what some distinguishing factors between the two might be? I am aware of the CCFA, but I would like some advice from people who are actually experiencing colitis/Crohn’s.

A: Crohn’s disease can effect anywhere from your throat to your rectum. Colitis only effects your colon. Your doctor should be able to tell which it is by a test or two.(Not quite sure which ones though it’s been awhile) You can always call and ask them though.

Q: Why should IBS – Colitis – Crohn’s sufferer’s read this?
I’ll answer my own question here as I wasn’t sure how else to get this information out there for everyone to read and judge for themselves.

http://opendiary.com/entrylist.asp?authorcode=A504373

I strongly urge you to read this story. It’s my own battle with severe ulcerative colitis. I’m not a Dr. & I’m not selling anything. This is just valuable information.

I suffered for years and years before making a life or death decision. What I learned saved my life, and if you suffer as I have, hopefully you’ll look into the same answer that I found & start feeling better yourselves.

It’s a miserable illness and there is no official cure. I can tell you this though…I have it as severe as one can, all throughout my large intestine up to the ileium, and today…I can eat ice cream and fruit with the skin on it, and thai food, and so can you. Please read on & get well soon.
Thanks CumQuaT for sharing that. I too have had the ulcers in my mouth, in fact I had those for the first time 2 months before my initial break out of Colitis, but it was passed off from the Dr as stress (considering my life at the time it made perfect sense) He explained the occurrence similar to “hives” (which one can get when extrodinarily stressed.)

This is also why I’m a firm believer that in time Dr’s will come to acknowledge that stress (along with other factors) indeed can “cause” Crohn’s & Colitis…not just cause the relapses.

Deal with the stress factors in your life if you want to help deal with these diseases at least.

As for coffee…well… I’m drinking some now, lol…with cream I might add :-) Carbonated beverages are the only thing I shy away from, not entirely…but mostly.

A: So what’s your question?

Q: do you have ulcerative colitis/crohn’s disease?
I was in the hospital Thanksgiving 2005 and they were going to take my colon out. I had been hopitalized 4 times in less than 2 years and I couldn’t function. I literally crapped in my pants without knowing it. I was in so much pain they were dripping some really fantastic pain med into me– I was afraid I’d be an addict by the time I left the hospital.

I said “no”. My doctor got mad, kicked me out of the hospital. I started taking some SHAKLEE probiotics, detoxed on alfalfa and about 20 other bottles of stuff. Started getting better, then went to a doctor an hour and a half away from where I lived and started taking NAET treatments. The first time I had a flare-up I was scared to death I would end up in the hospital again. My new doctor told me to come down and I’d be fine. He did a treatment and it was gone within a few hours. Please– don’t let any doctor tell you that you have to take meds the rest of your life and you’ll never get better. It’s a lie.

http://www.naet.com
When I get real stressed I will have flare-ups, but he can take care of it. I can also eat anything I want to. Things that used to tear my stomach up.

A: THinking4U!

Good for you on the decision making. Take control and decide for yourself where your health will go. That is power and you used it! Take some more initiative and heal your issue for good. Learn about juice fasting and cleansing of the colon and liver.

“The body knows how to heal itself you just have to assist it”.

Here are a few other tips to follow.

Here is some info and remedies to help with your condition.

Causes
Crohn’s disease can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor diet and nutrition, food allergies, imbalanced levels of hydrochloric acid, impaired immunity, infections, lack of exercise, “leaky gut” syndrome, pharmaceutical drugs, and stress.

Note:
Pharmaceutical Drugs: The following drugs can all cause and exacerbate various gastrointestinal disorders, including Crohn’s disease: Accutane, Alka-Seltzer Antacid and Alka-Seltzer Pain Reliever, Anturane, Genuine Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Plus Aspirin, Bayer Regular Strength Enteric Aspirin, Bufferin Analgesic Tablets and Caplets, Ceptaz, Clinoril, Cuprimine, Ecotrin Enteric Coated Aspirin, Feldene, Ilosone, Lamprene, Leukine for IV Infusion, Lopid, Marplan, Meclomen, Novantrone, Paraplatin, Piroxicam, Prokine I.V. Infusion, Retrovir, Rynatuss, Supprelin Injection, Suprax, Ticlid, Tolectin, Toradol IM Injection, Trecator-SC, Trilisate, and Voltaren.

Quick Action Plan for Crohn’s Disease

1. Diet is of primary importance. Avoid all sugars, refined flour products, and carbohydrates, milk and dairy products, processed foods that contain preservatives and artificial sweeteners, alcohol, hydrogenated and trans-fatty oils, as well as foods that are common allergens.

2. Emphasize organic, fresh vegetables and non-citrus fruits, organic grains, as well as organic, free-range meats and poultry and wild-caught fish.

3. Drink plenty of pure, filtered water throughout the day. Gallon a day if you can.

4. Enema containing butyric acid two to five times a week. (Add one tablespoon of butyric acid to one quart of warm water.) Do a Colon Cleanse to clean out the toxins in the body. A liver cleanse will help new blood penetrate the sick areas and help the healing process.

5. Supplements with vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, taken with a multivitamin/multimineral formula. Essential fatty acids, especial omega-3 oils, are also recommended.

6. Stress reduction through the use of various mind/body medicine techniques, such as biofeedback, hypnotherapy, meditation and relaxation exercises.

7. If you smoke, stop and if you are currently taking aspirin or other NSAIDs, consider replacing them with safer, more effective natural remedies.

8. Soothing baths two to five nights and alternating hot and cold water packs placed over the stomach and upper abdomen.

9. Juice remedies include aloe juice; wheatgrass juice; cabbage, papaya, and carrot juice; and carrot, beet, and cucumber juice.

10. Juice of half a lemon with warm water, especially in the morning.

11. Allow yourself to receive emotional support to help you embrace some of the common underlying issues identified with Crohn’s, such as abandonment, anger, disappointment and rage, which often settle in the gut. Seek out a therapist or other skilled practitioner that can guide you through emotional healing work.

Best of health to you

Q: Crohn’s Ulcerative Colitis problems!!!?
I just got diagnosed with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, my GI doens’t know yet. I don’t really feel to bad which seems great in comparison to what i’ve heard others say. I have about 4BMs a day, blood isn’t apparent. Many people say to keep a food journal to see what causes pain. What if i don’t have pain!? I guess I have a mild case! So can people give me advice and tell me what works for them or any other good info about Crohn’s Colitis.

A: I got diagnosed three years ago with Crohns disease, I have tried many medications but only one works for me, its saved my life. Its called remicade/inflximab. I am allergic to the others.
I have heard that food affects others however not only do i find this is not the case for me, but i see the flaws in this Research.
Firstly if you cut out dairy (like most say helps), how do you know if your feeling better because of the lack of dairy or because you are in remission? I have heard go vegan, high protein, no dairy, low fibre… but in the end its just like getting advice to go on a diet, everyone swears a different thing is best. LOL
My advice is if you want to pursue the food direction you can, but you need to know what helps you. From what i have read over the years some food help some and hinder others. You’d need to fast and introduce foods one at a time, then cut them out and do others. You might need to do this a few times to bet more conclusive results. I’d see a nutritionist to help you with this so you know that your results are better.
I am part of the crohns and collitus association of Australia. Your probably in America, but i know joining these groups are great. They give you great advice from others, they give information about what helps what doesn’t. new medications and treatments. Updates on research, and what is being done and tested for causes and cures. So much benefit. There are heaps online and they are all really good.

Its not going to be an easy road, and some suffer more than others. You will need to see a gastrologist and have a colonoscopy and/or endoscopy. This will diagnose your disease properly, so you know which one you have and how bad. i am in the top 5% of worst cases for Crohns. Its hard, my job has suffered, i have now developed fistulas which have cased me 6 surgeries and still more to come. Its been painful, tiring, degrading, depressing and costly, but im not giving up. There is always someone in a worst position and you need to remember when things get tough you need to overcome the hurdle. There is a lot of support for you out there and your not alone.

You might be glad to know that some people who are diagnosed with IBD’s get one bad fflareup and go into remission for the rest of their life. others like me, suffer from it almost everyday. everyone differs in medication success, food ssuccess other treatments like aacupuncture Essential oil therapy etc. none of these works for me, but may for you.

Good luck!

Q: Crohn’s Colitis & Pregnancy?
I was officially diagnosed with Crohn’s Colitis on Tuesday, I have a 4 year old daughter and not planning on having any more well I wasn’t but now it just got me thinking maybe one day I might change my mind but don’t know how it will effect things, I talked to my consultant about this and he said as long as i got pregnant while the disease was in remission then it should stay in remission during pregnancy. anyway, has anyone got any experience with this or know someone who has been pregnant with crohn’s?
thank you in advance.xXx
I actually have that website in my bookmarks didn’t know there was a bit on pregnancy.

thank you LAURA T

A: I’ve just been diagnosed with crohns too, i joined the NACC who have just sent me thru a load of info in the disease, there is a section on pregnancy FAQ’s in that. if you look on their website there is also an information sheet that you can download on pregnancy in IBD. www.nacc.org.uk

Q: Can anything besides Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis cause bowel inflammation?
I went to the GI doctor recently for abdominal pain, and they did a few tests, and the doctor said that the CT scan showed inflammation of the bowel. I’m wondering if it can just be something benign or if there are other conditions that can cause this other than Crohn’s or colitis?

A: Infection can cause inflammation of the bowel (colitis), diverticulitis causes inflammation in the sigmoid colon (this is more common in older adults).
Did you get a diagnosis? If not ask your doctor what the inflammation means in the context of your case.

Q: Mannapol? Aloe Vera…Crohn’s/Colitis….?
My daughter is being tested for Crohn’s Disease soon and in the meantime we have have been doing some research on different ways to treat symptoms,as there is no known cure in the medical field. It has been suggested thar we try Mannapol and are wondering if anyone has any info regarding Mannapol. It is freeze dried aloe vera and is said to be a cure-all for many disorders……please serious answers only. My daughter is young and we seem to have caught it early but with Crohn’s you never know how it will be as no two people affected the same. She has an uncle with Crohn’s and he is said to be one of the worst cases according to the Mayo Clinic and his doctors.
She has no symptoms what-so-ever, during a CT scan for a kidney/UTI problem they noticed inflamation in her lower bowel. We went to see a gastro. doctor and he says there is not just inflamation but actual thickening of the wall. He suggested a colonoscopy and and an endoscopy, because of the finding and because of the family history (uncle has Crohn’s). He suggested Remicade – I am looking for info on all possible treatments.

A: I am sorry your daughter is being considered for such a problem. If you try this product, just start cautiously. It may work. Try lots of acidophilus, too.

I have had bowel problems and just had to have two colonoscopies within two months.
I had a barium x-ray in between. Due to the nastiness of the barium, I started to make and eat lots of applesauce. The pectin in the applesauce has helped me more than anything. I have tried lots of different fibers and herbs.

Aloe juice is very healing to the bowel. It helps ulcerations to heal and is mildly laxative. Some aloe formulations are very harsh laxatives, so start very slowly, please.

What ever your daughter has going on in there, there will be something to help her. Never let her give up hope!

Q: where can we find best treatment in USA for Colitis or Crohn’s disease?
one of our friend’s son has a Colitis disease and we are looking for a help in USA, where can we find best treatment in USA, please help. thanks

A: Check sites like centerwatch to see what kinds of clinical trials are out there. Usually facilities who perform many clinical trials for specific diseases are the leaders in their field. Good luck.

Q: could this be crohn’s/colitis?
my doctor said this was stress. when i was born, i had bowel problems and anal fissures. then as i aged it went away. at 15, they came back. now at 22 it is worse. some other symptoms i have are diaherra, mucous in the stool, blood in and out of the stool. pain in the right lower part of my abdomen is happening. the pain stops when i bend over. i know i have posted this before, but i need some more opinions. i had an endoscopic thing done. i have inflammation of the stomach and lower bowel too. i also have hot flashes.

A: Try these websites for medical information concerning your question.
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/symptom-checker/?s_kwcid=symptoms|855616194 . Mayo symptom checker
http://www.webmd.com has symptom checker
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/index.html
My best,
Hope

Q: Any ideas on ways to cheer up my mom who is suffering from Crohn’s Disease (Colitis)?
She can’t eat much, she’s received more than enough flowers, she can’t leave the house, and I don’t live in the same city as her. She’s really down due to being stuck and home for weeks and terribly sick. Ideas??

A: I have Crohn’s and the best present to me was comforting words and prayer. A present that made me laugh was a case of very soft tissue paper and a variety of reading material. (My friend with Crohn’s gave me that)

Q: What were your first signs of Crohn’s or Colitis?
I’ve been seeing a Gastro doctor for about 6 months now. I feel like I am on a roller coaster I go a couple weeks where i am fine – no episodes, and then for a week or 2 I can’t keep food in me. I eat and 15 minutes later I have to go to the bathroom. I get dehydrated and Cramping really bad. Recently I have become really depressed, and I hardly eat because I don’t want to get sick. does this sound like you? What were your first signs?

A: Hi Jessie, I am a female crohn’s pt. since the age of 12. My first signs at an early age were fatigue, some blood, the “big D” or “big C”, fever, joint pain. Symptoms will vary in each person though.

As I got older, it got worse–severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting at times, more blood, more D, to the point of living in the bathroom 24/7.

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation really helped me out when I needed emergency surgery due to my large colon being overrun by fistulas, abscesses, and inflammation. I was given an ileostomy to save my life and the local support chapter was there so I could meet others who were in similar situations.

If you check out the site, you will find stuff on how it’s dxed, how it’s treated, the latest medications to get it in remission, surgery, women’s issues, to locating a support chapter near you. There is also a live chat and a hotline you can call during the week. Both are run by healthcare experts. Try posting your questions on their open forum seeing as there are many folks with IBD (crohn’s or ulcerative colitis) who can answer your inquiries as they have been in your shoes.

I can relate to being depressed and not wanting to eat due to the pain it causes. Call your GI and get in to see him immediately as you shouldn’t be throwing up constantly. He can give you something for the pain and nausea so you can keep food down.

I wish you the best of health.

Q: what’s the different between ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease?

A: Hi, this website compares the two

http://www.crohns.org.uk/

Just click on Ulcerative Colitis then click on Differences between CD and UC

If you have any other questions about Crohn’s then get in touch as i have suffered since 2004.

Q: Crohn’s Disease/Colitis – A little upset?
Alright so, my problem is that I might have Colitis or Crohn’s disease. Thursday I woke up with a stomach ache and it kind a little worse over the day but it wasn’t really bad, I’ve had worse. I had a little bit of cramps too. So I got a fever with it around 8:30 and my mom took me to the ER to get a check up, and about 30 – 40 mins being there my stomach ache was virtually gone but my mom wanted me to go through with the CT Scan they originally were going to do. So I did all the stuff they wanted me to do before it, drank some water with some weird stuff in it and got a blood sample and they gave me morphine and IV for some reason. After the morphine I felt like CRAP (Bad dizzyness and woosyness) then about an hour later did the CT Scan, they found out I didn’t have what they thought I did which was a appendicitis, but my doctor said I have a slight inflammation in my intestine which could indicate colitis or Crohn’s disease, then the next day I woke up with a bad stomach ache but I think that might of been from all the crap the hospital gave me because my arm was also in pain from the IV and stuff. I woke up today and felt almost 100% better but now have a little discomfort in my stomach (No pain at all, just feels kinda weird) and have a little diarrhea, but my doctor had prescribed me a stool softener (don’t need to take it now) and also gave me vikidin, which I have no idea why unless he thought my stomach ache was THAT bad but it wasn’t at all. So I’m going to take some medicine tonight (probably some diarrhea type like Pepto bismal) and see if my stomach ache is gone completely tomorrow (It’s been getting ALOT less worse over time)

but basically my question is, what chance is there that I have Crohn’s disease or Colitis? And if it turns out I do is there any severity to it? I’ve been reading about it and said it’s not that bad of a disease, and it’s possible to have remissions(periods of time you have very little or no symptoms at all) for months/years at a time, and the worse thing you would experience is a bad flare-up, so if I do have it is there any real thing to fear? (I don’t mean like death or anything) Just like severe pains or anything? I’m kind of shakey at the moment and I know I shouldn’t since my doctor doesn’t know for sure, but how hard is it to deal with this disease with your life?

I’m going back for a check-up maybe around Monday. And I turned 17 Dec 8 if that helps.
My doctor didn’t say specific Colitis or Crohn’s disease, he thought I had appendicitis at first, but took the CT Scan and said I was perfectly fine (everything with me was including my blood and all that) the only thing was I had slight inflammation in my intestines, no blocking or anything. And he said it could indicate either colitis or crohn’s. And I’m going back for a check-up soon and I’m going to ask my mom to tell them to get those specific tests done for me to check if I do, and I don’t have to worry about my weight for now, and I’ve been eating alot lately (nothing has upsetted my stomach so far) Just to make sure. And no, I don’t have a bad pain in my stomach, as I said just a little discomfort like stomach ache feeling, but I think that’s caused from the Diarrhea since I usually get a stomach ache when I have it.
And about the pain meds, yeahhh. My mom was really shocked when she saw the prescription, she doesn’t even want to give me the medicine (I’m not gonna take it) she said she’ll only give it to me if my stomach ache gets excrusiatingly bad, but if it gets bad enough to where I need vikidin I think I’d rather go the ER instead.

A: hi xx, I am a crohn’s survivor for many yrs. dxed at age 12.

If you check out the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site, they have all of the accurate information you are looking for such as treatment, diet, surgery, coping, as well as locating a local support chapter near you as well as a hotline, live chat, and an open forum where you can post questions to others who have IBD (crohn’s or UC).

If you are in pain, you are entitled to be made comfortable until things are under control.

Definitely check out the site. It’s worth it!! :)

Q: Is there anything that I can do to releive cramping pain from Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis?
I am 8 weeks pregnant and am taking Pentasa for my diseases. Please help, the pain is so bad that I have to be off work for the next two weeks on bed rest.

A: Try Himalayan Goji Juice. I have a friend in his 60’s that has had Chron’s for years, plus he also has leukemia .
He has tried everything.
He was overdosing on his pain meds and was considering suicide due to the pain. His brother worked with a guy that was a distributor of Himalayan Goji Juice and bought a bottle for him. Immediatley he noticed his pain went away. He has been taking this juice for 4 months now and has reduced his meds to half of what was actually prescribed. He is gaining weight for the first time in years. And he actually goes out now. (Before he was so miserable that he hated to leave his house). He was still taking his meds to control his diarrhea with the Goji and he actually ended up so constipated that he had to go to the hospital to get flushed out. So his doctor was able to pull him off his diarrhea meds for the first time since he was diagnosed. Also, he recently had his blood work done, and the doctor said that he has never seen my friends blood look so good.
Himalayan Goji juice is perfectly safe for pregnant women. In fact, it helps relieve a lot of pregnancy discomforts (i.e. morning sickness).
Here are some links to find out more about Himalayan Goji Juice: www.natureshealthsecret.freelife.com
www.gojihealthstories.com (to read more peoples stories on Chron’s disease)
www.learnaboutwellness.com (to see a video study done by a Johns Hopkins doctor on how goji repairs your blood)
www.pubmed.com (type in Goji’s latin name “lycium barbarum” to see 75 scientific studies proving Goji works)

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