Crohn's Questions » crohn’s surgery

crohn’s symptoms

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: what are some good foods that help alleviate Crohn’s symptoms?
My fiance has Crohn’s and I just recently found out that there might be foods that help his digestive tract. Any ideas?

A: As far as things he can safely eat without irritating his GI tract, there are foods to definitely avoid (colas, alcohol), but unfortunately, the rest of the diet ends up being trial and error.

My friend who was diagnosed with CD at 19 has had great success with just eating sensible, healthy foods, and, oddly enough, making his own yogurt.

I have heard a good deal about blueberries being beneficial for the GIT.

Q: What are your symptoms of Crohn’s Disease???
I have crohn’s disease but I have unnormal symptoms of it. Instead of having diarhea and pains, I am nauseas and weak all the time. What are your symptoms? Are they like mine?

A: My son was diagnosis with Crohn’s disease over 2 years ago. the doctor wanted to put him on Humira (after experimenting with several other drugs) which is anexpensive drug with life threating serious side affects. We did some research and wanted to take a new approach to combat His problem. This is what we found out. The liver is producing too much bile that is toxic to the digestive tract. The types of foods you need to eat are those that DO NOT create excessive acid or bile that help in digestion (simply put). The bile is normal unless it is in large quanity or toxic, the acid attacks the food as well as intestinal linings of your stomach
Your body is high in toxins that you need to remove and stop feeding into the problem by the foods you consume and an overactive liver.

1.) “Foods to eat” : water purified, fish, eggs, potatoes,rice, white bread,meat ground up fine or chewed well, skinless chicken cut fine, tortillas, broth, noodles plain with a little butter, plain yogurt with no extra ingredients, rice milk(rice dreams-Walmart) cherrios rice crispies or chex, and ‘most important’ 5x/day at each meal and as a snack, legume’s black beans, kidney, pinto, buttered,refried, with no lard or spices except salt to start. Goats milk(found in a can) Sunshine and D’3, Iron supplements(in moderation)
if you are anemic.
2.) “Foods to avoid!”: dairy!,milk (hard to digest a cow use 4 stomachs!) chips!,processed foods of any kind, soda ,msg,sugar,corn, corn syrup,corn sweeteners,wheat products,sweeteners of any kind, coffee, teas, cottage cheese,sauces, read the back labels (you are going to be surprised) for added ingredients any thing thats added, adds to your body’s toxic level. NO artificial sweeteners. foods that produce too much acid to break down the foods you eat. No alcohol of any kind (maybe someday).
3.) ‘Foods to eat’: in moderation after you stop bleeding and start gaining weight or are having no discomfort : fruits,salads,steak,venison, peanut butter or almond butter,oatmeal, A multi-vitamin with minerals with 100% RDA (not large dose’s of any multi. and 2x daily ,use shaklee as the bench mark for comparison ) of all of the B’s, hard cheese, soy milk,well cooked vegetables” Psyillium powder”.
The beans are a water soluble fiber that absorb bile and remove the toxins in your body,then the liver will produce more bile but less toxic(simplified for lack of space).
This is not an all inclusive list and your Doctor will disagree with the elimination of drugs, all removal of drugs should be done slowly if you decide to stop taking them, but they will add to your body’s toxic level as you continue take them. which will make your Crohn’s worse and make you susceptible to other more serious disease’s. I am not a specialist in any field or giving medical advice. I also hired KarenHurd.com at a fraction of the cost to teach my son to diet properly but you can go to her web site and get free information, but I recommend you pay her for a short time to get you healthy and on a routine faster. Stress will make it worst so exercise and relax. Most importantly Faith, Hope, and Prayer, you will get better. God is faithful what ever the results. E-mail me if you have any questions and I can help. I don’t know if you have crohn’s but changing your diet could help you and most of us in America because of the poor nutrition we unknowingly subject ourselves too.

Q: What are all of the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?
Just curious. No questions, just answer mine.

A: Crohn’s isn’t an infectious disease. The symptoms can vary from one person to another but the most common are abdominal pain, especially at the lower right quadrant and diarrhea. Other symptoms are skin disorders, fever, rectal bleeds, weight loss and arthritis.

Q: what are the symptoms of crohn’s?
I was wondering what the symptoms of crohn’s disease are? I’m wondering if I may have it.

A: hi, i am a crohn’s pt. for 28 yrs. This is the most accurate information from the Crohn’s & Colitis website:

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a chronic (ongoing) disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although it can involve any area of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, it most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon.

What Are the Symptoms?

Persistent diarrhea (loose, watery, or frequent bowel movements), crampy abdominal pain, fever, and, at times, rectal bleeding: These are the hallmark symptoms of Crohn’s disease, but they vary from person to person and may change over time. Loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss also may occur. However, the disease is not always limited to the GI tract; it can also affect the joints, eyes, skin, and liver. Fatigue is another common complaint. Children who have Crohn’s disease may suffer delayed growth and sexual development.

Some patients may develop tears (fissures) in the lining of the anus, which may cause pain and bleeding, especially during bowel movements. Inflammation may also cause a fistula to develop. A fistula is a tunnel that leads from one loop of intestine to another, or that connects the intestine to the bladder, vagina, or skin. Fistulas occur most commonly around the anal area. If this complication arises, you may notice drainage of mucus, pus, or stool from this opening.

Symptoms may range from mild to severe. Because Crohn’s is a chronic disease, patients will go through periods in which the disease flares up, is active, and causes symptoms. These episodes are followed by times of remission — periods in which symptoms disappear or decrease and good health returns. In general, though, people with Crohn’s disease lead full, active, and productive lives.

Types of Crohn’s Disease and Associated Symptoms

The symptoms and complications of Crohn’s disease differ, depending on what part of the intestinal tract is inflamed. That’s why it is important for you to know which part of your intestine is affected by Crohn’s disease. Your doctor may also refer to your illness by various names based on the principal area involved. The following are five types of Crohn’s disease, together with their presenting symptoms:

Ileocolitis: The most common form of Crohn’s, affecting the ileum and colon. Symptoms include diarrhea and cramping or pain in the right lower part or middle of the abdomen. Often accompanied by significant weight loss.

Ileitis: Affects the ileum. Symptoms same as ileocolitis. Complications may include fistulas or inflammatory abscess in right lower quadrant of abdomen.

Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease: Affects the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). Symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, and nausea. Vomiting may indicate that narrowed segments of the bowel are obstructed.

Jejunoileitis: Produces patchy areas of inflammation in the jejunum (upper half of the small intestine. Symptoms include abdominal pain (ranging from mild to intense) and cramps following meals, as well as diarrhea. Fistulas may form.

Crohn’s (granulomatous) colitis: Affects the colon only. Symptoms include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and disease around the anus (abscess, fistulas, ulcers). Skin lesions and joint pains are more common in this form of Crohn’s than in others.
How is Crohn’s Disease Diagnosed?

There is no single test that can establish the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease with certainty. To determine the diagnosis, physicians evaluate a combination of information from the patient’s history and physical exam. They examine the results of laboratory tests, X-rays, and findings on endoscopy and pathology tests, and exclude other known causes of intestinal inflammation. X-ray tests may include barium studies of the upper and lower GI tract. Endoscopy tests may include flexible sigmoidoscopy and, sometimes, colonoscopy, which allow the doctor to directly examine the colon with a lighted tube that is inserted through the anus. During these tests, biopsies may be obtained. This procedure involves the removal of a small piece of tissue for closer analysis. It is important to make sure that an infection is not causing the patient’s symptoms, so one routine test is to examine the stool for harmful organisms. Because Crohn’s disease often mimics other conditions and symptoms may vary widely, it may take some time to arrive at the correct diagnosis.

CD is not deadly but the side effects of the treatments can affect the liver, pancreas, bloodwork, etc. That is why the GI will run monthly tests to make sure things are ok. There is no cure yet, but the newer treatments–Remicade, Humira, and Encort put the pt. in remission faster.

For more information, check out the sources I provided below. They have a live chat & hotline run by healthcare experts and an open forum where folks with IBD (crohn’s or UC) can post questions to others who

Q: How long should a Crohn’s flare up last?
Diagnosed with Crohn’s Nov 12, 2007. Symptoms still persist. Is there such a thing as symptom free days? Will I always hurt, even if only minor symptoms persist. I’m not sure what are medicinal side effects and what are Crohn’s symptoms. I don’t feel any better than when I was released from the hospital. It’s been a month now.

A: hi chuck, once your GI finds a medication that works for you, you should start to feel better. I answered a previous post before that you had, so pls refer back to that.

I’d call the GI and tell him that you still feel lousy. Get in and see him again. This is what I do if things don’t get better.

As for the medical side effects and Crohn’s symptoms, call the GI’s office and ask his RN or better yet, I do this, call your pharmacist. They know the most when it comes to side effects of the medications. They can direct you as to whether or not it’s definitely a side effect of the drug you are on or if it’s a crohn’s symptom.

You can call the CCFA hotline and ask the same question. The healthcare professionals are well versed with IBD symptoms.

Are you on anything for pain management like Bentyl for spasms and Percocet for pain? You definitely should be on something for pain mgt. Demand it since you are suffering right now. email if you have questions. take care.

Q: Started Takara foot patches to detox from Crohn’s disease. I hadn’t had symptoms in months, now I am. Why?
Successfully used Takara detox foot patches to treat horrible TMJ pain. Nothing else helped for YEARS, including Dr’s, drugs, etc. I put the patches straight on my face and the back of my neck and they have cured my TMJ pain. They used to turn black, but they are not as much now. I decided to use them to detox my colon because, after years of having Crohn’s, I figured the build up of toxins should go. I put one patch on the bottom of my right foot on the meridian corresponding with the colon/intestines. I had not had Crohn’s symptoms in MONTHS, not even pain. Within FOUR hours of putting that patch on my foot, I was doubled over with Crohn’s pain right in the spot where it always is. I figured the patch was working, so I stupidly left it on for 4 more hours. I was sick for a week. I waited 2 weeks; tried again. I bought a less potent brand of patch and put it on for 4 hours. I had the same pain reaction, so I took it off. I didn’t want to get sick. Why is this happening?

A: Have you consulted with a physician or contact Takara to see what they say?

Typically during detox some old symptoms will come back, but it shouldn’t make you that sick. Perhaps there are other problems that you are not aware of?

Hope your situation gets better.

Q: If I have crohn’s and swine flu symptoms should I go to the doctor?
They started this morning with nagging cough, sore muscles, and a fever of 99 degrees which is now upward toward 100 degrees. What benefit would there be in going to the doctor? I don’t want to take tamiflu or anything because I have food allergies and don’t like taking stuff that has a lot of ingredients.

A: I would say, keep an eye on your temp. Do you have flu like symptoms? The main symptoms of Swine flu are just like regular flu fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose ,body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

The main emergency symptoms of swine flu are:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting

I sometimes have fevers and sore muscles with my crohn’s. It’s because I had an infection. Also, some of the medicine we crohn’s people take weaken our immune systems, so we have to be very careful.

If you are very worried you can always go to the emergency room and have a quick test done.

Q: What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
My boyfriend has been to several doctors because he has symptoms similar to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). But the last doctor he went to just basically said that he might have IBS but there’s no way to diagnose it and there’s nothing you can do about it anyway. But he gets such severe cramps and bloating (and gas) that I want to help him find a better doctor who can help.

What is the difference between Crohn’s disease and IBS? I have heard they are similar, but not sure. And for those who have IBS, is there anything you can do? Or medication that helps?

A: hi digital, i am a female crohn’s pt. dxed at the age of 12.
First, you bf needs to see a GI to test him to see if he has it.

Here is the information from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s site:
What Are the Symptoms?

here is the ccfa link on diagnosing it:

http://www.ccfa.org/info/about/diagnose

Here is the difference between IBD (aka Crohn’s/ulcerative colitis) and IBS:

IBD versus IBS
Is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) the same thing as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
No. Inflammatory bowel disease, including UC and CD, is different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Unlike IBD, IBS does not cause inflammation, ulcers or other damage to the bowel. Instead, IBS is a much less serious problem called a functional disorder. This means that the digestive system looks normal but doesn’t work as it should. Symptoms of IBS may include crampy pain, bloating, gas, mucus in the stool, diarrhea and constipation. IBS has also been called spastic colon or spastic bowel.

If you go to the ccfa site, you can find tons of information ranging from diet, the latest treatments, surgery, coping, to finding a local CCFA support chapter near you where you can share info w/others in the same situation. You can learn which GIs are the best in the area, which hospitals are noted of treating IBD pts., which medial facilities to avoid, hear guest speakers such as insurance reps, dieticians, MDs, drug company reps, etc. They also have a hotline and a live chat during the week which is run by health care experts plus they have a forum where you can post questions to others who have IBD.

Definitely get him in to see a GI. I can totally understand where your BF is coming from. I suffered when I was 12 and the pediatrician told my mom I was looking for attention….losing weight, not eating, low grade fever, bleeding, etc. His partner disagreed and got me in to see a GI who dxed me ASAP w/Crohn’s and put me on medication.

good luck to the both of you.

Q: Crohn’s disease symptoms?
Ever since I was sick in October (with flu-like symptoms) I’ve had horrible back pain and diarrhea very frequently. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t bend over or lift heavy things because the pain is so severe. I also have sudden urges to have diarrhea multiple times a day.
These are both symptoms that I know are associated with Crohn’s disease, but would it be possible to have Crohn’s disease without any weight loss? I’ve never had a lot of weight loss, in fact I’ve been the same weight for years.
Thanks!

A: Most common Crohn’s disease symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea. But these are non specific symptoms for Crohn’s, these could be any gastrointestinal disease. More specific to Crohns are fevers, loss of appetite, flatulence, etc.

diverticulitis surgery

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: what are your chances after having surgery for diverticulitis?
I had my sigmoid removed 4 months ago due to diverticulitis, I just found out I have it again.What are my chances that I won’t have to have surgery again? I am on the same 2 very strong antibiotics that did not work for me the first time. I am only 32 years old.

A: if you have a job with a lot of sitting, get up frequently and walk a little bit. You may also prevent it from spreading further by increaing your fluids. Avoid poppy seeds, nuts etc. Increase your fiber as well. Watch everything that you eat and decide if it is healthy before you eat it. Reduce your fats too.

Q: How long does it normally take to heal after diverticulitis surgery?

A: It took me a long time to heal. My stomach was cut from my belly button to just above my pubic hair so I could not wear slacks for over a year until it healed good and it is still tender to friction.
Plus, I was weak for a long time until I could get my strength back. I quit work for 1 year until I was completely well.
My healing may have been different from others, but that is what I experienced,

Q: do anyone know about diverticulitis and the surgery time frame that you may be off the job.?
I have been diagnosed with diverticulitis and gotta see a surgeon. So anyone know the details of this kind of surgery and how long i may be off of work. Just started a job and need to know.

A: ask a doctor

Q: I just went through surgery for diverticulitis, and am in constant pain. When does the pain usually stop?
I need to know how this usually lasts, with the bloating and constipation. I also want to know when it is a must to get to the doc for help.
Waiting on the doc to call back, but wanted to know what others went through after their surgery, and if this is normal.

A: You need to talk to the doc. He should have prepared you for what to expect.

Pain is a side effect, but it can also be a symptom of a problem. No one here can tell for sure.

Q: how many days in hospital for diverticulitis surgery?
generally how many days spent in hospital for surgery

A: Depends …is it being done via laparoscopic or open surgery?
Laparoscopic is outpatient (a day)
Open surgery is 4-7 days on average.

Q: anyone here had a diverticulitis rupture with an ostomy bag after surgery?
how long did the bag stay on and did you have a good outcome?

A: not to scare you, but my great grandfather died of diverticulitis. i think you have to live with the bag. unless there are new alternatives.

Q: If someone was diagnosed with diverticulitis can they still have gastric bypass surgery?

A: Probably not when the diverticulitis is active. There is an important distinction to be made: DiverticuLOSIS is when there are outpouchings/pockets in the wall of the large intestine, diverticuLITIS is when they get infected. So if there is diverticulitis, there is an active infection and this should be treated (with antibiotics, pain meds) before undergoing surgery. Other than waiting for the infection to go away I haven’t heard of any contraindications. Best of luck!

Q: I have had surgery for diverticulitis and I want to know what kind of complications people have had after surg

A: Myself other than pain, my BM’s are different all the time now. I get constipation pain when i am not even constipated and my stools are looser now but i know thats because they removed a good portion of my bowel that used to reabsorb water. (that will fix itself in time as the bowel that was lowered down will take over in about 6 months)
I had my surgery 3 months ago and all the after effects are slowly fading. My scar still itches where my pants rub…that drives me nuts LOL

Q: Me ex b/f has diverticulitis and is going to be having surgery to remove it …
He will ll be in NY in hospital for 1 week and I’m in Fl … How serious is this type of surgery. I read up on what I could and if he needs surgery – its pretty bad …
Thanks
Brooklyn=)

A: A diverticulum is a “pocket” in the intestine that forms when waste can’t be properly eliminated—usually due to diet. When one of these pockets becomes inflamed and/or infected, it’s called diverticulitis. If he’s having surgery, it’s to remove the inflamed part before it ruptures.

(He’s actually very lucky that they caught it in time. My mother died from septic shock that was a result of peritonitis from a spontaneously perforated diverticulum. But anyway, enough of that.)

It’s not an incredibly common surgery, but it’s not exactly rare either. The good news is that they did catch it in time. Had they not, and the infection become bad enough it could have ruptured, spilling fecal matter into the abdominal cavity–that’s when things get ugly. It would be very similar to a ruptured appendix. The abdominal cavity gets infected and there are so many places for infectious material to “hide” that it’s very difficult to treat and you run the risk of blood poisoning (septic shock).

If he’s young and in generally good health, he should tolerate the surgery fairly well. Depending on what they find when they get inside his abdomen, they might give him a temporary colostomy until he heals, but that’s a little concern, because once his intestines are fully functional they’ll remove it and he’ll only have a small scar to show for it.

Any surgery is scary–especially if they’re using general anesthesia, and you’re right to worry a bit. But I wouldn’t be unduly concerned. I would just be glad that they found the problem when they did, as opposed to after it was too late.

Keep me posted. I’ll keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers.

Q: DIVERTICULITIS diet(s) or treatment suggestion(s) to avoid surgery?
Taking swedish bitters 3x a day, and meals consist of: fresh fruit and oatmeal for brekky, small portion dinner at noon, clear broth for supper is what I am doing at the moment. Drinking herbal teas, apple and cranberry juices and water. Surgery SCARES me!!

A: Keep doing what you are doing. The body goes through a six week cycle and really needs to be pushed into a healthier groove.
60% of your immune system is in the lower intestines. You must keep your bowels moving. Ideally a bm should be 3 times a day, but if one is all you can manage…fine.
Take flax seed, or flax seed oil. Remember, this medicine takes time. Stick with it, stay positive and get to a naturopath.

Q: Can diverticulitis cause a blocked small intestine?
My wife went in for a D&C on 4/15/09 due to polyps. The doctor perforated her uterus. Last week, she developed diverticulitis and there was a CT scan that showed free air in the abdomen. She was admitted into the hospital and then rushed into emergency surgery due to a complete blockage in her small intestine. Can a perforated uterus cause diverticulitis if the bowel was affected? In addition, can this also result in a blocked small intestine?

A: The free air in the abdomen is where she probably encountered the problem. It sounds to me like she might have gotten an air embolism which can be very dangerous. Think of blood clot only instead of blood causing the problem it is air. Perforation of the uterus could have caused the air to get in the abdomen in the first place.

Q: can i have a safe pregnancy after Diverticulitis which also meant i had 2 surgery for it on my colon,2nd ques?
Im concerned with scarring if i had to have c -cection i was cut from my breast bone to my pubic bone 2 time in the same place and i was told the scarring( on the inside) could effect my tubes , i was wondering if anyone had a baby after this i know a baby is carried in the uterus

A: Are you asking just about the scarring from surgery, and its effect on being able to deliver the baby? If so, I don’t see why you should have any problems. Women who’ve had c-sections (even multiple c-sections) are able to deliver a baby vaginally, so you should be able to deliver your baby whichever way you want. Your best bet would be to speak with your doctor about it, telling him/her what you really want to be able to do, and ask if he/she could do everything in their power to help you be able to do so. Good luck.

Q: Is is recommended to have a colonic irrigation while battling with diverticulitis?
I am a disabled senior and just recently began experiencing sharp pain in my lower left quadrant and found that I have diverticulitis (as did my mother). I have gone through 2 flareups, taken antibiotics and changed my entire diet (seems to help a great deal with bm’s), but am wondering if I should cleanout the entire system of buildup. I surely don’t want to opt for surgery if irrigation(s) will help and aren’t precluded by having diverticulitis. I surely don’t want to aggravate these pouches and chance rupturing them.
Anyone having any experience with either diverticulitis and its recommended diet, and/or colonic irrigations (high colonics), please advise and thank you all.
I’m waiting on test results of colonoscopy.

A: With a flare you need bowel rest. An irrigation could cause the flare to be worse. Continue with your dietary changes. If you are unsure about the diet or it doesn’t seem to be working ask your doctor for a dietary referral.

Q: Is there a relation between diverticulitis and nerve pain in legs?
I’ve had meralgia parasthetica – a burning and shooting pain in my thighs – for over 4 months. Very severe. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Then, a few weeks ago I had an attack of diverticulosis which caused an abscess leading to peritonitis and had to have emergency surgery. I hadn’t had symptoms of diverticulitis that I’d noticed before the attack.

I have to think there is a relation between the two as I had been very healthy, not a sick day in years, until these problems. Edgar Cayce’s site connects the two, but how about real life? Can anyone out there make the connection?

Or am I just being very unlucky!?

A: Thats interesting what Cayce has to say about that. It very well could have some connection.

Here is diverticulitis site. It has a lot of interesting links you might want to explore.

http://www.diverticulitisdiet.org

I agree you need to see a doctor if the problem doesnt go away,but check out the links at that site so you can be informed before you go at the least.

And who knows you might find out whats going on with your own research.

Q: I have just had a colonoscopy &diagnosed with diverticulitis?
I have been having terrible bouts of dhoirea and the first investigation test a colonoscopy showed that I have severe diverticulitis so bad that the investigation could not be completed.Next test is a barium enimer is there a cure for this disease? or will it end in surgery. or a special diet .

A: You’ve had some good answers so far. Hopefully your Dr. has already suggested Advil (or other pain med) and Antibiotics since it sounds like you may have an infection. The fact that you have not been hospitalized is good. I would switch to a high fiber diet. Fruits, vegetables, etc. But first, check with your Dr. and see what he/she thinks you should do. The others are correct unless your Dr. believes that you needs surgery. But even so, you will always probably need to follow a high fiber diet from now on. Cut out the sodas, pizzas, alcohol, and fast food as soon as you can. Drink a lot of water. Think about shopping at the Farmer’s Market, making your own soups, and adding fruit to your diet. Best of luck.

crohn’s surgery

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: What do i expect after a Crohn’s ressection surgery?
I am about to have a ressection done after years of dealing with Crohn’s. Needless to say I am pretty nervous. What are the things to expect after surgery?

A: I had a bowel ressection this summer actually. I can tell you, I was very very nervous at first, and when I woke up from the surgery, it was not pleasant! I had it in my head that after years of dealing with crohns I could deal with some soreness in my stomach, but the worse thing was not that (The morphine made that pretty easy to get through!) it was the NG tube. I also got pretty hungry after 10 days of not eating straight. I would not be worried about Stomach Pains. Not that bad, actually! yeah you’re sore.So what? As a crohns patient, you KNOW what its like to be in pain. Also, you might be pretty dependant on people, needing their help to get up and down. Try and push yourself though. Walk everyday you can, more each day. Your back might hurt from laying in bed, but the more you walk, the FASTER you recover!! I was able to get out of the hospital the day after my NG tube was removed. Also, IVs are very annoying, so be carefull with them…I, and the patient (9 years, appendix removal…) next to me both had problems.

Keep a positive attitude! I bet you knew this was coming at one point. You will feel really crappy in the hospital, but let me tell you, after a month or so, you will be a better you! no more stomach pains, no more apetite problems, no more prednisone if you had to take it, no more !!

I had a bowel ressection – 10 inches of intestine taken out, as well as my appendix, a fistula, and some weird cyst no one knew i had lol. And I recovered faster than the 9 year old patient, who had a lesser surgery. It was the combination of dealing with crohns for so many years and just keeping a positive attitude that got me threw it. Also, books, my laptop, and my family were good company.

Good luck, if you want to know anything else, feel free email me. It has made me a better person…all the bumps in our life make us better people!!

Q: Is it easier to gain Weight after having surgery for Crohn’s Disease?
I going to have Surgery soon (in about a month or two) and i was wondering how much better do you feel after Surgery?
Its hard for me to gain weight right now and im hoping surgery will help?

I have a very mild case but its near small intestine.

A: hi hhh, I am a female crohn’s pt. dxed at the age of 12. I have had several surgeries for the past 29 yrs. I’ve had it and have found that it was easier for me to gain the weight seeing as I couldn’t eat much before due to the severe pain I was in. Once I had the surgery at age 17, I was able to enjoy my mom’s home made meals again. After I got married, I needed surgery due to a stricture in my small intestines so I couldn’t eat much or I’d have a partial blockage. Thus, I lost weight until that problem was fixed. Then I regained it once I started to eat hubby’s cooking. (He is a great cook and knows what to make for me when I flare),

For more accurate information, go to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site. There you will find stuff on medications, surgery, diet, locating a local support group near you plus they have a live chat & a hotline that is run by healthcare experts well versed in IBD. They have a forum where you can post questions to others like yourself & swap stories.

Surgery will definitely relieve you of pain and help if your well being hasn’t been helped by current treatments. The newer meds to take afterwards to help stay in remission are Humira, 6MP, Imuran, Remicade, and Entocort.

Feel free to email me if you have questions. good luck to you on your surgery. You will feel like a new person.

Q: Crohn’s surgery question?
I was told today that I would have to undergo surgery for my Crohn’s disease. They are looking at removing a small portion of my small and large intestine. I am a bit freaked out about it right now but fortunatly they wouldnt take out enough to make me wear a colostomy bag. Has anyone with Crohn’s undergone this surgery already? If so, how have symptoms been since?

A: Follow your doctor’s advise.

Q: describe crohn’s surgery?
can someone describe their crohn’s surgery from start to finish? i would like to know what to expect

A: crohn’s disease surgery is essentially removal of a part of the bowels, lke any other bowel surgeries, there will be an external anastamosis, they may put the two ends of the bowels together, pain, potential of infections, bleeding persists with any surgery. diarhea or malabsorption may become a chronic problem, talk to your surgeon for details, good luck

Q: how long would i have to stay in hospital after crohn’s surgery.(approx 12 cm removed)?
it will be my first surgery,believe infected area is in the large intestine
am not on remicade, have 3-4 flare ups a year which ease up with prednisone,but i’m thinking maybe if i have the surgery it wont keep coming back.i flare in the same spot everytime so if its gone maybe i’ll luck out???

A: Most likely around 3-7 days. They’ll need to do wound care and make sure you’re passing urine, gas and stools properly before you’re discharged. So, it really depends on fast your body can recover and do these critical things. Of course, your surgeon or his nurse can tell you more accurately. Don’t be afraid to ask questions before you sign the consent form.

Q: How often is surgery needed for a Crohn’s patient?
Thank you, A. Just diagnosed with Crohn’s.

A: I was diagnosed with Crohn’s about four years ago. At that time, my GI told me surgery was no longer done since it was virtually never successful. You can expect to be on a battery of different drugs until they figure out which ones work best for you. For me, a combination of Pentasa and Omeprazole has kept me in remission for several years, but it might be different for you. Anyway, hang in there. I know what you’re going through, and I empathize.

Q: Surgery for Crohn’s?
I’ve had Crohn’s disease for 10 years now, and have never had surgery. That might be changing in the next year or so, however, since my insides have developed a large amount of strictures and scarring over the years. I’ve been on Remicade for a long time, which has kept things bearable, but not that long ago, the strictures began acting up and causing considerable pain. I started on Prednisone, and it has the symptoms back under control. I have no illusions about the lasting effects of it, though, and fully expect to get cut open at some point. So, I’m wondering if anyone here has had surgery to remove random strictures in their intestines and what it was like, how the recovery period was, the couple months following, and any other pertinent info there is to be had.

A: Honestly the surgery SUCKS! BUT, It is so worth it! Find a surgeon you love & trust, express to them all your concerns etc. I had a wonderful surgeon who had a great sense of humor, a day after my surgery he came to see me & told me that the foot of my small intestine really needed to come out & he told me they checked every inch to make sure that it was only located in the section that came out. He also told me that he had my “guts spread out through the hallway & started laughing i knew he was obviously joking. I was in the hospital fora week & was back to work a week later (no heavy lifting!!) I noticed it took at least 6 weeks to feel back to my old self again. Good Luck!

Q: as a possible crohn’s patient do they take special considerations with surgery for me?
do they have to do anything special for me? i am having knee surgery.

A: You definitely need to be sure that your doctor, surgeon and anesthesiologist know about your condition. You may not need anything above the norm, or there may be further tests, different meds….who knows? Don’t assume the medical staff have read or even have been given all of you medical records. I have ulcerative colitis (Crohn’s partner) and have had several surgeries without needing anything special that I know of, but all my medical staff were gratefull that I mentioned it.

Q: Crohn’s Disease – Resection Surgery?
I’m 26 and have had Crohn’s for about 10 years. During my most recent colonoscopy my gastroenterologist discovered a lot of scarring which is causing a partial obstruction. He stated that scarring is irreversible and will need surgery to correct. I would have to have 15 inches removed and then they would reconnect the ends of the colon. I’m looking for the pros and cons. Has anyone had this? Did it lead to more frequent surgeries? How long were you in the hospital? How long would I have to stay out of work?

A: I had resection surgery about 10 years ago when I was 27. They took out about 6 six inches of my small intestines and my appendix for good measure while they were in there.

So far this has been my only surgey. Since this disease varies between people there is really no way to tell how many more surgeries you may or may not need after the first one.

I’d say the pros would be that you should be in remission for a while after the surgery. Of course there is no way to know how long that will be.

Cons other than going through the surgery and recovery time would be that the disease mostly likely will come back near the area of the resection.

I was in the hostpital for about 7 days. I was stayed out of work for about 4 weeks total.

Q: In 1994 i had my illeum removed. my dr removed during surgery to stop crohn’s. i use b12 monthly. should i?
in 1994 i was ambulanced to hospital with abdominal problems. after being in the hospital for 2 weeks, my dr, who was the head surgeon of a ny hospital, performed my surgery. following surgery, he told me my illeum was removed so that i would NOT have crohn’s disease or be hit by my insurance company with a pre-existing medical history.

i improved miraculously quick, but i continue to be plagued with abdominal problems, none too serious, however, i take b12 shots monthly. should i be doing more at my age? i’m now 55?

A: hi lu, i am a crohn’s pt. for 28 yrs. I had my ileum removed yrs. ago and take B12 shots myself. As for your surgeon telling you that the crohn’s would be gone completely, he is WRONG. It can show up at the site of the surgical area at any time. It is known for that.

If you check out the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site, it will tell you the same thing. Crohn’s can appear at any time anywhere from the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, and anus. If you have a total colectomy and given a permanent ileostomy, the CD in your large gut is gone b/c it’s been removed HOWEVER, it can return where it was dissected.

The CCFA site has great updated information on surgery, symptoms, the newer treatments–Entocort, Humira, and Remicade…ask your GI if you are a candidate for any of these, finding a local support chapter near you, as well as a hotline and an open forum where you can post questions to others like yourself.

Knowledge is power. The more you educate yourself, the better it will be in coping with this. I am speaking from experience as I’ve had this since age 12.

Q: Kids & Crohn’s Disease re: Surgery (question)?
Our 11 yr old has Crohn’s – went through a 6 week intensive feeding tube program Feb-March – then went into remission but only lasted until a few weeks ago. The pains came back & we noticed some malabsorption (only gained 1 pound in 3 months) were told at recent exam by GI Dr. there are 2 options 1) Imuran (which has some nasty possible side effects) or 2) back on 4 week feeding tube program using Peptamin (Nestle special high nutritional formula) The feeding tube program in combination with an anti-inflammatory gives the intestines a chance to “heal” and take in heavy duty nutrients that were not absorbed prior

We haven’t explored surgery and not sure we want to at this point until growth & developement are complete.

Let’s face it, there are only so many feet of intestine that can be removed…

Does anybody know how many years go by after surgery (on average) that perhaps add’l surgeries are needed?

And also how long after surgery (on average) before another flareup?

A: A flare can be caused by anything. Food poisoning is a common cause for a flare. Also, things like French fries and sometimes salad will cause massive fissures in the intestines and colon. I would only advise surgery if he can not handle the pain, or if the doctors advise it. Crohn’s disease is a mystery to us right now!

This is also a gene carried by the father and is most common in males. So make sure your son knows that when he gets older.

but to answer your other questions. Once the person has surgery, they will probably laps back into another flare sooner or later, but the hope is that it is going to be a lot less drastic.

Edit – to the post bellow me – While some of what you say is right, you are also very very wrong. I am sure that changing the diet of the patient will work wonders, excessive bile is NOT the cause of crohn’s. Crohn’s is caused by the patients IMMUNE system attacking, generally good, bacteria in the intestines. They attack it so much that fissures (small cuts) actually form in them! But what is worse, is that because the intestines are so packed, they often grow together and form new canals. These can often get infected since stool can get stuck in them. Also, Crohn’s can be anywhere from the mouth to the anus, bile would not be causing problems in the esophagus or the mouth unless they threw up all the time.

I really hate to say it, but this disease is caused by unknown problems with the immune system, and tends to run in family’s. Medications should be really down to mainly anti-inflammatory to try and stop the massive attack Crohn’s patients intestines undergo.

If your son is having a really bad outbreak, i would suggest surgery, they will only remove the portents of the gut that is badly infected. If he does go into remission, make sure he eats right, and is never confronted with food poisoning… this can, and most likely will cause him to flame up again.

Also, people with Crohn’s are a lot more likely to get sick because their immune system is in non-stop attack mode on their GI tack.

Best of luck to him, and anyone els in the family who might have it…

Q: Does having your tubes tide help you during your period for Crohn’s patients?
I never had a problem with this until I had surgery on my Crohn’s back in 1999. Now every month it is extreme lowerback pain, and cramps. Someone please help with this.

A: If you are having pelvic pain with your periods after surgery and the surgery that you had was abdomino/pelvic, then I would imagine you were left with scar tissue and adhesions which become agitated and inflammed during your period. So your period and the congestion of the uterus agitates the adhesions causing more pain, or adhesions from the pelvic area are agitating the uterus when its congested and contracting to expel menstrual fluid. having your tubes tied will do nothing for this. Sometimes, after a year or two, the adhesions and scar tissue can stretch a little bit and the pain won’t be so severe. The other option is more surgery to remove the adhesions, or laporasocpic surgery to see how bad the adhesions are. The good thing about laporascopic surgery is that its small and non invasive, and the doctor will be able to see if there are adhesions and where, and how bad they are. he will also be able to rule out the possibility of ovarian cysts or other pelvic growths, and probably do a scope of the inside of the uterine wall to check for fibroids that could cause the pain at the same time.

Q: How is the Surgery for people with Crohn’s Disease ???
I think im going to need Surgery later this year and i’m alittle scared because i never had surgery before.

Does the surgery heal you 100% ??? How do you feel after the surgery ??? How long was the recovery time?? What Meds do u take after words?
well the Dr. said my small intestine is the infected part and it’s going to removed and to put back during my surgery.

My crohns is a mild case but hasnt got much better in a year. Soo surgery might be the answer.

A: this sounds kind of bizarre, buut i was in literally the exact same siituation as you two years ago. i was in some pain and meds were not really working. the doctor told me i would need a surgery and i got pretty scared. however, i realized that it is best to just forget about it iin the time leading up to the surgery. my plan worked, and two years later i am in complete remmision. after recovering for two weeks i completely forgot about it and i was and stil am completely healed. i now take asacol which is just holding down the fort. after the surgery i felt mediocre. in the time just after the surgery it does hurt to walk a little, but it is easy to fight through with a couple short walks around the hospital ward a day. afterwards, the only thing standing between you and home is farting. concentrate on that, then you get to go home and be a glorified couch potatoe for a while. make sure you have video game systems and movies galore for this time period. anyways, good luck and try not to worry.

Q: Can I really heal myself from Crohn’s Disease?
I do not want to have an 8th surgery for my Crohn’s disease and I don’t want the drugs. I am going to a place called The Chopra Center and try to heal myself. Is it possible? Does Meditation help? Here is my blog so far…
http://www.aWellnessExperience.com
All this information is great, Thank You!

A: First, Crohn’s disease is an event, like Tuberculosis, that is a result of our modern diet. Primitive cultures were resistant to these types of diseases and many others because their diets contained high amounts of nutrients that are missing from our foods today. Just go to the Mausoleum where dead food is held in state and look at the junk as you walk down the death row aisles. There is very little nutritive value there. Most people are not aware that Cavities are a result of modern man’s diet as well. Primitive people did not have cavities and amazingly enough they didn’t put fluoride in their water supplies and didn’t need fluoride toothpastes either. In fact, they had no need to clean their teeth of tartar either. They had good jaw formations that allowed their teeth to come in and not be crowded.

Many studies have been done indicating pasteurized milk as one of the culprits in Crohn’s disease. Previous research found that the mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) was present in about 92 percent of patients with Crohn’s disease, compared to 26 percent of patients in a control group.

MAP is present in about two percent of commercial pasteurized milk. So, not only does pasteurization kill the beneficial bacteria available in milk, but it leaves a potentially harmful organism alive and well. Making matters worse, the conventional recommendation to drink milk that has been pasteurized at even higher temperatures is far from helpful.

What nearly everyone fails to appreciate about pasteurized milk is that although the pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria are killed during pasteurization so they can’t multiply, they are NOT removed from the milk. The dead bacteria are STILL IN THE MILK.

If the bacteria are there, they can serve as a stimulus to your immune system and cause all sorts of autoimmune diseases, Crohn’s disease being only one example.

Instead, RAW milk from healthy grass-fed cows is actually one of the more profound healing agents you can turn to when confronted with inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn’s. Rather than cause it, raw milk can send your IBD into remission. This is because if cows are raised properly and only fed grass, not immunized, given access to plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and not given antibiotics or harmful vaccines that impair their immune system, then they simply do not get sick or become colonized with these pathogenic bacteria in the first place. Thus there is no need to pasteurize their milk.

What many also fail to appreciate is that pasteurization is NON discriminate in its ability to kill bacteria. Pasteurization kills the GOOD bacteria in the milk that actually makes you healthy and can reverse diseases like Crohn’s.

An additional cause are parasites. These are not easily detected and in a lot of cases cannot be found until after death an a thorough autopsy is performed!

It is not easy to be healthy in America. In 1905, the CDC reported less than 5% of ALL Americans were chronically ill. In 2005, the CDC reported that over 53% of ALL Americans are now chronically ill. Does that sound like Americans are being fed good, quality food and that our medicines are really helping us to be healthy? NOT.

Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response to infections. It is how the body causes more blood to flow to the infected area, so it can deliver the necessary nutrients that can heal the injury. If the nutrients are not in the body, the injury won’t heal properly and the inflammation will become a chronic problem, like in Crohn’s.

An imbalance of the two essential fatty acids, omega 3 and omega 6 will make the body inflamed. Most Americans have huge stores of omega 6 and little omega 3 fatty acids. It’s not enough to just take a bunch of omega 3 fatty acids, but one should put foods in their bodies that are close to the 1:1 ratio of these essential fatty acids to fix this issue and avoid foods high in omega 6’s. Commercial beef found in the Mausoleums that house the dead foods (super markets) are very high in omega 6’s because the feed Angus Beef grain in feed lots and allow the animals to walk around in their own feces. Grass fed beef is healthy and contains a good omega 3 to omega 6 balance. Wild fish, NOT FARM RAISED, also are a good source of this balanced scenario, as long as they are not cooked at high temperatures.

Vegetable Oils, like Soybean, Canola, Cottonseed, and Corn are terrible for you and contain lots of omega 6 fatty acids and when heated, these unstable oils form TRANS FATS with just a very little heat.

Many parasites go undetected and Crohn’s is a result of this. A typical sign of parasites is the feeling of tiredness. Many doctors misdiagnose this as some other ailments with fancy names, like Epstein Barr, etc.

I suggest you do the following to make a good attempt at fixing the crohn’s:

Go to: www.organicpastures.com Buy your dairy products from them, especially RAW MILK, Colostrum, raw butter, and raw cream. Like the primitive people, this will provide nutrients that make you strong, not weak and contribute to disease. Eat fermented vegetables and make your own keifer milk and Kombotchu. These provide organisms that heal the body, not damage it like drugs with all their so called “side effects.”

Also, go to: www.healthline.cc (not .com) and purchase:

keifer grains — to make your own keifer milk from raw milk
Parastat — This kills the parasites in the intestine
Paracidin — This kills the liver flukes in the liver.

Take maximum dosages of both of those. They are natural herbs and no chemicals. I would also purchase the “super food trio” in capsule form, not powders.

All these things above will contribute to your solution. I think you will be very surprised at the results and how well good nutrition can work for you.

Q: Can you have crohns and NEVER need surgery?
Can you have crohns and NEVER need surgery?
i found i have crohn’s no matter what am i going to have surgery or are there people that never need it?

A: I have Crohn’s too, and my symptoms are controlled well enough on medication that I will likely not need surgery. It all depends on how bad your symptoms are, what type of symptoms you have and how well they can be controlled with diet and medication.

The main reason that someone with Crohn’s needs surgery is for a stricture that narrows the intestine to a point where stool cannot pass, an inflammation that becomes infected and needs to be removed or such bad symptoms that surgery sounds like a relief.

Work with your doctor to control your symptoms with medication. Find your trigger foods and avoid them when you are having symptoms and you should be able to avoid or postpone surgery for a long time.

crohn’s treatment

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: Are hookworms an effective treatment for Crohn’s disease ? If so is the therapy available in the USA ?
What countries is it available in ?

A: Oh, my goodness! Yuck! I looked it up, and yes, there are studies showing that hookworm can be effective treatment of Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and various other immune disorders. What a shocking discovery, but I don’t know if I could expose myself to it. I just typed your question in my search engine and found it. The lady I read about went to Africa and went barefoot. They can also cause undesirable side effects such as anemia. Thanks for an interesting question that made me curious enough to look it up. I learned something new today, because of you and it is a good thing to learn new things at my age.

Q: Does anyone have information on the use of injectable methotrexate for treatment of Crohn’s Disease?
My 15-year-old daughter is experiencing a severe Crohn’s Disease flare-up that has been resistant to several in- and out-patient medical therapies. Her G.I. doc now wants to try weekly, injectable methotrexate. Any information you can share? Thank you.

A: Methotrexate belongs to the class of drugs known as anti-metabolites. Antimetabolites impede the body’s natural chemical processes, such as DNA production and cell division. They are helpful in cancer treatments. The FDA is approving cancer treatments for Autoimmune Diseases such as Crohn’s. If you’re uncomfortable giving her a shot they do it in infusions. Before doing this, did your gastro say anything about Remicade or Humira? I have Crohn’s Disease and I’m on Remicade. If she is on 6 MP (Imuran) do not do this new drug. As you know she can only take Tylenol…that is about the basic that I can tell you off hand. I’m sorry she is in a flare, they’re trying to get mine back into remission and I hope they do the same for her. Good luck.

Pharmacy & Vet Tech/Crohnie

Q: Has anyone tried Dr. Ray Lala’s healing mineral treatment for Crohn’s disease/Ulcerative Colitis?
While I will appreciate other remedies, I am specifically looking for results from the Dr. Lala treatment.

A: hi sm, I am a crohn’s pt. for over 20 yrs. Have you checked out the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site for information?

They have tons of stuff ranging from diet, newer treatments to put pts. in remission faster, locating a local support chapter, as well as a live chat, a hotline, and an open forum where you can post questions to others who have IBD.

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are so many scams out there which will take our hard earned $$$ by offering false promises of a cure.

When a cure is found for IBD, I am sure it will hit the newpapers first as well as our GIs.

good luck to you.

Q: For treatment of Crohn’s Disease (vs. Ulerative Colitis), do you recommend Prednisone or Entocort?
Since Crohn’s affects the whole digestive system (rather than the more localized areas in UC), I was wondering if any of you CD patients have had better (or at least adequate) flare treatment on Entocort, rather than on Prednisone. I’d love it if my daughter with CD could be treated with something other than Prednisone… Thank you.

A: I’ve had CD for about 10 years now. I was put on Entocort about a year and a half ago, and i love it! I have only had 2 flares since i’ve started taking it, and only had to be hospitalized for one. When the flares get acute, my doc puts me on the prednisone along with the entocort, but thats usually just for a two week period till everything calms down. As far as using Entocort for maintanence, i can’t say anything bad about it – I love it, its like a miracle drug to me!

Q: Treatment for Crohn’s Disease?
My boyfriend’s mother has crohn’s disease and she has had some problems with it. She recently took a vacation to visit us (12 hrs away), and the day she got back home she went to the hospital for chemotherapy treatments. She told my b/f that it was nothing to worry about that it was just treatment for her crohn’s. I don’t know much about crohn’s/treatments, but I have never heard of chemotherapy as a form of treatment for this disease. She has lied to him once before when she was having renal failure and she told him that it was just a simple kidney infection. Is chemotherapy a treatment used for crohn’s disease?

A: i think so. theorpy means cure.

Q: what is the best treatment for Crohn’s?
I have crohn’s and have trouble…pain and other symptoms, what can I do other than watch what I eat and take drugs??? (prescription drugs) I am just not well….please help.

A: hi big, I am a crohn’s pt. myself for over 20 yrs.

If you check out the crohn’s & colitis foundation’s site, they have an open forum where you can post questions to those who have CD, use their live chat and hotline run by healthcare experts, look up information on the latest treatments–Remicade infusions, Humira shots, Entocort capsules, pain mgt., diet, latest surgical techniques, finding a local CCFA support chapter near you, etc.

I am on pain mgt. for a hernia, Entocort to keep things under control for over 5 yrs., had Remicade and Humira a few yrs. ago, attend the local support chapters to meet drug reps, dieticians, local GIs, and to get information on which hospitals and MDs to avoid when treating a flare up.

You have that right as a patient to be made comfortable when in pain. Ask your GI or primary care MD for Darvocet, Percocet, etc. as well as a muscle relaxer, and an antispasmatic like bentyl for the stomach spasms.

I feel for you. Definitely check out CCFA and post on their forum. Family members are welcome at CCFA’s site and local meetings to educate themselves on what we go through.

I hope you feel better.

Q: Crohn’s treatment?
My girlfriend has been diagnosed with Crohn’s recently, the doctor has prescribed anti-inflamatory medicine and also steroids with in the next few weeks, what good does the steroids do and what effects or side effects could it have ?

A: Be patient and supportive.
Please research all you can on Chron’s.
It’s a nasty bathroom problem.
The Steriods will help her feel better and immediately reduce the inflamation. Steroids are used in the worst time of your treatment to get instant relief.

www.CrohnsOnline.com
www.livingwithUC.com that’s what i deal with, same treatment.
Email me anytime, just be supportive and make sure she eats bland foods, and drinks water and gatoriade.

the other medication that she is perscribed, asacol, pentasa, or rowasa, is an anti-inflamitory that works in the lower intestine, and will help her not feel crampy and hopefully she will be going to the toilet less.

I would suggest you have some imodium AD on hand, some Gas-X and Bean-o.

She will most likely be very tired, and not in a very pleasant mood. She will be feeling better in a couple weeks.
Go to her Doctor appts. with her, and ask questions.
She will be happy that she has someone with her, and that you care, and want to understand her ongoing condition.

I belong to this website.
It tells you all about Chron’s and Ulcerative Colitis.
It’s important that she feel comfortable when you all go out, know where the toilets are, and buy her soft toilet paper, and if she’s having a real bad time of it, –Just email or IM me.

Mystic_Gift@yahoo.com
Mystic_Gift IM anytime. I have a lot of people who have this, and we all just need support. We are scared, and we hurt, and it’s draining. And SEX is the last thing on our minds.

Bland foods. Make her a grilled cheese, avoid spicey foods, and stress.

I hope i’ve helped!
I will list the site that has a support group, newsletter and 10 things to help you cope and understand.

she’s and you are not alone, a lot of people have this stinky problem and no one talks about it!!

I hope she uses her meds, and gets quick relief.
I admire you for asking and wanting to be more informed.
Yes, the meds are expensive, but worth it.
Just validate her feelings, don’t ask why, ask what ONE thing can i do to make your life easier this hour?

Gatoraide always helps me! cuz going to the bathroom a lot, you get dehydrated.

here are 2 sites that I rely on for comfort and information.

Crohn’s Disease Community
www.LivingWithCrohnsDisease.com
- Crohn’s Disease patient resources. Find information on symptoms.

Join the Crohn’s & Me Community
www.CrohnsAndMe.com
you have to Register to learn and connect with other Crohn’s patients.

Get Crohn’s Disease Facts
www.CrohnsOnline.com

Q: What is the treatment for Crohn’s Disease?
Is there a diet regime for Crohn Disease?

A: While diet does not cause Crohn’s, certain foods have been shown to irritate the condition in some people. In particular, milk, alcohol, hot spices, and fiber appear to be the most aggravating foods for some people with Crohn’s disease. Furthermore, individuals with strictures (areas of narrowing of the bowel) may develop increased symptoms by eating things such as nuts, seeds or popcorn. People with Crohn’s disease should eat a nutritious diet that contains protein; enough calories to maintain weight; vitamins A, B-12, C, D, and folic acid; and the minerals calcium, iron, and zinc.
Here are some websites that have tips and recipes.
http://www.remicade.com/crohns/crohns_lifestyle/crohns_diet.jsp

http://ibscrohns.about.com/od/dietandrecipes/?terms=diet+free+recipe+smoothie

Q: Question about Crohn’s treatment?
OK, no medicine has worked in the past except methotrexate, which helped and then we stopped, and I haven’t been better with Crohn’s since. (It’s in my colon). We’re doing it again, the weekly injection, and the ugly yellow medicine burns my skin, and makes me feel HORRIBLY sick. I have had seven doses, I’ve heard it can take up to twelve. My doctor doesn’t think I could physically or psychologically cope with many more injections, and has suggested the tablet. Two other people agree, but one woman said that maybe I’d cope better if I HAD no other option, and just sucked it up. I’m scared though, if the injection would have worked, and the pill doesn’t, if I’ll regret coming off the injection, and wondered what would have happened if I’d stuck to it another five weeks, no matter how sick it made me. (I was on 25 milligrams and my doctor only wants me on 15 with the tablet). Should I just go to the pill after 12 injections, or see if it works now? Im 14 desperate and very ill
P.S. I’ve tried EVERYTHING, literally, and without success. It’s either Methotrexate injections, methotrexate pills, or surgery.

A: HEY, you need more options! If someone’s telling you to suck it up, be nasty to them! You have every right to!

Have you tried an immunosuppressant drug? I’m on 6MP and maybe that’ll work for you. Crohn’s colitis isn’t very different from small bowel Crohn’s like I have. Ask your GI about the 5 ASA group(they’re like aspirins). I suggest Pentasa and what about Entocort?

Frustrating, when the treatment is a series of trial and error drugs, isn’t it? Been there, done that! I hate injections myself. At least try prednisone, that stuff is VERY effective! Keep us updated, please! Good luck!

Q: Stem cell treatment for crohn’s disease?
I have read a few articles stating this is a promising treatment with effects lasting longer than most prescribed drugs for this illness. I also read that skin cells can now be reprogrammed into making stem cells, which would please a lot more people since no embryos would be destroyed, right?

My question is when will this treatment be readily available for all crohn’s patients?

A: Well, the transplant is the same old bone marrow transplant that has been around for 50 years. Its called a stem cell transplant now because we now know that its the stem cells in the marrow that make the transplant work.

So, if it does work with crohn’s (but still not available to the public) all they are really doing is testing the statistics. If you are looking for the information for a a patient, they should try talking to their doctor to see if they can get into any of the trials for this.

A bone marrow transplant is the single treatment in an overwhelming majority of the diseases that adult stem cells can treat. It completely replaces the immune system, so it is pretty versatile for treating anything that originates in or damages the immune system. Crohn’s is an autoimmune disease, so it makes sense that this transplant may be able to treat it.

The stem cells in this case would come from one of two, maybe three sources… bone marrow, peripheral blood, or possibly cord blood. Skin stem cells would not be used in this case.

Embryonic stem cells are still used in research, and contrary to popular belief, the limited success of adult stem cells does not negate the need for embryonic research. But, to be clear, embryonic stem cells are not a part of this treatment.

Be warned though, this transplant is incredibly traumatic, phenomonally expensive, puts you at significanly higher risk for at least half a dozen cancers, comes with a min of a one year recovery time frame during which you will be out of work, and may leave you with life long medical complications needing meds.

Q: Starting Remicaid treatment for Crohn’s disease?
Would like to hear from people who are already with this teatment.

A: I have tried Remicade, and it didn’t seem to work well for me for long at least, and I had to stop taking it since I got a scary reaction once (trouble breathing, uncontrollable shaking), and some people DO get allergic reactions to it. But from what I know, it’s always given in a hospital setting and most people take Tylenol and maybe Benadryl beforehand, to help prevent a reaction. Humira (similar to Remicade), is less likely to cause a reaction since it’s made with human protein instead of mouse protein. I always found that interesting. haha.

To the other people who answered, just know that there is NO Crohn’s diet that works for everyone, and a gluten free diet is NOT always superior to meds, at least not for most people with Crohn’s. It might help some people or be superior to meds for a small number of people, but certainly not most people with Crohn’s. Not eating wheat or things with gluten is sure hard to do anyway, and I still don’t know how people with celiac disease do it, but I’m sure some of them cheat sometimes at least, and eat wheat products. haha. Rice bread and stuff like that tastes kinda crappy to me anyway, and I sure couldn’t just eat that all the time.

And it’s wrong to say people with Crohn’s actually have celiac disease a lot of the time. If anything, a lot of the time people with Crohn’s are told they have ulcerative colitis, but later on (like in my case unfortunately), find out it is Crohn’s. Celiac disease is pretty easy to diagnose from what I know anyway, by scoping someone and taking biopsies, and maybe taking specific blood tests too.

Q: Alternative medicine for Crohn’s Diesase treatment?
Do any of you know of or have tried effective alternative treatments for Crohn’s disease? Please be as specific as possible – I am looking for things that will help. Thanks

A: L-Glutamine, an amino acid that is the main source of energy for the mucosal cells that line the intestines, and helps them heal. Dosage is adjusted for each patient. The common dose range is 6 to 25 grams divided into 3 doses per day, 30 minutes before meals. Glutamine may increase T-cell attack in Crohn’s disease. In the Crohn’s patient glutamine may also be metabolized into citrulline, which is converted to arginine, a substrate for nitric oxide sythesis. Excessive nitric oxide has been shown to contribute to tissue injury and inflammation in Crohn’s disease. L-glutamine seems to be effective in ulcerative colitis.

A clinical study of ulcerative colitis patients demonstrated that feeding 30 g daily of glutamine-rich germinated barley foodstuff (GBF) for four weeks resulted in significant clinical and endoscopic improvement, independent of disease state. Disease exacerbation returned when GBF treatment was discontinued.

It has also been suggested that cabbage juice consumption may provide benefit to patients with gastric ulcers and gastritis, by virtue of its high glutamine content.

Q: Crohn’s Treatment?
Has anybody been taking Entocort?
how did effect you, what were the side effects, how long did it take for the side effects to go away, did it stay, how are you feeling now, u better worst?, any suggestions?

Thanks

A: Hi OM, I am a female crohn’s survivor who has been on Entocort for a while. My GI prescribed it for me b/c steroids have serious side effects if on them for a long time, which I was and needed to get off of them.

The great thing about Entocort is that it goes right to the source of inflammation. It doesn’t get absorbed into the bloodstream like prednisone, thus, no side effects like the moon face, mood swings, weight gain, increased appetite, etc.

I haven’t had any problems while being on this. It is a 3 mg capsule & the normal dose is 3 capsules a day. One thing though, there is no generic for it so the copay can be high. Ask the gi if he has any samples he can give you. That is what I did when I knew I was short on cash and just needed a month’s supply to tie me over.

The crohn’s & colitis foundation has a website with tons of information as well as a hotline and a live chat that is run by healthcare workers well versed in Crohn’s during the week.

Feel free to email me if you have questions.

Q: Infliximab treatment for Crohn’s?
Has anyone undergone infliximab treatment for their Crohn’s Disease? What was the process like? How many treatments did you need? And how long until you saw results? Would you recommend this treatment? And how much does it cost now that it is on the PBS?

A: Infliximab (trade name: Remicade) is a “synthetic” antibody designed to neutralize a substance in our body called TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha is believed to play a big role in some inflammatory diseases like Crohn’s Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infliximab

For Crohn’s Disease, Remicade is often given as an intravenous infusion over about 2 hours. You can find more information about the use of Remicade in Crohn’s here (supplied by the manufacturer of Remicade):
http://www.remicade.com/remicade/crohns/crohns_studies/remicade_for_crohns.html

http://www.remicade.com/remicade/assets/Med_Guide.pdf

If you already know all this information, but simply want to talk to others who had infliximab, you will probably have more luck on discussion forums specific to Crohn’s rather than here at Yahoo Answers:
http://www.crohnsforum.com/

http://www.ccfacommunity.org/Forums.aspx

Good luck.

Q: Ever heard of Myoconda, a possible new treatment for Crohn’s?
It’s been approved by the United States FDA, they’ll probably have to do one more clinical trial before ppl can get it.

http://www.giacondalimited.com/pages/products/myo_conda.html

A: It is a Combination Antibiotic Therapy, seems to give promising results.
Thanks for the useful info.

intestinal surgery

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: Gas and bloating after intestinal surgery?
I had a couple procedures done a couple weeks ago (sigmoid colectomy, and reversal illeostomy) on my abdominal region, and now, a couple weeks later, my intestines continue to gurgle and rumble and build up gas like nobodies business. It gets to the point that my stomach gets distended, and the pain from it spreads to my back. I know that excess gas is a side-effect of intestinal surgery, but I was wondering how much longer should I expect this to go on? I’m eating sort of regularly, though not nearly close to normal, and I’ve pretty frequently been nauseas lately.

Anyone have any tips on when things might start to get back to normal? I’d appreciate it greatly.

A: That is a hard question to answer. A certain amount of gas is normal. It basically depends if the gas is making it through your bowel and getting out okay. If after your two weeks, your abdomen is getting distended to the point you can tap it like a drum, and feel it resonate, then its not normal. You may have a partial blockage. Your diet may need to be changed first, then if that doesn’t work they may need to do a follow through gastrograffin study.

If you are passing gas (farting up a storm), thats good.. just see your doctor on your scheduled appointment date.
If you can tap your belly and hear it resonate like a drum, go see your doctor earlier for a checkup.
If you start passing blood in your stools or stop passing gas entirely, go to the ER for evaluation.

Q: Is there such a type of intestinal surgery as four guts surgery?
I am court reporter, took dep of bariatric surgeon who used the term. It may be spelled wrong…any ideas?

A: Taken out of context like this I think he might mean foregut surgery (surgery of the fore gut…the anterior or frontal part of the stomach).

Q: How long does it take to recover from intestinal surgery?

A: Depends on what kind. Generally you are up and walking in a few days, and able to get around pretty well by two weeks, and completely healed by 5-6 weeks. My bil had 4 intestinal surgeries due to cancer and was home in 4-5 days after each one and getting around really well by 3 weeks. He was 53 and already weakened by radiation therapy, so if you are younger and generally healthy you will probably heal faster.

Q: What kind of diet should I be on after intestinal surgery?

A: You actually should avoid fruits and vegetables – you want a very low fiber diet. Make sure the food is malleable (soft).

Eat yogurt to help restore the digestion. No fiber in yogurt and the bacteria inside helps natural digestive processes. Don’t put any nuts in the yogurt though.

Your doctor should go through this all with you, and any questions should probably be directed to him or her

Q: How does the gastric intestinal bypass surgery could help patients who have hypothyroidism ?
and or depression to lose weigh?

A: i doubt it. when you consider that you are not dealing with the root cause of the problem (hypothyroidism or depression), all that will occur is that the weight will come on again. remember, the surgery is reversible. you will get your stomach back. try to deal with the actual issue, of which the weight gain is only a symptom.

if you do want to lose weight in the meantime, try the fullbar. it was created by a doctor who performs those surgeries, and according to him, it has the same effects, but is obviously non-invasive. you can get info at his website, fullbar.com.

Q: Would intestinal bypass surgery be an effective way to lose weight?

A: Gastric bypass surgery should only be done if someone is 100 pounds or more overweight. The process for being approved for this surgery can take up to a year, and is quite thorough (psychiatric evaluation, diet change, exercise program, and close monitoring of your weight by your primary care physician). If you’ve tried everything, and still can’t get that weight off, this may be a viable option for you (especially if you are at increased risk, or diagnosed with, diabetes, heart, or liver disease). Here’s a website that I hope will answer any other questions you may have regarding this procedure:

http://www.bariatricedge.com/dtcf/pages/gastric_bypass.htm?WT.srch=1

Good luck!

Q: Did your baby have surgery for intestinal malrotation? How does s/he act now?
It seems like my 8-month old son has kept some of the same “habits” he developed before he had surgery… the back arching, the constant mumbly grumbling & fussing, sometimes growling and LOTS of rolling in the crib or on the floor or in my arms.
I’m just curious if any other babies seemed to resolve a lot of their similar habits or did it just seem to become a part of who they are? And if it’s been a while, did things calm down at some point or change drastically?

A: I had that when I was a baby, and I didn’t keep going back to get it, just had it one time. I am shorter than my family members, have unusually arched back, preferred to sleep on stomach for the longest time, till I was pregnant with my own child!, still didn’t swallow properly for the longest time, BUT at the time of the surgery, and for a couple years after, my parents said I was at least a lot quieter and not as pudgy from wanting food all the time. My dad said he actually worried coz I wasn’t talking much or asking for what I wanted anymore, since they’d gotten used to me always crying and screaming prior to that surgery. But I did have, and still somewhat retained a few old habits from way back then.

Q: What type of surgeon can perform surgery on an intestinal injury caused by a c-section?

A: General surgeons perform intestinal surgery

Q: post-intestinal surgery on puppy…
my puppy is a little over 3 months old and he had to have surgery for an intestinal obstruction a week and a half ago. Since then he has recovered amazingly. He is back to his old self and bouncy and happy – i’m just wondering, is he in the clear?

I’m just scared that I have to still be super super gentle with him.

he went into cardiac arrest right after his surgery and started breathing shortly thereafter- does that mean his heart is weaker now or no?

A: Yes, it is amazing how fast these animals recover from major surgery. I’d be moaning on the sofa for the next month eating up all the attention and treats that any sympathetic human offered!

Your pup should be fine as long as the cause was removed.

If you are concerned about his heart, I would ask the vet who did the surgery. Some dogs are more sensitive to the anesthesia and will go into cardiac arrest. It does not mean their heart is weak.

Good luck with your pup from now on.

Q: surgery for intestinal blockage and the doctor stated gangrene- can u explain surgery procedures please ?
she is in emergency surgery -shes 73 and doctor stated hernia and gangrene ,intestinal blockage any doc out there to explain more , thank you-time is 4:20 PM 11-1-08

A: normally this is not complicated.
imagine a hole in the wall, circular, about 4 inches diameter
now imagine a long linked sausage– the sausage gets a loop in it (fold it in half), and this loop gets pushed through the hole in the wall.

on the other side of the wall, this loop of sausage now gets twisted a few times — all kinked up so that now you cannot pull it out of the wall any more.

that’s an “incarcerated hernia”. And the kinked, twisted, piece of sausage ( the intestine) will have to be cut out, and the remaining intestine sewn back together.

surgically this is very simple, but depending on many factors, patients can be VERY sick from this. If there is a LOT of dead bowel involved, this can kill people — but do not get unnecessarily alarmed. Trust your doctors to give you updates on her condition, and speak with the nurses regularly. You’ll just have to wait day by day and see how quickly she can come out of this.

good luck !

Q: My cat diagnosed with Intestinal obstruction how fatal is it? Can it be treated without surgery?
After having x-rays the doctor found a foreign body in my cat. They gave her fluid and cerenia injectable to stop the vomiting. They offered me surgery but I said I’d rather wait to see if she can pass it herself. So they gave me laxatone to use to help the kitty. Eight hours later the kitty is the same, no vomiting, but no bowel movement. She doesn’t eat or drink anything and she is withdrawn. What should I do? Should I wait more or run to the hospital immediately? Do I put my cat in danger?

A: If the laxatone was going to work it would have by now. The reason the vomiting has stopped is not because she is better. It is because she isn’t eating anything to come back up.

No eating or drinking and being withdrawn is your clue that you must do something now. Don’t wait, go to the hospital. She very well may die by morning. A blockage is a very unpleasant and painful death.

If you love your cat you will get her there right away for surgery. She is trusting you to do what she needs done to get better.

Q: Does intestinal surgery disqualify a person from consideration for the United States Coast Guard?
I’m a 22 year old married male who is interested in joining the Coast Guard. 6 years ago I had intestinal surgery because, basically speaking, my intestines tied themselves into a knot. The surgeon had to cut a few inches of my intestine out to correct the problem. I was told that it was very unlikely to happen again. I understand that the Coast Guard happens to be a very selective branch and I was interested to know if my previous surgery would disqualify me from consideration or if I would require a waiver.

A: Not knowing the technical name here is the whole section:

I will guess you have a scar that will be seen at MEPS

2–3. Abdominal organs and gastrointestinal system
a. Esophagus. Current or history of esophageal disease, including, but not limited to ulceration, varices, fistula,
achalasia, or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (530.81), or complications from GERD including stricture, or
maintenance on acid suppression medication, or other dysmotility disorders; chronic, or recurrent esophagitis (530.1), is
disqualifying. Current or history of reactive airway disease associated with GERD is disqualifying. Current or history
of dysmotility disorders, chronic, or recurrent esophagitis (530) is disqualifying. History of surgical correction for
GERD within 6 months is disqualifying. (P42 esophageal correction, P43 stomach correction and P45 intestinal
correction.)
b. Stomach and duodenum.
(1) Current gastritis, chronic or severe (535), or non-ulcerative dyspepsia that requires maintenance medication is
disqualifying.
(2) Current ulcer of stomach or duodenum confirmed by x-ray or endoscopy (533) is disqualifying.
(3) History of surgery for peptic ulceration or perforation is disqualifying.
c. Small and large intestine.
(1) Current or history of inflammatory bowel disease, including, but not limited to unspecified (558.9), regional
enteritis or Crohn’s disease (555), ulcerative colitis (556), or ulcerative proctitis (556), is disqualifying.
(2) Current or history of intestinal malabsorption syndromes, including, but not limited to post-surgical and
idiopathic (579), is disqualifying. Lactase deficiency is disqualifying only if of sufficient severity to require frequent
intervention, or to interfere with normal function
(3) Current or history of gastrointestinal functional and motility disorders within the past 2 years, including, but not
limited to pseudo-obstruction, megacolon, history of volvulus, or chronic constipation and/or diarrhea (787.91),
regardless of cause, persisting or symptomatic in the past 2 years, is disqualifying.
(4) Current or history of irritable bowel syndrome (564.1) of sufficient severity to require frequent intervention or to
interfere with normal function is disqualifying.
(5) History of bowel resection is disqualifying.
(6) Current symptomatic diverticular disease of the intestine is disqualifying.
d. Gastrointestinal bleeding. History of gastrointestinal bleeding (578), including positive occult blood (792.1) if the
cause has not been corrected, is disqualifying. Meckel’s diverticulum (751.0), if surgically corrected greater than 6
months prior, is not disqualifying.
e. Hepatic-biliary tract.
(1) Current acute or chronic hepatitis, hepatitis carrier state (070), hepatitis in the preceding 6 months, or persistence
of symptoms after 6 months, or objective evidence of impairment of liver function is disqualifying.
(2) Current or history of cirrhosis (571), hepatic cysts (573.8), abscess (572.0), or sequelae of chronic liver disease
(571.3) is disqualifying.
( 3 ) C u r r e n t o r h i s t o r y o f s y m p t o m a t i c c h o l e c y s t i t i s , a c u t e o r c h r o n i c , w i t h o r w i t h o u t c h o l e l i t h i a s i s ( 5 7 4 ) ,
postcholecystectomy syndrome, or other disorders of the gallbladder and biliary system (576) are disqualifying.
Cholecystectomy is not disqualifying if performed greater than 6 months prior to examination and patient remains
asymptomatic. Fiberoptic procedure to correct sphincter dysfunction or cholelithiasis if performed greater than 6
months prior to examination and patient remains asymptomatic may not be disqualifying.
(4) Current or history of pancreatitis, acute (577.0) or chronic (577.1), is disqualifying.
(5) Current or history of metabolic liver disease, including, but not limited to hemochromatosis (275.0), Wilson’s
disease (275.1), or alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency (277.6), is disqualifying
(6) Current enlargement of the liver from any cause (789.1) is disqualifying.
f. Anorectal.
(1) Current anal fissure or anal fistula (565) is disqualifying.
(2) Current or history of anal or rectal polyp (569.0), prolapse (569.1), stricture (569.2), or fecal incontinence
(787.6) within the last 2 years is disqualifying.
(3) Current hemorrhoid (internal or external), when large, symptomatic, or with a history of bleeding (455) within
the last 60 days, is disqualifying.
g. Spleen.
(1) Current splenomegaly (789.2) is disqualifying.
(2) History of splenectomy (P41.5) is disqualifying, except when resulting from trauma.
h. Abdominal wall.
(1) Current hernia, including, but not limited to uncorrected inguinal (550) and other abdominal wall hernias (553),
are disqualifying.
(2) History of open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery during the preceding 6 months (P54) is disqualifying.
i. Other. History of any gastrointestinal procedure for the control of obesity is disqualifying. Artificial openings,
including, but not limited to ostomy (V44), are disqualif

Q: Having had intestinal surgery I can no longer digest anything, it all releases, what can I take to strentghen?
I am also diabetic, so no alternatives in sweets if possible also it’s been 2 years since the surgery and right after a meal I release. Liquid never hard or solid formed, every meal and every day. I have the BMs so often I get dehydrated and feel fatigued-dizzy and blah. Here is some details on the matter it was intestinal recession obstructure and twist which called for a removal of six feet small intestine to be removed. It was exploratory, so in a plea of someone somewhere about to help me out, what can I do to repair this reaction, perhaps due to the surgery or botched exploration, what is recommended to have a normal life again?

A: Seeing a different doctor, either an internist or an endocrinologist is the best suggestion.

Supplement your diet with fiber, such as BeneFiber, to help “solidify” things. It would seem that somehow you’re suffering froma Vitamin deficiency of some kind, but you really, really need to have a doctor tell you the next course of action.

Also, if you are taking Metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage), the medication is known to have a laxative effect on some diabetics. Additionally, you should avoid sorbitol and saccharin, as they both also cause a laxative effect.

Q: 12 year old cat diagnosed with intestinal tumor – Should I go through with surgery or not?
Please tell me if you have had this experience and what the outcome was. From what ive been told and read, the success rate isn’t so good.
The operation will be tomorrow morning. Should we reconsider?

A: This happened to my brother’s cat and the vet advised they open her up and see if it was operable and if not then they wouldn’t wake her up again . I think if it was me I would go ahead with the operation and see what they find-good luck. Even if it just buys your cat a bit more time with a good quality of life then it’s worth it.

Q: What are the alternative treatments(not surgery to remove)for an intestinal blockage due to hair ball in cats?

A: you can add sunflower oil.olive oil or cod liver oil to a cats diet

crohn’s disease treatment

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: Does anyone know about Suboxone being used for treatment of crohn’s disease?
i was diagnosed with crohn’s disease about a year ago. nothing has worked for me except for prednisone, which causes very bad side effects after awhile so i can’t take it for more than 3 months at a time. i met a girl today that was telling me about how she has had crohn’s for 11 years now and her symptoms were even more severe than mine and prednisone was the only thing that worked for her other than oxycontin and perks, which i’m not on any pain meds, (and when she was laid off her insurance ran out and turned to heroin to kill the pain) until she started taking Suboxone. She has been part of a study group for it for 2 years now and she said it has finally been approved for not only helping with opiate abuse but also for crohn’s disease treatment. she said it is a life-saver and she feels like a normal person again and has energy and it’s as if she doesn’t even have crohn’s. does anyone know anything about Suboxone for crohn’s disease? the only thing i’m finding information about it being used for is drug abuse. i really want to tell my gi doctor about it. please help.

A: hi stoe, I am a crohn’s pt. for 25+ yrs. Have you check the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site to see what they have to say about it?
Try calling their hotline, live chat, or posting the ? on their open forum to see if anyone else w/CD has heard of it.

CCFA’s main HQ is in NYC and they do tons of research on IBD and work w/many scientists/pharmacy techs etc. to find the cause, cure, and a better way to treat the disease until a permanent cure can be found.

good luck and definitely give CCFA a look into and call them.

Q: How do I transfer my Crohn’s Disease treatment to England’s National Health Service?
My doctor in America recently told me to transfer my treatment for Crohn’s Disease to the NHS in England since I’ve been studying here and living here for two and a half years, so I could only be under his care in America when I went home for visits.
I’m scared that the NHS will not offer my medication, Mercaptopurin, as a treatment option.
I am also concerned because this medication requires blood work to check for liver damage, but I have an intense fear of needles. This is eased by numbing medication prescribed to me in America, but I am pretty much positive that the NHS would not offer that? If this was the case, is it possible to buy things supplementally? I’m sorry, I’m so confused!
Since I live on scholarships , student loans, and a crappy job, private care is not much of an option.
I should have mentioned that I do have an NHS card / #, so I know I am able get access to care. I was confused where to go from there…

A: I have Crohn’s & can tell you for a fact that the NHS is NOT the lowest treatment you can get. Personally I dont take your drug but it is available. The only problem you may have is with eligibility:
This is from an immigration site. If you have an existing condition then even if you qualify for treatment it may not apply to pre-existing conditions.
I’d check with Citizens Advice(CAB) or your local GP
“However, eligibility under this category will not generally apply if the overseas resident came to the UK knowing that they needed medical care. The exception is if they were specifically referred to the UK for treatment under a reciprocal agreement.”

Q: No sexual arousal after Crohn’s Disease treatment?
I’m a bottom guy, over the course of a year I developed a Crohn’s Disease and it had taken a great deal of my daily activity, I lost almost a quarter of my body weight as in January I was only 82 lbs, while the treatment and medication have shown progressions, and I started to go back to work, the problem is I don’t feel any sexual arousal anymore, I wonder if it’s the disease or the medication but I can’t tell my doctor because I’m not out yet, I feel guilty towards my boyfriend who has gone from understanding to all grumpy lately. I feel so useless and unattractive. what should I do?

A: my aunt has crohn’s, i don’t know that it’s impacted her sexual life, but then it’s a slightly different situation for her.

my advice is to talk to your doctor, doctor patient confidentiality prevents him from outing you and you’ll get your answers from an informed source.

if you don’t want to do that, i’m in nursing school and i swear by webmd

A: i think so. theorpy means cure.

Pharmacy & Vet Tech/Crohnie

Q: Are hookworms an effective treatment for Crohn’s disease ? If so is the therapy available in the USA ?
What countries is it available in ?

A: hi sm, I am a crohn’s pt. for over 20 yrs. Have you checked out the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s site for information?

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are so many scams out there which will take our hard earned $$$ by offering false promises of a cure.

When a cure is found for IBD, I am sure it will hit the newpapers first as well as our GIs.

good luck to you.

Q: What is the treatment for Crohn’s Disease?
Is there a diet regime for Crohn Disease?

http://ibscrohns.about.com/od/dietandrecipes/?terms=diet+free+recipe+smoothie

My question is when will this treatment be readily available for all crohn’s patients?

The stem cells in this case would come from one of two, maybe three sources… bone marrow, peripheral blood, or possibly cord blood. Skin stem cells would not be used in this case.

Q: Starting Remicaid treatment for Crohn’s disease?
Would like to hear from people who are already with this teatment.

Q: Drinking “Ensure” as a treatment for Crohn’s disease?
Hey everyone, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease going on 3 years ago. I have been pretty fortunate in that my Crohn’s isn’t really all that bad, I don’t really have that many flare ups and they haven’t really been severe up to this point….at least compared to some other people that I know with the condition. I take Pentasa to keep it under control. I have health insurance so I only end up paying $40.00 a month for the meds, if I didn’t I would have to pay around $400.00 for a month’s supply! <--You could buy a pretty nice car for that! Anyway though, I heard a while back that in Europe they were treating Crohn's patients with "Ensure". Yes I'm referring to the milk-like beverage you can buy at any grocery store. I was wondering if anyone else had heard this too, if so, is it actually supposed to be an effective treatment?

A: My logic would be that they are not really treating Crohn’s with Ensure but instead making sure that people who suffer from Crohn’s get enough vitamins in their diet. Many people with Crohn’s are not getting a steady diet because of their condition, so that makes me think that the Ensure is merely a dietary supplement for them. I know that this is also something that people with acid reflux should try because it has been recommended for me.

Q: Treatment for Crohn’s Disease?
I have been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease 4 years now. My flare ups occur usually once every three months. Once I have a flare up the pain is awful. Is there anything I can do during my flare ups in order to be more comfortable?

P.S. I used to be a smoker for 12 years and I’ve quit for three months now. It doesn’t seem to help a lot though!

A: Have you heard of low dose naltrexone? It really helps with Crohn’s Disease. http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/
scroll down about one-third of the page to see photos of what low dose naltrexone does for Crohn’s Disease.

Q: Humira: treatment for crohn’s disease?
Starting this treatment soon, was wondering about the side effects and procedure. If it worked for anybody.

A: hi lak, I am a female crohn’s pt. who was on Humira for a while. It takes over 6 months for it to kick in so you have to be patient.

The drug company that makes this has an RN come to your home to teach you how to give yourself the injection. They follow up with you if you have questions and side effects.

Be sure to numb the area with an ice pack (not that dinky thing they give you) so you won’t feel the medicine going in.

For more information, check out the crohn’s and colitis foundation of america’s site. they have a hotline, a live chat, and a forum where you can post questions.

good luck to you.

Q: Know any natural treatments for Crohn’s disease?
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease about 10 years ago and have been on medication ever since. I’ve been wanting to try to wean myself off them by doing some natural/alternative treatments. Does anyone know any good, proven ones?
I have tried Remicade and Entocort. My doctor mentioned Humira but decided against it.

A: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlqhwhbHVYtxg73Nhc6CSGzsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090329214012AAPlSqX

Check out my question, I would copy and paste it for your convenience, but there is too much info there. I know of multiple all natural substances which can be used and are cheap and effective.

Hey Travis, I wanted to make sure that you looked at my information because I care about your health so putting a link probably wasn’t sufficient. I’ve studied Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis for some time, to tell you the truth I have no social life whatsoever, I have OCD and social anxiety so I spend quite a bit of time immersed in research. The reason why mainstream medicine isn’t finding the cause of Crohn’s is because there are multiple causes, but the main underlying issue is usually if not always an autoimmune one.

The “immune system uses the lethal effects of oxidants by making production of oxidizing species a central part of its mechanism of KILLING PATHOGENS (wheat is a pathogen if you do not have the proper enzymes to digest it). Although the use of these highly reactive compounds in the cytotoxic response of phagocytes CAUSES DAMAGE TO HOST TISSUE, the non-specificity of these oxidants is an advantage since they will damage almost every part of their target cell. This prevents a pathogen from escaping this part of immune response by mutation of a single molecular target.

So in order to prevent pathogens from multiplying, the body attacks with a non-specific response which will damage target cells AND EVEN YOUR OWN TISSUE, for most people this is very small damage. In most people there is an enzyme which digests wheat, but if you don’t have this enzyme then your body will attack the wheat because it is treated as a pathogen.

DMSO and melatonin are all natural antioxidants which can freely move through any membranes, so using these substances neutralizes a lot of the oxidative damage but since a deficiency in the processing of wheat is a problem it’s best if you stop eating wheat and gluten which is in almost all packaged foods. I have pages of references to support this hypotheses, and the website I’ve added as a source goes into the process I described with more details. Melatonin makes you sleepy, and resets your biological clock in a way, so it’s best if you take this 30 mintues before you go to sleep like my brother who has Crohn’s.

polyp surgery

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: Polyp Surgery?
Do you have to remove nipple peircings when getting surgery for Polyp (sinus surgery)

A: Anytime you have surgery it should be removed.

Q: Is nose polyp surgery more effective, if the doctor burns the root of the polyp after removing it?
I have nose polyps, and am considering getting surgery for it.
I have been reading up on this , and it seems like there is a high chance that they grow back… I also read on a doctor’s site that after he removes the polyp, he burns the area, and even though it creates a scar tissue, it stops the polyps to grow back (at least in that immediate area) …….. has anyone experienced polyp surgery?

A: I am a nasal surgeon, and polyps do have a high propensity for recurrence. I have found they are less likely to recur if I also surgically open the sinus the polyp is blocking, and I usually put my patients on a nasal steroid spray after surgery to help prevent recurrence. Ask your surgeon all of your questions before agreeing to a procedure.

Q: How much does nasal polyp surgery cost?
Living in Oklahoma, allergies are bad but with polyps, they are even worse. I have had polyps for quite some time but it has gotten to the point that its effecting my daily life at work and school. Is the surgery permanent and what are the costs if you have insurance (I do have that at least)?

A: You can easily check your minimal health care rates in internet, for example here – healthquotes.awardspace.info

Q: Will the nasal polyp surgery help my allergies?
I have the WORST allergies. One minute I’m coughing. The next I’m draining from the eyes. Then I’m constantly clearing the drainage from my throat.
My doctor advised me to have the polyps removed. I’ve been researching the procedure and think the surgery is meant to assist with breathing problems. I can breathe fine, but this constant Post-Nasal drip is getting ridiculous!

A: I have known people who resolved to not going through surgery and their polyps would resolve by apropriately understanding the beast behind allergies.

Visit the site below for further information

Q: Looking for advice from folks who’ve had nasal polyp surgery to restore taste & smell?
I’m considering having nasal polyp surgery (I have 1 polyp) in hopes of restoring my senses of taste & smell, which I haven’t been able to enjoy for the better part of 3 years (have lost 23 pounds that I didn’t even need to lose). Has anyone else out there suffered this malady & had the surgery? I’m looking for opinions & advice. Thank you!

A: My cousin did. He said that it was really a great decision to do it but then again, he couldn’t taste or smell anything for past 15 years.

Q: How long does it take to recover from polyp surgery (in the nose)? (Answers needed really soon, please!)?
I’m having my surgery this upcoming Friday (August 17, 2007) to have my polyp in my nose removed. I’ve done it three years ago in the opposite nostril, so this will be my second time. I really want to know how long it’ll take to recover because I got tickets to the Vans Warped Tour on August 25, 2007 and I’ve been waiting/wanting to go for the LONGEST time ever. Do you think a week (or 6 days) would be probably enough?
Thank you!
-Kimberly.
(I’m 12 years old, I had my first polyp surgery when I was 9.)

A: Its a bit late now, as your surgery will be done! You should be feeling well again within a few days to a week. I wish you a speedy recovery!

Q: How much will it cost a nasal polyp surgery ?

A: You can easily check your minimal health care rates in internet, for example here – health-quotes.isgreat.org

Q: anyone ever have surgery to remove a polyp from their vocal cord? how long did recovery take?
I’m a mezzo-soprano and I have to get surgery to remove a polyp. What is this surgery like and how could it affect my voice?! thanks for all answers in advance!!

A: Oh I feel for you,you must be very worried if you’re a singer. I’m an opera singer… I think that the surgery shouldn’t be too traumatic, as long as you follow your post recovery plan to the letter. I’m not sure where you are (I’m in the UK), but I’d advise that you ask very specific questions to your ENT specialist. I’ve heard that different types of intubation (plastic, or rubber) can have a massive impact on how quickly you recover (one type can adhere to the cords, and cause more damage, which is very important as a singer.

I think the surgery is only a very short procedure, and not very painful, but this website seems to be very helpful:

http://www.voicemedicine.com/polyp.htm

The best of luck to you, I hope you feel better soon!

Q: Anal Polyp Surgery Scarring?
Hi guys,

Just had surgery to remove an anal polyp and i was just wondering what the likelehood of having internal scarring would be as i’ve heard it can reduce the ability of the gut walls to stretch and cause discomfort. Is this likely or true?

Thanks guys
Thanks for the second response. I just don’t want it to scar and become less stretchy and cause pain or discomfort or pain during anal sex. Is there anything i can do to prevent scarring and loss of elasticity?

A: Probably

Q: cervical polyp surgery will i be awake for this?
i have cervical polyps that need to be removed?
will i be awake for this! cause it sounds scary.and i have big anxiety for these kinda things. i dont even get my teeth done at the dentist with out gas mask and im 26 years old. i heard its done in an office? so does that mean im gonna be awake! and see my legs on stirrups as the dr. twist and pulls and cuts a polyp i dont think i like this idea!

A: i don’t mean to scare ya but I think you’ll be awake for it. I had abnormal tissue burnt from my cervix and was awake for the whole thing. Because I was so scared the doctor did give me a shot of something to calm me down which worked. Hope it goes well. Be brave!! Oh and don’t worry, I am 30 and the biggest chicken about doctors and dentists.

Q: how much is nasal polyp surgery?
i live in atlanta georgia and have nasal polyps i just want to know a ruff estimate for the price of surgery

A: around 2 thousand dollars

Q: Nasal Polyp Surgery?
My wife is having this nasal polyp surgery due to a chronic allergy infection and incredibly horrible allergies. She is scared because she has had surgery in the past due to a brain tumor. That surgery was succesful but she is very scared of surgery. Has anyone had this surgery? I think if she heard from people who actually had the surgery performed that maybe she would feel better.

A: Yes, I had surgery last October to remove two nasal polyps, along with a plethora of other things from my nose!
It was a very easy surgery. Naturally, there were the regular side affects when I woke up- I was drowsy and exhausted, but I was able to walk around just a few hurs after surgery. I really could not feel anything in my nose, except a slightly wet sensaton. I went home from the hospital wearing some smll blue stretchy thing that held a gauze under my nose just in case I bled anymore. It didn’t really get in my way, but I did have to change them every day.
I was back up and going about my daily routine abou five days later. I had three or four follow up appointments, where the ENT dr. examined thenose.
Overall, the most painful part was getting the gauze IN my nose removed at the first follow-up. I recommen taking some pain killers well in advance before going.
It really was not all that bad, and I wish your wife a speedy recovery!

Q: nasal polyp surgery stories?!?
im about to have nasal polyp surgery done soon with the endoscope. I would really enjoy having people tell me of their experiences with nasal polyps. and did they have to break your nose? and whats the worst part of nasal polyp surgery? did they come back? did you lose your sense of smell? i am so nervous!

A: I had my polyps removed last thursday, a week ago.
at 9-30am I entered the prep room for the anasthetic, within 2 minutes i was asleep.
The next thing i know is I am looking at the clock saying 2pm and have an oxygen mask over my face.
The first thing i wanted to do was to get the mask off, maybe thats just me, but the nurse said leave it on as it helps clot the blood.
Then about half an hour later i was a bit more with it and walked to the recovery room and sat in there for4 hours.
in that time i was made about 4 cups of tea and 2 glasses of water.
Three o clock comes and the nurse says i am going to give you some painkillers and then at four o clock we will be taking the packing out of your nose.
4pm comes and i walk to a cubicle and the packing comes out…….this bit was not nice. I lost about a pint of blood but the nurse was brilliant and calmed me. when they get pulled out it feels weird, like when you crunch a leather sofa in your hand…..but in your head and you have to pull your head against the nurse pulling the tampon out of your nose, i can say there wasnt any pain but the experience of the blood coming out was not nice.
6pm comes and off home i go.
i actually felt quite wide awake, but for the next 3 days i slept 3 hours and was awake 3 hours, you get a wipeout kind of feeling where your energy is just zapped.
had fish and chips on the fourth day………THE FIRST SMELL!WOW
this was my first smell and it was amazing, it really hit me then i could smell again, and taste.
from there my smell and taste was better day by day, but there is like a dog smell i could smell, but i was told it was the blood in my nose.
day 6,7 and 8 was a little uncomfortable as the clots wanted to come out and i snorted them down my throat and out my mouth, they come out black and make you gag.
there are no black eyes, i was told i looked ten years younger, maybe a little exxagerated but my face has changed for the better and i feel absolutely great, there are no words.
i am glad i had it done, the way i see it is if you can put up with 3 days of inconvenience and a little dizziness it worth it, or you could carry on feeling tired, no smell or taste and grumpy, which is what i was, my energy levels now are brilliant.
ADVICE: i put cold water in the fridge, really cold that helped alot and it also helps your complexion alot. carry on with it, and it helps with the blocked nose.
there is nothing to worry about, i worried like you but my god, i feel different, even driving……..it feels like a new car, i feel like a new me.
have it done you wont regret it.
take care
trev

Q: Nasal polyp surgery?
Hey,
im 13, and discovered 1 month ago that I have a polyp in the left side of my nose. It was completely blocked. I have a cat scan tomorrow for a surgery… Also, the doctor found that the same polyp is also showing in the back of my throat. I need the surgery for my breathing, but one of ym worst fears is having a surgery and being unconcious. I’ve been really healthy for ym whole life, except allergies… My question is will the surgery hurt? How long will it be? and how can i deal with my fears??
also, i read polyps can be cancerous, is that true??

A: My best friend (who is 23) has had the same surgery. He said that the surgery itself is basically like time skips forward from the moment you go under to it already being over. They gave him the sleeping gas and had him count backwards from ten, and by the time he got to 8 he was asleep. It’s actually a pretty relaxed moment when they put you to sleep considering that you’re in an office and everything.

After the surgery, I think his nose was sore for several days. However, the post-surgery drugs they give you can be very effective at getting rid of pain. He said the worst part was just the fact that your nose is bleeding for a long time, so you constantly have tissues and bandages in your nose to stop that part. For the overall experience, he said it was annoying because it takes several days before you can get back to normal, but he had no real complaints about the pain or anything like that.

My guess is that it takes a week max for you to get back to regular you, but your breathing and smelling will be so much easier that it’s worth it. Obviously your doctor can give you the most accurate explanation, but this is the best I can do to explain what it’s like from a patient’s point of view.

Good luck and get better quick!

Q: Nasal Polyp surgery , what to expect?
I have a consultation 1st and then they may perform surgery

what can I expect?

A: Expect pregnancy….FROM ME!

ulcer surgery

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: How long does a bleeding ulcer surgery take to recover from?
I have a bleeding ulcer and have been advised to have surgery. I need to know how long I will be layed up?

A: 19 agonising weeks.

Q: How long does it take to recover from stomach ulcer surgery?
how many days or weeks should i plan on being out of work. i can not get a straight answer. they are going to remove the ulcer or part of the stomach. thanks

A: 9 days

Q: My pug has an eye ulcer and needs surgery?
Does any one know if there are any type of programs that will sponsor my pug to have a $2,200.00 eye surgery for an ulcer?

A: Have you considered simply having the eye removed? It is called enucleation. It is cheaper than what you are considering, and will solve any future problems that might require surgery. Often, after surgeries are done to remove the ulcer and place the lens plus recovery, the dog looses sight. Doing enucleation completely solves the problem and only runs about six hundred dollars. Just because I have seen so many return visits by people having the ulcers treated, I would choose the other. The success rate in treating ulcers, especially descemetocole, is not high.

Q: How long does peptic ulcer surgery last?
How many hours?

A: It really depends on the overall health condition of the patient undergoing surgery and if there are any complications or unexpected situations that arise during surgery. Talk to the doctor who will be performing the surgery to see what his or her expectations are for how long it should last and the prognosis.

Q: what can you eat after peptic ulcer surgery?
.

A: The doctor that discharges you will give you exact instructions on what to eat (or not eat).
It depends on how successful th surgery is and what you can tolerate.
http://heartburn.about.com/od/pepticulcers/ss/ulcerguide_6.htm
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/peptic-ulcer-disease-surgery

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch121/ch121c.html

I would follow the instructions very carefully when they decide what is best. You will most likely go on a clear liuid diet, then soft foods, then whatever they decide.

Q: what can my father eat after surgery with stomach ulcer?
My father has been taken to Hospital last friday with bleeding. He has been operated with ulcer.
Only yestarday he got proper but light meal. He suppose to come home this Saturday. What can my mum cook for him? And what are the chances for this case to reoccur again. He is 72 year-old, in fairly good condition luckily, however I am a bit concerned.

A: He needs to follow the Dr.’s orders on what to eat and what not to eat. When there is a condition regarding the stomach the Dr will have specific instructions.

Q: If you have an ulcer can you still have gastric bypass surgery?
I am currently on the waiting list to have a Gastric Bypass Roux en Youx (in the next eight weeks). The surgery is to be performed as open surgery, however my G.P. feels i may have a stomach ulcer (due to my syptoms) i take omeprazole 40mg a day and i am wondering wether it is safe to have the op if i have an ulcer? If any one in the medical proffesion could please help with my query id really appreciate it.

A: Shouldn’t be a problem. We test all of our patients 6 weeks before surgery for H pylori and treat them with antibiotics accordingly to prevent any complications with he surgery. You should ask you surgeon specifically about this treatment and remediation, not your GP.

Dont know if open is your only choice, but laparoscopic is the preferred method for this day and age.

Below is an excellent web site that can give you all the info you could ever use for WLS.

Good luck,

Q: An ulcer in a cats eye, question about surgery?
My mothers 1yr old ragdoll cat has an ulcer in his left eye. 3 weeks ago they had to have it sewn shut so it would heal, just wondering if anyone else has had to do this for their cat and if the surgery (eye closing) was successful and how the cat was afterwards? She is getting the eye opened today but was just curious how many cats go thru this.

A: I had this happen to a kitten I found. He had ulcers in both eyes. Took him to the vets and he sewn both of them shut. I don’t know how bad your cats eye is but this kitten was going blind. The operation was to save what last minute eyesight he had left. He ended up being blind in one eye which the vet had already knew it may not help him and the other side had saved him partial vision. It just depends on how long the ulcers had been going on before the treatment took place.

Q: How do you say “Stomach Ulcer” in Hindi? Do you have to get a surgery in India, if it bursts in the stomach?
How do you say “Stomach Ulcer” in Hindi? Do you have to get a surgery in India, if it bursts in the stomach?

A: Ulcer to develop in stomach takes time i.e if you have gastritis for a long time and if untreated will lead to stomach ulcer. even after the formation of ulcer if you don’t take proper treatment under medical advice this can lead to perforation and then it becomes an emergency surgery. So don’t wait for it to burst and take advice from your family doctor

Q: Bleeding ulcer how long does surgery usually take? Recovery time?
My uncle is going in to have surgery to fix a bleeding ulcer on his stomach. I’m wondering how long the surgery will take and what kind of complications if any will he have afterwards.

A: If the problem is a bleeding ulcer, you could bleed to death. If a tumor is present, it could be cancerous—and the cancer could spread.

A gastrectomy (gas-TREK-tuh-mee) is surgery to remove all or part of your stomach. The most common reasons for the operation are a stomach tumor or a bleeding ulcer. The operation is performed through a long incision in the abdomen. Surgery typically lasts 1 to 3 hours.

Once the surgery is completed, you will be taken to a post-operative or recovery unit where a nurse will monitor your progress. It is important that your bandages be kept clean and dry. The nasogastric tube will be kept in place to keep the stomach empty. It will be removed when the stomach and bowel functions return to normal. This is usually within two to three days.

Most patients are in the hospital from seven to ten days with a gastrectomy.

There are always risks with surgery. You might develop internal bleeding or get an infection. Blood clots could form and lodge in the lungs, making it difficult to breath. However, medical personnel are always alert for such complications, and the risks of foregoing surgery are usually greater.

Q: Does anybody jknow anything about ulcer surgery?
How long does it take to recover from that kind of surgery typically?

A: When my son had this op. He was three days in hospital.He was back at work a week later For a month he was on a strict diet.Light exercise and no smokes

Q: Stomach Ulcer surgery. Has anyone had or know someone who has had Ulcer surgery? Im having surgery where?
they will remove half of my stomach. I only have a 2 ounce stomach so do you know what my diet will be like post op? How long does the surgery take and how long will I be in the hospital?

A: You should only be in the hospital a few days – every person is different in their recovery period. And, you will be on liquids for a long time.

Q: had preforated ulcer surgery 3/27/08?
ok, i had surgery for a open ulcer on 3/27/08. last week i went to the dentist and had a tooth pulled, and now i have a dry socket. he gave me a rx foor 20 lorecet 10’s and a refill. needless to say, i went through the 20 in three days and now have the other rx filled. the pain just keeps getting worse. i’m going to see him tomorrow to get it fixed. but over this weekend, i have been in severe pain and the lorecet has kept me mostly out of it and asleep. so does lorecet, which has tylenol in it, cause or re-injure a preforated ulcer?
my question is this: will the lorecet 10’s hurt my stomach. my ulcer was caused by using goody powders for most of my adult life. NEVER WILL TAKE ANOTHER ONE!
so if anyone can help, i would greatly appreciate it.
thanks,
lisa

A: ok i know nothing about what you’re talking about. but 3/27 is my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yayyyy. sry I have no idea what ur talking about.

Q: Is Cornea transplantation better for my cornea ulcer or PRK (Lasek) surgery?
My Cornea ulcer is thick and I have that one for about 19 mounths.

A: transplant by far- Why keep the inferior tissue?

Q: why would they operate on my dogs ulcer instead of givin him eyedrops if surgery might cause blindness??
thays true i did wait a couple days before taking him to the vet thinkin it will get better on its own and if i healed it.

A: If you let the Ulcer/infection go to long it becomes beyond ointments and eye drops. Once the Ulcer burst or dye doesn’t stick … it’s to late.If you are not confident in the vet, then by all means get a second opinion. They DO make mistakes and they DO malpractice now and then.

intestine surgery

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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

Q: What is the possibilty of someone getting a scar tissue after an intestine surgery?
My baby had 2 intestine surgery and after the second one he developed a scar tissue which requires a surgery to remove it. I wonder how often or what is the possibility that he might have a scar tissue again in the future?

A: 100%
Anytime you are cut a small scar is formed. sometimes the scar is thick and can cause blockage as you know. But, it is 100%

Q: I have read that there is a intestine surgery method to cure diabetes?
I read that now diabetes can be CURED by a surgery, replacing small intestine parts, which are know as producing some insulin, to stomach where they can secrete insulin..is that true?

A: the only surgery even contemplated now to cure diabetes is a pancreatic transplant – is it really worth going down that direction?

keep in mind that a) whilst you will not require insulin
b) any transplant involves subduing your immune system which means you have to be extremely careful for any type of illness / infection and also there is no guarantee that whatever caused your diabetes in the first place that it will not happen again.

i am diabetic but would not consider that an option, they are constantly coming up with new ideas though, so best wait and see a few more years down the line – something like using your own cell tissue to fix your pancreas sounds more realistic, even if it is still a long way off

Q: Why do people in restaurants talk loudly about the details of their bowel/colon/intestine surgery?
It also happens in elevators.

A: What’s with that ,you are spot on there.
Maybe that’s all that’s interesting about them.

Q: Will the Marine Corps accept me with small intestine surgery as an infant?
I took my ASVAB today and scored a 73. My recruiter brought me back to the station and asks for my medical history. I’m 18 years old, and in exceptional shape, but as a child was diagnosed with Hirschsprung Disease, which is when your small intestines were not connected in the womb due to prematurity. It was fixed immediately, and I’ve been fine ever since. My recruiter became very weary when I told him, and showed him my scar that i still have which is noticeable, but not severe. He said they may reject me due to a major surgery. Should I start to consider other branches because the Marine Corps may not accept me? This is ridiculous considering I’ve never had any problems, and at 6′1″ 190 pounds, and very strong, obviously physical stress is not a factor.

A: The Marine Corps (and all other branches) are getting strict on who they let in, they’re cracking down on any little thing, whether it affects you or not, that’s all due to the glut of people who are trying to get in (due to the economy, etc…). Anyway, I think you should be good to go.

Here are the medical regulations that I believe are the ones you should read, read the one with the title “Small and large intestine”.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/abdominal.htm

I read it and it doesn’t really say anything about your condition. I also included the link to the entire medical regs, so just take a quick glance to see if your condition is in there, I don’t think it’ll disqualify you though to be honest. You may however have to provide MEPS with your medical records concerning that surgery. Good luck man.

Q: Surgery to remove large intestine? Only doctor please.?
My mom had a surgery to remove the large intestine because she had lots of pain. The doctor said there was a large part in the large intestine that it’s not health and in bad condition that not enough blood going through and not much oxygen going through. Also there were dried blood blocking things.

Then the doctor had the surgery to remove the large intestine and she used a bag before. Then she just had another surgery so they connect the two end together but after 3 days of surgery she still doesn’t have stool. She didn’t eat any solid food but just drinking. She throw up lots of green or black fluid and the doctor, nurse said those are intestine fluid.

I’ve a feeling that something is blocking in the intestine but I’m still waiting for feedback from doctors….

Any doctors know or have patients with similar problem? If it is blocked then is there anything that can fix the problem? I really don’t want my mom to have another surgery and wear the bag for the rest of her life.

A: I am not a doctor my mother had the same thing a few years ago and everything took a while to start to work again it does after any surgery don’t forget the body has been assaulted and needs to recover. my mum made a good recovery good luck to you nd your mum

Q: Recently i was operted for internal abdminal surgery for intestine. I an now safe, taking small amount of meal
It was done by use of Endoscopy. I do not have pain in my stomach. My legs are swelling condition. I am a diabetic and hypertensive. My age is 38 having two children. Does it affect again me. I stopped liquor.

A: KEEP your bowl movements smooth, It will not re-occur

Q: if i had a friend who fell needed surgery after injuring himself on a neighbors sidewalk, whos responsible?
he was riding a bike and he hit the bump in the sidewalk and somehow punctured a hole in his small intestine, he needed surgery and was in the hospital for weeks, now he needs doctor checkups and mri’s, whos responsible?

A: I am sorry about your freinds accident,but I agree that the property owner is not responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks.I wish you luck trying to deal with the municipality because I can almost hear there reply..*we have done extensive research into your claim and find that we have no complaints from anyone regarding the damaged sidewalk you were injured on.If we had have we would have been required to fix it within 48 hours.We are a large municipality with many sidewalks and rely on our citizens to bring any defects to our attention*I wish you better luck than my freind had but I dont think they are going to do anything other than a kiss-off letter.Contact your own homeowners insurance and you may be surprised that they will cover costs.GoodLuck

Q: Have you had a dog that required surgery for an obstruction that had complications?
My faithful dog Bo, a seven year old Australian Cattle Dog, ate a peach pit that got lodged in his lower intestines. The surgery was five days ago. He is still in the hospital, one of the best in Los Angeles. He is running a fever of 105.6 and his incision is inflamed due to a reaction to the sutures (they say it does not look like an infection, but rather an inflammation). They are running test to see if his intestines are leaking post surgery as the cause of the fever. Have any of you experienced complications like these? We may lose him, I’ve been told by the surgeon.

A: Luckily you got the obstruction removed. I had a 7 month old pup that ate a nylabone that broke, it lodged in his intestines and he ended up passing away because the surgury wasn’t done fast enough. Because the obstruction was removed your dog has a good chance for it to recover thought it may be touch and go. I wish you and your dog the very best I know how hard it can be.

Q: I just post question about c-diff and I did not mention that she had surgery, removing part of her intestine.?
She had blood-clots, cyst and a tumor on her bowls now she has c-diff and started taking the medicine for that about 3 day now and has passed worms in her bowl movement. Could she have gotten this from her surgery?

A: She got it from medications she was taking. Most likely an antibiotic.

Q: What are the chances that a sessile polyp in the small intestine becomes malignant?
My dad is 84 years old and has a one centimeter polyp in the small intestine. Some doctors reccomend surgery while others dont. What are the chances that these polyp becomes malignant?. We are concerned to put him into surgery if it is not really necessary.

A: Since you are not giving any information about the polyp there is no way of knowing. Your best source for that answer is the pathology report. With that information and questions you ask the surgeons about the basis of their opinions is the best way to make your decision.

If you do decide on surgery he would not need a colostomy.

Q: How soon can my ex boyfriend start having sex after surgery?
My ex boyfriend who i love very much just had surger to remove his colon, he has a temporary bag to dispose of his waste and bowels. He will be getting the corrective surgery to connect his small intestine to his anus in 3-5 months whenever he is fully healed. I’m wondering how soon now he can have sex or receive oral sex. I am anxious to be with him again after 4 years of not being together. Will he still have his sex drive? He is being weened off steroids. How will this work?

A: i think that he will need time and wont be up to sex at the moment. If he isn’t, just make out, or give him a romantic gesture like a cooked dinner when you meet up with him. Sex is a big part of a relationship, but its not the most important factor. x

Q: If your intestines don’t absorb vitamin D, will they do surgery on them to make them absorb it?
I have rickets in my knee. I looked up online that a symptom could be that my intestines don’t absorb the vitamins in the foods I eat. So would they perform surgery to somehow make my intestines absorb the vitamin?

A: No. There is no surgical correction for rickets. Did a doctor diagnosis or did you just figure that’s what you have. Rickets is not common in the modern world. Also, your body produces vitamin D when you are exposed to sunshine, so if you get outdoors at all, you shouldn’t develop Rickets.
There are lots of other things that can cause knee pain, but you need to see a doctor and perhaps have some x-rays to see what’s going on.

Q: My cat has pneumonia after surgery to remove an almond from his intestine..his survival is the question!?
on tuesday my cat had surgery to remove an almond from is bowel. After almost 3 days of vomiting, he went in for the surgery and today the vet called to say that he is getting better and would be put on food today. However, this evening the vet called and said that he has pneumonia and has liquid in his lungs, bacteria which is from vomiting. He must have inhaled some of it back. He is only 2 years old and an awesome cat! The vet says based on tonight we should have a clearer picture. He has been on antibiotics since tuesday and is now on 2 more for this pneumonia. I was wondering if any of you people could inform about cat pneumonia and whether or not he will make it. I have prepared for the worst! please help shed some light!
-Stephanie

A: with meds and rest there should be no problem

Q: How long should it take to recover from bowel surgery?
I know this can only realistically be answered knowing the specifics of the case. Has anyone had this surgery? Its surgery to remove part of the intestine that is diseased due to a stricture caused by crohns disease. The patient is a lady of 53 who enjoyed good health before her diagnosis but has not been able to eat for months due to this condition. She is very thin and weak but strong mentally (and healthy elsewhere). Hope you can help or even just share your story.

Thanks

A: hi swinkers, I am a female crohn’s pt. who has had many surgeries w/the most recent in Sept. 08.

It varies in each pt. as to how long it takes to completely heal due to complications afterward such as cellulitis, fever, drugs that lower your resistance to infection, if the pt. was healthy going into surgery or if there were problems beforehand.

If you check out the Crohn’s & Colitis foundation’s site, they have stuff on surgery, diet, finding a local support group, as well as a live chat and hotline run by healthcare experts, plus there is an open forum where you can post questions to others who have Crohn’s or UC.

Definitely give that a try.

Q: Can any type of surgery affect your height growth?
1) If someone were to have surgery to remove something (like a piece of intestine) when there about 1 week old, will it affect thier growth?
2) If the person has a Second surgery to remove another peice of intestine at about the age of 12, will it also affect height growth?

A: 1) If the intestine section removed was substantial enough it could theoretically cause a lower amount of absorption from food, and hence cause mal-absorption/mal-nutrition derived stunted growth. This is an outside chance.

2) Again, it would only do so if it caused a deficiency in nutrient intake. Otherwise it should cause no problems with growth.

crohn’s disease surgery

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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