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crohns colitis

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

Q: Have you undergone surgical resection of ascending colon in Crohns Colitis?
Do you know any people living with it? Well, I am undergoing that surgery tomorrow and I dont know how life is after that and I wanted to know how it is. I dont trust my Doctor very much. I think they are just experimenting with me. So any informating would be valuable.

A: Procedures Used to Remove Damaged Portions of the Colon
The invasiveness of the surgical procedure to remove damaged portions of the colon depends on the severity of the disease:

Resection of the Colon. In most cases of Crohn’s disease, only a part of the colon needs to be removed, a procedure called resection.

Subtotal Colectomy. Subtotal colectomy is more extensive than resection and removes more of the colon. Disease in the upper parts of the small intestine tends to require more extensive surgery than in the lower small intestine.
In general, either procedure requires a general anesthetic and involves the following:

An incision is made in the abdomen.
The diseased portion of the colon is identified and removed. (Strictureplasty is sometimes used alone with resection.)
Once a diseased segment of the colon is removed, the two ends are reconnected, and this connection is called an anastomosis.

Open Surgery or Laparoscopy. Resection or subtotal colectomy may be performed using one of two surgical approaches:

Open surgery, which requires a wide abdominal incision.
Laparoscopy, which uses a few small incisions through which a tube is inserted containing a tiny camera for viewing the area. To date, however, this procedure is best suited for patients with short-segment disease in the ileum who also have no other complications, such as fistulas and abscesses.

Complications after Resection or Subtotal Colectomy

1) Short-Bowel Syndrome. If large segments of the small intestine are removed, the patient is at higher risk for short-bowel syndrome, a complication in which there is a problem absorbing nutrients.

The risk is far lower with strictureplasty. which involves cutting and stitching only the areas obstructing the intestine, so that it widens the intestine without removing sections of it. Half of patients require re-operation, but strictureplasty in the jejunum and ileum of the small intestine is safe and generally effective over the long term. It may not be useful for Crohn’s disease in duodenum (the first section of the small intestine

The condition, short bowel syndrome used to be fatal, but patients now can live normal and productive lives using total parenteral nutrition (the intravenous administration of nutrients), which can now be self-administered at home in many cases.

2) Leakage or obstruction can occur in the areas where the colon has been reconnected (the anastomosis).

I3) Infections.

Disease Recurrence after Surgery
Recurrence of Crohn’s disease is very common after any procedure. One expert described the risk as being between 7% and 25% for each year after resection, with an average risk of 50% at five years after resection. (Even if the entire colon is removed there is still a high chance of recurrence in the rectum and a somewhat lower risk for recurrence in the small intestine.)

Patients at highest risk for recurrence are the following:

Smokers
Those whose disease occurred in the ileum (the lowest part of the small intestine) and colon. (One expert reported an 86% chance of recurrence.)
Those with abscesses or fistulas.
Those have had previous surgeries.
Various agents have been used to prevent recurrence. They include the antibiotics metronidazole, mesalamine and mercaptopurine. These agents, however, can have severe side effects. And it is not clear if these or any other agents are effective in preventing recurrence. Even if medications can help prevent recurrence in some patients, it is not yet known who these individuals might be. (In any case, steroids do not appear to help prevent recurrence.)

Emergency Surgeries

In some cases, surgery is needed for emergency conditions that can occur with Crohn’s disease. The conditions most likely to require such surgery in Crohn’s disease include the following:

Stopping severe intestinal bleeding.
Clearance of small bowel obstruction.
Surgery to drain and heal abscesses or fistulas.
Surgery to repair perforation

WHERE ELSE CAN HELP BE FOUND FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE?

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (www.ccfa.org). Call 800-932-2423 or 212-685-3440. Primary site for information on IBD.

United Network for Organ Sharing (www.unos.org). Information on organ transplantation. At this time, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has performed the most small-bowel transplantations.

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (www.ccfc.ca). Call: 416-920-5035, or 800-387-1479.

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (http://www.niddk.nih.gov)

American Gastroenterological Association (http://www.gastro.org). Call 301-654-2055.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (http://www.asge.org). Call 978-526-8330.

American College of Gastroenterology (http://www.acg.gi.org). Call 703-820-7400.

Find a Gastroenterologist (http://www.acg.gi.org/acg-dev/patientinfo/frame_phylocator.asp)

Descriptions of colonoscopy and colectomy (http://www.yoursurgery.com/Procedures.cfm?BR=1

Q: Can Vicodin worsen Crohns/Colitis if you already have ulcers?
It helps with the pain in the short term, but could it actually be worsening the underlying condition if you use it over a period of time?

A: I have crohn’s and was given vicodin in the hospital and it made me so nauseous and didn’t really help my pain, only morphine does. NSAID’s are really bad for ibd patients. So if you can handle it then I’m sure it won’t affect your ibd. Hope this helps! =)

Q: Looking for people to walk with me in Take Steps for Crohns and Colitis in Nashville?
I am looking for people to join my team Big Poopers and walk with me in the Nashville, TN Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis walk on May 3, 2008. If you are interrested please let me know.
Thanks for reading this
Amanda

A: ok, what i hjave to do?

Q: Can anyone tell me about their experiences when coming off entocort for Crohns/Colitis?

A: Hi, I just answered your other question, but I will answer this one too. I was not on them long term, but I reacted quickly to them and had some allergy issue with something in the medication. Anyway, I found that the lower the dose, the easier it was on my body. I still had hives at 3 mg per day, but by the time I got to every other day it was a lot better. I stopped having mood swings and sadness. My appetite stayed the same for about 3-4 days after. Are you going on Asacol as you go off? Everyone I talk to says that helps. I am not able to tolerate Asacol either (woe to me!) so I can’t speak from experience.
I have heard that after Entocort, Asacol is a walk in the park, but you have to take the pills 3 times a day!
Good luck with weaning, I hope you do well!

Q: If you are lactose intolerant and you ingest dairy can it bring on flare ups of crohns or colitis?
What is CD? Crohns disease?
I’ve tried pills for lactose intolerance and it doesn’t work at all on me. :(

A: Yeah. There will be an additive effect when you are lactose intolerant and suffer from CD. No pill will cure the lactase deficiency and the only option left to you is to consume lactose free dairy products.

Q: Does anybody suffer from crohns or colitis?
How does it affect your day to day life and how do you manage your symptons?

A: hey,
i have colitis. most of the time i just live life normally but when i am having a flare i always have to make sure a bathroom is nearby because i have to go up to 20 times a day(that’s the most for me) i manege my symptoms by taking Remicade.

Q: What are the differences between Crohns disease and Ulcerative Colitis?
I would really prefer an expert or a personal account and not a google search, Thank You.

A: ulcerative colitis (UC) and crohn’s disease are both inflammatory bowel diseases of which the cause is still unknown. The main difference is the parts they affect. Crohn’s can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus whereas UC only affects the large bowel.

Going into more detail:
Crohn’s has so called skip lesions, where the inflammation extends up the digestive tract but misses sections out and ’skips’ from one part to the next. Whereas UC is continous inflammation of the colon with no skips.
In crohn’s deep ulcers and fissures are seen in the lining of the digestive tract and they have a cobblestone appearance. In UC the lining is red and bleeds and sometimes has ulcers and pseudo polyps.
In crohn’s the iflammation is not confined to the lining but can spread outwards through the tissue of the bowel and granulomata may be present. However in UC only the lining of the bowel is inflammed and no granulomata are present. but goblet cell depletion and crypt abscesses can be found.

Q: anyone had electrocauterisation for colitis or crohns,how did it help?
I have bleeding ulcers in the bowel , I had them cauterised during a colonoscopy and need it doing again , i was very ill and cant remember much has this helped anyone else my partner is against it because of the pain i may be in , if this has helped anyone could you tell me about it.

A: Don’t know what that is, but sounds like you need a docter.

Q: What symptoms do Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis share?

A: Diarrhea (bloody diarrhea is more common in UC but can appear in CD)
Stomach pain & cramps
Fatigue, dehydration and weight loss

Q: Why isnt Crohns and Colitis under diseases and conditions?
As these are chronic diseases I cant understand why this is not under the above. Not only myself but there is a great number of people that suffer with this, and being able to look up to see what people are asking and answering would be a great help, and also make people aware this disease is an awful thing to have and cope with.

A: You can make suggestions for additions to the categories by going to the Forum:

http://suggestions.yahoo.com/?prop=answers

Hopefully one of the staff members could answer your question.

I’ve had ulcerative colitis but have been in remission from it for almost 15 years. I used to have medication for it but no longer find it is necessary. I don’t know if this is considered a spontaneous cure or not, but I didn’t do anything special at all. It just stopped. :-) But I certainly remember all the hospital and doctor visits (regular sigmoidoscopy). I just have a regular doctors visit every year and a scheduled colonscopy to make sure everything is clear.

Q: How do you cope with colitis or crohns.?
is there any natuaral remedies

A: I too have had Crohns Disease for such a long time,and yes good medical intervention is important , no two people have the same symptoms,take everyday as it comes.This Disease is quite an enigma,what suits one may not necessary suit another, be assured that the research and development and treatment that has gone into this disease has come on leaps and bounds.You will know in yourself what you can and can’t eat,but it is trial and error to start with, the most important thing is ,in yourself be positive.

Q: anxiety pills for crohns/colitis?
why would my dr do this??? he thinks i have crohns/colitis/celiac problems. i dont understand.

A: Ask the Doctor to explain it. We cannot give you a proper diagnostic answer. I DO know that it’s NOT uncommon to prescribe this…and several people I know have benefited.

Q: anybody have crohns / ulcerative colitis and depresion?
i had mild depresion and anxiety scince i was 11, and i got diagnised with Crohns a year ago and my depresion has gone from bad to worse.. are the two connected? im on 40 mg citalipram which is an antidepresion. Please can some one advice me if both are connected? thank you in advance

A: any chronic illness can cause u to be depressed, crohns in particular makes u feel tired and lacking in energy which could make it worse and the medication doesnt help . are u taking steroids for it?they can cause depression and mood swings. my daughter had a lot of problems with steroids and became suicidal whilst on them shes fine now she doesnt have them any more.

Q: When to stop taking Meds? UC / Crohns / Colitis?
I’ve had UC for 2 years and have been sympton free for the last 16 months. I take 3 pills @ 750 mg of Colazal on 3 occasions per day, for a total of 9 pills a day. I think that I might be over medicated or either my doctor is being very conservative. I eat 3 big meals a day and go 2-3 times a day. I will have a little pain in my left side when I have gas or either have a bowel movement on the way. I still have a super stressful job and a very stressful personal life. I just moved, bought a house for the first time, started a new job and changed shifts I had been working. Sometimes I have a little pain if I lay in weird position on the couch, with my abdomin twisted. When I say pain I mean it is a 1-3 on 1-10 scale with 10 being like 15 stitches. I also smoke 3-6 cigs a day. It seems to help sooth my stomach – I started 3 months after having been diagnosed. I’ve been told smoking may be keeping me in remission. I started 4 months after the flare and I immediately stopped bleedin

A: hi eastern, I’ve had crohn’s disease since the age of 12. I am an active member of the Crohn’ & Colitis Foundation local support chapter. Their website is listed below.

Check out the website where you can find information to your question. they have an 800# as well as a live chat run by healthcare professionals well versed in IBD M-F 9 am – 5pm (EST).

At the meetings I’ve attended, there were many doctors who spoke about medications and smoking. They advised pts. with IBD to not smoke as it’s a well known fact that when a pt. flares up, their risk of clotting increases because it causes the blood to become sticky. Thus, that is why they tell women who smoke they can’t use birthcontrol because it increases their clotting risk tenfold. Also, certain IBD medications interact with birthcontrol so that is why some doctors (if they are up-to-date) will tell their female pts. w/IBD that they can’t use any form of hormonal treatment b/c it will likely cause a clot, PE, stroke, or heart attack.

Also, you can’t stop your treatment w/o your doctor’s approval. Just because you feel great, doesn’t mean the treatment should stop. That is what’s keeping you pain free to begin with. The only cure for UC is a total colectomy (removal of the large colon) and a permanent ileostomy (bag & wafer) after all other treatments have failed.

I’ve had my appliance for 21 yrs. b/c I was very ill. It saved my life. Now I no longer live in the bathroom 24/7. I am stil the same person…just that my “plumbing” has been rearranged. I am still on my Crohn’s medications, I watch what I eat, don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t use hormonal birthcontrol–only NFP because that’s the safest thing out there that won’t interact w/my meds or kill me w/a blood clot.

See if there is a local CCFA chapter near you (see ccfa site for more info) & try to attend a meeting. You’ll be amazed at how many ppl are out there like us.

good luck to you.

Q: Crohns/Colitis went back to consultant today says I have both is this possible ?
Had to go back to see my consultant today who tells me after the sigmoidoscopy I may have both is this poss ? I have flu at the moment too as my immunity is shot to bits. Someone answered me yesterday asking how do I know and who on earth told me Ihave this well, whats the point in having a consultant then, hes been excellant. Have had all the tests including dexa scan he also told me today I have osteoporosis in my spine. Can not drink milk as someone suggests I should on this site but have been advised not to anyway. My appetite is zilch, food makes me feel sick even just looking at it. I go back to see my consultant in 6 weeks. If anyone can answer my question to having both really would appreciate it. Thanks

A: There are several types of colitis, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s colitis, diversion colitis, ischemic colitis, infectious colitis, chemical colitis, microscopic colitis, and atypical colitis.

Crohn’s disease almost invariably affects the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, most gastroenterologists classify the disease by the affected areas. Ileocolic Crohn’s disease, which affects both the ileum (the last part of the small intestine that connects to the large intestine) and the large intestine, accounts for fifty percent of cases. Crohn’s ileitis, affecting the ileum only, accounts for thirty percent of cases, and Crohn’s colitis, affecting the large intestine, accounts for the remaining twenty percent of cases, and may be particularly difficult to distinguish from ulcerative colitis. The disease can attack any part of the digestive tract, from mouth to anus. However, individuals affected by the disease rarely fall outside these three classifications, being affected in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract such as the stomach and esophagus. Crohn’s disease may also be classified by the behaviour of disease as it progresses. This was formalized in the Vienna classification of Crohn’s disease.There are three categories of disease presentation in Crohn’s disease: stricturing, penetrating, and inflammatory. Stricturing disease causes narrowing of the bowel which may lead to bowel obstruction or changes in the caliber of the feces. Penetrating disease creates abnormal passageways (fistulae) between the bowel and other structures such as the skin. Inflammatory disease (or non-stricturing, non-penetrating disease) causes inflammation without causing strictures or fistulae.

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