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.

Crohn's and Farms

See...if my parents would have just gotten a cow...like my mother wanted...I wouldn't have a tummy troubles blog today. We had cats and dogs...but no cow. I did visit my grandfather's farm though. He only had horses by the time I was born. (and barn cats)