Crohn Disease

Question: What is a simple way to explain Crohn's Disease? I dont get what crohn disease is. Can you explain it in a simple way so i may understand what it is.

Answer: All you need to know about Crohn's: 1- You're ALWAYS in the bathroom or looking for one 2- Pain, like...if you touch my gut I'm going to kill you and do not move because it hurts 3- Your immune system attacks itself which causes the inflammation which causes the pain and the oooo where is the bathroom! 4- Barium shoots through you! 5- You're always are tired That about sums up Crohn's for you! :P Pharmacy & Vet Tech/Crohnie

Question: What are some alternatives to Prednisone for Crohn's Disease? After having abdominal pain for some time and recent blood in my stool I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy yesterday. The doctor believes I have Crohn's disease and has prescribed Prednisone. After reading about this drug I do not want to take it, what are some alternative treatments I can ask about?

Answer: I am so sorry about your diagosis. The side effects of long term prednisone use are serious. You doctor is going to keep you on prednisone for a short period of time. There are several other treatment options available for crohn's disease, which have minimum side effects. Hopefully you will be in remission in short period of time. Next time you visit you doctor discuss the following options with him/her. Treatment Options: Anti-Inflammation Drugs. Most people are first treated with drugs containing mesalamine, a substance that helps control inflammation. Sulfasalazine is the most commonly used of these drugs. Patients who do not benefit from it or who cannot tolerate it may be put on other mesalamine-containing drugs, generally known as 5-ASA agents, such as Asacol, Dipentum, or Pentasa. Possible side effects of mesalamine-containing drugs include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, and headache. Cortisone or Steroids. Cortisone drugs and steroids—called corticosteriods—provide very effective results. Prednisone is a common generic name of one of the drugs in this group of medications. In the beginning, when the disease it at its worst, prednisone is usually prescribed in a large dose. The dosage is then lowered once symptoms have been controlled. These drugs can cause serious side effects, including greater susceptibility to infection. Immune System Suppressors. Drugs that suppress the immune system are also used to treat Crohn’s disease. Most commonly prescribed are 6-mercaptopurine or a related drug, azathioprine. Immunosuppressive agents work by blocking the immune reaction that contributes to inflammation. These drugs may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and may lower a person’s resistance to infection. When patients are treated with a combination of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, the dose of corticosteroids may eventually be lowered. Some studies suggest that immunosuppressive drugs may enhance the effectiveness of corticosteroids. Infliximab (Remicade). This drug is the first of a group of medications that blocks the body’s inflammation response. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s disease that does not respond to standard therapies (mesalamine substances, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents) and for the treatment of open, draining fistulas. Infliximab, the first treatment approved specifically for Crohn’s disease is a TNF substance. Additional research will need to be done in order to fully understand the range of treatments Remicade may offer to help people with Crohn’s disease. Antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine caused by stricture, fistulas, or prior surgery. For this common problem, the doctor may prescribe one or more of the following antibiotics: ampicillin, sulfonamide, cephalosporin, tetracycline, or metronidazole. Anti-Diarrheal and Fluid Replacements. Diarrhea and crampy abdominal pain are often relieved when the inflammation subsides, but additional medication may also be necessary. Several antidiarrheal agents could be used, including diphenoxylate, loperamide, and codeine. Patients who are dehydrated because of diarrhea will be treated with fluids and electrolytes. Nutrition Supplementation The doctor may recommend nutritional supplements, especially for children whose growth has been slowed. Special high-calorie liquid formulas are sometimes used for this purpose. A small number of patients may need to be fed intravenously for a brief time through a small tube inserted into the vein of the arm. This procedure can help patients who need extra nutrition temporarily, those whose intestines need to rest, or those whose intestines cannot absorb enough nutrition from food. There are no known foods that cause Crohn’s disease. However, when people are suffering a flare in disease, foods such as bulky grains, hot spices, alcohol, and milk products may increase diarrhea and cramping.

Question: What race and age are more likely to be affected by crohn's disease? Ok I am doing the same project but I have tried looking everywhere for it and it won't ever give me the answer I'm looking for. So if I could get some one who knows alot about crohn's disease to help me out and answer this question tonight before 10:30pm you will be a great help! I would say I would give you 10 points but I don't know how to do that! Sorry!

Answer: Crohn's disease is a disease of the digestive system which may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. As a result, the symptoms of Crohn's disease can vary significantly among afflicted individuals. The main gastrointestinal symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be visibly bloody), vomiting, or weight loss.[2][3] Crohn's disease can also cause complications outside of the gastrointestinal tract such as skin rashes, arthritis, and inflammation of the eye.[1] The precise cause of Crohn's disease is not known. The disease occurs when the immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract and for this reason, Crohn's disease is considered an autoimmune disease. This autoimmune activity produces inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore Crohn's disease is classified as an inflammatory bowel disease. Like many other autoimmune diseases, Crohn's disease is believed to be genetically linked. The highest risk occurs in individuals with siblings who have the disease. Males and females are equally affected. Smokers are three times more likely to develop Crohn's disease.[4] Crohn disease affects between 400,000 and 600,000 people in North America.[5] Prevalence estimates for Northern Europe have ranged from 27–48 per 100,000.[6] Crohn disease tends to present initially in the teens and twenties, with another peak incidence in the fifties to seventies, although the disease can occur at any age.[1][7] Unlike the other major types of inflammatory bowel disease, there is no known drug based or surgical cure for Crohn's disease.[8] Treatment options are restricted to controlling symptoms, putting and keeping the disease in remission and preventing relapse. The disease was independently described in 1904 by Polish surgeon Antoni Leśniowski and in 1932 by American gastroenterologist Burrill Bernard Crohn, for whom the disease was named. Crohn, along with two colleagues, described a series of patients with inflammation of the terminal ileum, the area most commonly affected by the illness.[9] For this reason, the disease has also been called regional ileitis[9] or regional enteritis.

Question: Have any Crohn's Disease patients out there had unpleasant side effects shortly after a Remicade infusion? My teen-aged daughter has had four Remicade cycles (8 weeks apart) to treat her severe Crohn's Disease. It seems to be working, for now. (Cross your fingers!) She had a treatment two days ago. Today she isn't feeling too well, which always scares me... Have any of you had an unpleasant reaction to Remicade, after not having previously had problems with it? What were your experiences? Thank you.

Answer: I have been taking remicade for 6 years now. While I haven't had any bad side effects, I know of others that do tend to feel run down after it. I would say this is likely a common side effect of the drug that is temporary and should subside within 3 days, at the most. Try to plan things around remicade. If you are taking a vacation, take it the week after remicade to ensure you daughter feels at her best and give the remicade time to adjust to her body. The general feeling of my doctor is that as long as remicade is working and you are having mild side effects, stick with it. Once you switch off of a drug like remicade, you start to develop anti-bodies to it and then it becomes less effective if you were to go with it again. Only try Humaria if Remicade no longer works.

Question: Is There any food restriction for Crohn's disease patient ? I am suffering from Crohn’s disease and I am taking the medicine of crohn’s disease. Can I eat everything of food such as meet, fish, mango fruit, etc? My age is 24? This disease is curable or treatable? How many years will I alive in this world?

Answer: First of all...stop reading all the worst case scenarios on this disease. If you read the more helpful advice above me...the most important thing to know is to "learn to read your body". As opposed to Inflammatory Bowel Disorder, you need to limit fiber during flareups. Fiber, particularly nuts or popcorn can be harmful during flareups. You will not die from this disease if you do the following. Follow your doctors advice! Get regular checkups and colonoscopies once your doctor tells you. Tell your friends so that they can help you and understand when you will need their help. No need to DIE of embarrassment because of this disease. The fact that you know you have this disorder is a blessing, because it is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Don't dwell on the awful worst case scenarios. I'm nearing 50 and was diagnosed at 23. I've had 1 bowel resection, 2 major flareups and lots of minor ones in 25 years. This is a chronic disorder...not a life sentence. You will be just fine.

Question: What test diagnosed crohn's disease for you? I have been sick for about 6 months now, and my GI doctor hasnt found anything yet. My friend recently told me about crohn's disease. When I went on-line to learn more about it, my symptoms fit perfectly with it. I was just wondering, anyone with crohns disease or anyone who knows someone who has it, what test did they do or how did they diagnose you with this disease?

Answer: usually it is a sigmoid and colonoscopy. Your GI should do one before he can confirm diagnosis. Go here for the full battery of tests that they may need to do to diagnose Chron's: https://www.livingwithcrohnsdisease.com/…

Question: Can you get your belly button pierced with Crohn's Disease? I just found out I have Crohn's Disease and I want to get my belly button pierced. Is it possible for me to do this?

Answer: Sorry to hear about your diagnoses! I have Crohn's disease and recently had my belly button pierced for the second time(first one grew over). I am currently not on any drug treatments for my CD at this time b/c I am in remission. I did ask my doctor about it before I made the appointment. I would recommend you do the same. Some medications are known as "immune suppressants" and they would not allow your immune system to function properly; therefore; you would not be able to fight off any infections that could occur. I don't think you want to contract flesh eating disease on top of your CD. Not fun!

Question: Is there a part of your small intestine that tests can not see in testing for crohn's disease? Is it true that there is a part of of your small intestine that tests can not see or test for crohn's disease?

Answer: Yes, there sure is. If you're talking about "scoping" tests. Whether you have a colon or not, it's not possible for a GI doctor to scope you and pass the scope ALL the way throughout your small intestine. I had my entire colon taken out when I was younger, due to it being so diseased, and this is a common surgery for Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. And even with no colon (I have a J-pouch and was originally diagnosed with UC), the GI doc can only go in so far. There is some test (can't remember the name of it), that they don't do much since it's risky and not such an easy thing to do. And it's when they put a scope in your mouth like they do when you have an upper endoscopy done, but they pass it all the way down to your small bowel. That sure isn't a test I'd wanna have done, even being sedated. haha. Normally, when you have an upper endoscopy done, they don't go down that far. I'm pretty sure they just view your esophagus, stomach, etc. And take biopsies of course. But doctors CAN see all of your small bowel and your entire GI tract on an X-ray, if you get a small bowel follow through done. That is when you drink barium and they take a series of X-rays over a number of hours (however long it takes to get through you), so they can see different areas of your GI tract. And the one person who answered made a good point with the capsule endoscopy thing. I have never had one done, and they seem useful, but I don't know how common they are in general. I was thinking just now how it would be cool if they could have it where the capsule you swallow for that test is able to take biopsies as it goes through you. haha. That would be pretty amazing. I hope this helps. :)

Question: What's an ideal diet for a person with Crohn's disease? My husband is 37 and has had Crohn's disease for about 15 years. He has been suffering more lately, and finds that most food that is healthy hurts his stomach (fruits, veggies, red meat, etc.) Does anyone know of a healthy diet (or remedy) that has improved their condition (or someone they know)???? (His doctor has suggested agressive treatments such as remecade, however our insurance will not cover enough of the cost in order for us to afford it)

Answer: I am sorry your husband has this awful disease.. It is so hard to pinpoint a diet for a person with crohns because each person is different. I am like your husband and I can not eat fresh fruits, veggies, whole milk and red meat. The best thing he can do is keep a food diary. I can usually tolerate potatoes, cheese, crackers, peanut butter, bland chicken, baked fish, shrimp.. I can eat hamburger meat as long as I get like the one with the least amount of fat. I also tolerate ground turkey instead of hamburger meat - and i really cant taste much of a difference. I am currently not on any meds everyday. I have a couple a take as needed. I have been on remicade and they do offer a program for ppl who can not afford it as stated in a post above..

Question: what are some websites that say that Crohn's disease can sometimes really be parasites? links that have statistics or has facts about how crohn's disease can sometime be misdiagnosed and really be parasites would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Answer: hi jelly, i am a crohn's pt. It is due to the body rejecting the gut and seeing it as a foreign body due to a weakened immune system in the pt. For more accurate information, check out the Crohn's & Colitis foundation's site. It has everything ranging from testing for CD, treatment, surgery, latest treatments, a live chat and hotline run by health care experts and an open forum you can post this question. good luck. never heard of parasites as I've never had them and neither have the others I've met.