Nick and Crohn's

Hmm interesting, I am not sure the bacterial thing.

Cloth instead of TP

Now, I had a child who didn't tolerate commercial wipes at all, so I have done a fair bit of cloth wiping...but not on me...never considered it. Now, uh, with Crohn's, definitely out of the question...since uh I don't do the laundry and even I would be totally skeeved out dealing with the laundry in this instance. But, on the other hand...it might be preferable to the cheap toilet paper we are using currently at our house. Of course, I can just hear the reaction now if I suggest this to the children.

So, are you going to try the Wipe with Cloth challenge?

Appendix and Crohns

So researchers in Sweden and Denmark have found some more evidence that there is a link between Crohn's and appendectomies. They can't decide of course, if it is the appendectomy that makes it more likely that you get Crohn's or whether the appendicitis is diagnosed when it is really Crohn's. The whole misdiagnosed appendicitis seems eerily apt in my case.

Right before my oldest child turned one, I became seriously ill within a few hours-incredible throwing up, diarrhea, fever, pain. We went to the emergency room, they diagnosed appendicitis and did an appendectomy. When they pulled the appendix though, the biopsies showed some inflammation and a "plug" and some other oddities...but the docs weren't really concerned. I recovered and went on to have some off and on stomach flu type things that no one else would get but unremarkable. Fast forward to the mystery bump and crohn's and all my colonoscopies...the parts of my intestine with the most marked crohn's: right there in appendix land. hmmmm. Yep, it could have been appendicitis. It could be a chicken or the egg...but an interesting connection.

Studies Sometimes Make Me Giggle

Ok, I know that science is all about proving what we think is true. Still...sometimes studies make me shake my head. Like this one from the September issue of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease journal that says some very important things about folks with Ulcerative Colitis.

1. The quality of life for UC patients is better when they are in remission.
2. UC patients miss less work and are more productive when they are in remission.


Couldn't have guessed that at all.

Belly Blingee

Myspace Glitter Graphics
Idea courtesy Miss E.

Neuropathy and Crohn's

There is a new report out about Asymptomatic Neuropathy and Crohn's disease.
Basically, neuropathy means that you have some nerve damage and/or your nerves aren't talking to your brain correctly. It can mean tingling in toes and fingers and sensitivity to touch ...which can occur because of the B-12 and other vitamin deficiencies common to people with IBD.

However, it can also mean that the nerves in your guts just don't work right...causing tummy troubles even when say a colonoscopy shows no inflammation. Finding out this is the cause of pain, diarrhea, constipation and what have you instead of a run-of-the-mill flare can mean a difference in treatment. Instead of the anti-inflammatory treatment...you may need a different sort of treatment sorted out. The other thing to be aware of is that while many issues with Crohn's can take years to start...this happens early in the course of the disease.
In any case, it is nice to know, I suppose that we aren't losing our mind when we go to the bathroom 5 million times a day but our scope "looks good". It was also good to find out that this can cause a lot of the bladder issues that I run into. Adding it to my list of things to chat with the GI doc about.