Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with crohn's

How do you diagnose Crohn's vs celiac disease?

acoutu — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:08:22 -0800

How can doctors tell the difference between Crohn's/IBD and celiac disease? I'm looking for (research-based) information that explains how doctors can diagnose Crohn's vs celiac disease.

For example, say a Crohn's diagnosis was made from barium, flexible sigmoidoscopies, colonoscopies and various symptoms over the years. What markers would show that this is Crohn's and not celiac? Or vice versa? I can find comparisons of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, but I can't find anything that explains how Crohn's is different from celiac disease.

Thanks.

Crohn's patient: Imuran vs. Pentasa

stray — Sat, 09 May 2009 14:27:09 -0800

Hi there. My boyfriend is struggling with his Crohn's and has recently been switched from Pentasa (5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalamine)) to Imuran (azathioprine). He's wondering how long it has taken for Imuran to kick in for other Crohn's patients. He was switched from Pentasa to Imuran because of his fatigue and because the GI found scar tissue and inflammation in his Ilium--indicating the Pentasa wasn't working.

He's been on Imuran for three weeks now, and has been suffering from diarrhea (only 2-3 BMs per day), abdominal cramps and pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and possibly a small amount of rectal bleeding. These symptoms aren't too severe--he is still able to go about his day, albeit with discomfort. After the bleeding about a week and a half ago, he got in touch with his GI, who didn't feel the severity of the symptoms warranted moving up to the next possible treatment, which would be cortico-steroids and told him to hold out on the Imuran for a few more weeks.

Basically my question is--does it take a while for Imuran to start working? What's been your experience with it?

While he has been calling his GI, it's a bit of an effort to get time with him, so he's debating whether to keep hounding the guy for answers now, or give the drug a couple more weeks to kick in.

Help me relax about my sigmoidoscopy

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:15:26 -0800

Help me relax about my medical procedure (sigmoidoscopy) I'm scheduled for a flexible sigmoidoscopy early this week. And I'm starting to stress out.

This is the **fourth time** I've had one. I am not stressed out over the unknown.

However, the first time I ever had one, my Crohn's Disease was really causing a ton of problems and the flexible sigmoidoscopy hurt like I couldn't believe. (Inflating my already very inflamed instestinal tract and inserting tubs into my very hurty bottom was really a bad idea.) The prep and the scope were awful, awful, awful. And the GI and nurse were awful. I changed GIs.

Enter my current GI. He is kind, sweet and one of the best in the country. When he did my next two sigmoidoscopies, he sedated me, because he was concerned that my first experience had scarred me for life. (He said it sounded terribly cruel to go without sedation, given my physical state.)

But that was a few years ago. Now I need another sigmoidoscopy. Because I am breastfeeding and my bottom is not in shreds, my GI prefers that we go without sedation (as is the norm). And I agreed.

But that was a few days ago. Now I'm starting to freak out a bit. I am trying not to focus on it and I know it will only be five minutes or so. I've given birth twice, suffered from Crohn's, had a terrible abscess, gone through life traumas...and had minor procedures like colonoscopies (with sedation!) and several surgeries...I can handle this. I don't want to waste Canadian health care dollars. I don't want to have to pump and dump for my baby. And I want to be alert for my kids and get on with my day.

But I'm worried that I'm going to knot up over fears about what happened the very first time. In fact, when I think about the procedure, I worry that it might be like that again or that I'll be stressed and get myself into a state where it will be like that, simply due to anxiety.

What can I do to relax about this?

(Note: this is happening in a couple of days. I can't go see a therapist before then and I'm not quite THAT freaked out or I would have called my GI and begged for sedation. I just want to relax so that I don't actually cause myself pain from stress during the procedure. And, yes, I will be telling the nurse how I'm feeling.)

Tips for parenting with chronic illness

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:49:51 -0800

What are your tips for parenting small kids when you have a chronic illness? It looks like my chronic illness is coming out of remission after 3.5 years. I have children aged four and one. I'm a married stay at home mom and I have a successful, growing side business. My Crohn's Disease appears to be coming out of remission and it is probably at a 2/10 right now, in terms of how problematic it is (and compared to it's worst, which would be the 10). But it's been three weeks of this and I'm starting to get exhausted and my kids are tired of it. It's very difficult to be even a slightly attentive parent when you're running to the washroom for 10 minutes of every 30-60, if not more. And it makes getting out and doing normal things a bit of a challenge.

If it was just me, this flare up would be a downer, but not unbearable. It's just that learning how to manage this as a parent is the tricky bit. I try not to think about what I'll do if I become sicker. I try to focus on getting well and being the best parent I can be.

My husband and I do not have family nearby. I don't have any childcare, other than a couple of hours of preschool. I don't really want my kids in daycare or with a nanny. That's why I'm at home. But I recognize that I cannot control my illness and that I may need to consider child care if it gets worse or even stays like this for an extended period of time. (I am #300 on the waitlist for daycare and it is *incredibly* difficult to find a part-time nanny where I live.) So let us assume that, while I will explore child care options, it's not really something I can consider further. All my friends are either working or run their own businesses and can't really do more than provide very occasional emergency baby sitting.

So, ignoring child care, what are your tips for parenting small children when you're dealing with a chronic illness? I recognize that Crohn's is not the only or worst thing out there and that people parent while managing difficult health conditions all the time. But I'm new at this. So your tips are welcome. Thanks.

under the best circumstances, beans & chile can upset your stomach

Sara Anne — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:10:32 -0800

Calling all Crohnies! I'm helping to throw a traditional New Mexican dinner party for a group of students on Thursday night. We'd planned for the vegetarian contingency, but have found out that one young woman has a bad case of Crohn's Disease. I know nothing about Crohn's disease, except that the young woman in question spent part of last week in the hospital because of intense gastrointestinal distress. We have been planning to serve posole (hominy stew [veggie and meat versions]), beans with chicos (sweet corn), and fideos (vermicelli cooked with tomatoes and onions). All things that could add distress for her, I fear.

So what advice can the Crohn's sufferers give me? What do you eat when you go to Mexican restaurants? Do you go to Mexican restaurants? I'd like to make sure she felt included in the evening.

Can NSAID reaction look like Crohn's?

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:11:08 -0800

Medical/pharm filter: Could use of NSAIDs end up looking like Crohn's or IBD? (Warning: contains potentially gross descriptions of Crohn's.) I've suffered with GI tract problems since my early teens. I started using Ibuprofen in my late teens or early 20s. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in my early 20s. Tests showed ulceration and I frequently had bleeding. In my mid-20s, I was put on an NSAID (Alleve) to control some migraine problems. That entire year, I was in and out of the ER with bowel problems, especially bleeding and blood in the stool. I ended up with a fistula and an abscess, following by surgery. THings settled down and, aside from bouts of diarrhea (which could be just IBS, I suppose), I was fine. A few years later, I had a baby and was given Voltaren, an NSAID, which is contraindicated for people with Crohn's and IBD. I started having bloody diarrhea right after the birth and then a Crohn's flare up caused ulceration of a perineal tear. My GI explained that I should not have ever been given Voltaren suppository, since it is an NSAID. I don't think I was ever told to avoid NSAIDs before that. My GP, OB and a few other doctors were stunned to hear that Crohn's patients should not have NSAIDs.

Aside from occasional bouts of "normal" diarrhea, my Crohn's has gone into remission. Scopes and tests show that all the ulceration has gone away. Even when I had the flare up after childbirth, all the internal ulceration was gone and the external ulceration was around the tear.

I am expecting another baby. Because of the problems healing, my team of doctors has recommended a C-section. After researching childbirth & Crohn's and going through what I went through before, I absolutely agree with them. (Among other things, I don't want a recto-vaginal fistula, let alone any of the things I experienced last time.)

However, is it at all possible that I don't have Crohn's and that all the problems have been caused by NSAIDs so far? Could it just be a repeated reaction to NSAIDs?

I know you are not my doctor and that you are probably not a doctor. However, I can't get in to see a GI for 2-3 months and I wouldn't mind some info right now. I'm also not sure if I could get referred to a GI just to ask that question.

What are some Basic (higher-pH) beverages?

chrisamiller — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 17:22:52 -0800

Digestive chemistry: I have a mild case of Crohn's disease, and one of the things that seems to exacerbate my condition is eating or drinking things that are highly acidic. Other than milk, what are some higher-pH drinks that I can use to replace corrosive beverages like soda, coffee, and cranberry juice? Water is the obvious choice, and I drink lots of it, but I crave flavor once in a while. Unfortunately, beer is out too, as I'm looking for something I can drink at work.:)

Remicade?

Neiltupper — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 17:09:23 -0800

Remicade? I have a child whose Crohn's disease has proved refractory to most standard medications (except prednisone, but that's not a viable long term treatment). It seems that Remicade is the next step. I've read extensively about epidemiological studies about this medication, but I'm looking for anecdotal accounts of individuals' experiences with it. Any MeFites able to help? My email is in my profile if you would prefer to contact me that way

Mars Needs Protein!

Servo5678 — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 15:35:08 -0800

I'm going to be on an all-liquid diet for an undetermined amount of time in order to give my diseased and angry intestines a break. What are some good sources of protein that can be taken in liquid form? Here's the catch: due to my medical condition (ten years with Crohn's Disease) I am on a very restricted diet. I cannot digest any of the following: dairy products (including lactose and whey), fruits, vegetables, nuts, highly acidic drinks, caffeine, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, and a bunch of other minor things.

My liquid diet consists of water, cranberry juice, vanilla Equate (Wal-Mart's non-dairy Ensure), caffeine-free flat Coca-Cola, original green Gatorade, and sucking on hard candies until they dissolve. I take a ton of vitamins everyday as well as B12 injections. I need a source of protein in order to keep up with my daily life. Can anyone recommend such a thing that does not include ingredients from the restricted list?