A new relationship

As of today, im officially in a new relationship.  Hes sweet,  intelligent,  and understands my health and wants the best for me. I just need prayers that this will work. I dont want another broken heart.

My many moods

Its hot. Im flaring. Heres my moods of the day for a little laugh

ER Visit

Well I had a black tarry watery stool and have been in a lot of pain lately so I decided to be on the safe side and go on to the hospital. All the tests came out clear. No surprise.  My symptoms always precede my test results.  They didn't see any bleeding. My gi was on call so he came to the er to see me. He put my on cipro and Flagyl to be safe. And gave me more Norco but said he didnt want to. I know they're addictive.  Im not stupid. But how else do I deal with so much pain I can barely walk?? Ugh. So frustrating!

Chemotherapy for Crohn's Disease

Chemotherapy for Crohn’s Disease

Learn how certain chemotherapy drugs, including 6-MP, Remicade, and Methotrexate, can benefit people with Crohn's disease.

Chemotherapy involves treating an illness using chemicals and has long been among the most successful treatments for patients with various forms of cancer. Certain forms of chemotherapy also have been effective for autoimmune disorders like Crohn’s disease.

6-MP

Administered orally, usually in tablet form, mercaptopurine, also known as 6-MP, is among the more popular chemotherapy treatments used for Crohn’s sufferers. 6-MP has been classified as an antimetabolite, a drug that interferes with metabolic action. Although antimetabolites have been found to be effective in the treatment of Crohn’s, they’ve been associated with side effects, too.

As with traditional forms of chemotherapy, the side effects of 6-MP can be difficult to handle. Extreme side effects include a temporary reduction in white and red blood cell count, which can increase your risk of infection and anemia. Liver problems and traditional chemotherapy side effects like nausea and vomiting may occur.

Methotrexate

Methotrexate is another popular Crohn’s prescription that has roots in chemotherapy treatments. Originally used for breast cancer patients, methotrexate is also used as chemotherapy for lymphoma and leukemia, among other illnesses. For treatment of autoimmune disorders, the dosage is lowered to a safer level.

Administered once a week, either orally or via injection, methotrexate blocks cell production, making it effective in controlling the inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease.  Methotrexate’s side effects include a reduction in blood cells produced by bone marrow, which can lead to complications. Methotrexate patients may be required to be tested occasionally to ensure adequate blood count. Patients taking methotrexate will often receive blood tests every two months to test liver function and creatinine levels in the urine to test for kidney function. Lung scarring is possible, so patients may be asked to watch for issues such as persistent coughing or trouble breathing.

Remicade (infliximab) (, a TNF blocker) often used in treating Crohn’s disease, has been reclassified as a chemotherapy drug because it requires special safety standards by the facilities that use it. It also falls into this category because it works by blocking proteins created by blood cells in your body.

Remicade is administered via IV, in a medical facility during an appointment that can take hours. Remicade is often used in more severe Crohn’s patients because it carries a lymphoma cancer risk, mostly among younger patients who take it. It also carries a risk of tuberculosis, which has sometimes been fatal among Crohn’s sufferers taking the drug.

Some people have experienced allergic reactions to Remicade, and a few have reported lupus-like symptoms, including chest or joint pains, shortness of breath, and rashes. If you begin to experience these side effects, your doctor may choose to either change your dosage or take you off the drug altogether.

Cyclosporine

Cyclosporine, also used in chemotherapy, has shown to be effective for Crohn’s sufferers. Like other medications used in the treatment of Crohn’s, cyclosporine decreases the body’s immune response.

Cyclosporine is traditionally used to prevent rejection during organ or bone marrow transplants.  Although it’s still unproven in the treatment of Crohn’s, the theory in using it is that weakening the body’s immune response will result in a lessening of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Some Crohn’s patients suffer from fistulas, abnormal connections in the intestines that can create discharge, fever, pain, and itching. Cyclosporine has had success in closing the resulting openings.  Some of the more severe side effects of cyclosporine include blood in the urine, high blood pressure, and kidney and liver problems. Because cyclosporine has such severe side effects, it’s rarely used to treat Crohn’s.

In 1997, researchers conducted a trial to determine if antituberculous chemotherapy worked in patients suffering from Crohn’s. The basis for this test was the theory that mycobacterium paratuberculosis is the cause of Crohn’s—a theory that has not been proven.

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is a bacterial infection originates from the milk, feces, and meat of infected cattle. Some believe that the bacteria isn’t killed off during the cooking process and infects the humans who eat it, leading to Crohn’s.

Researchers hoped to eradicate Crohn’s disease in test subjects by using antituberculous chemotherapy, a tuberculosis treatment. However, the two-week trial found no change in Crohn’s patients participating in the study. At the end of the study, researchers concluded no detectable link between mycobacterium paratuberculosis and Crohn’s disease.

Copyright © 2005 - 2015 Healthline Networks, Inc. All rights reserved for Healthline. Healthline is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Terms of Use |Privacy Policy

Crohn's VS Ulcerative Colitis

The Difference Between Crohn’s, UC, and IBD

Part 1 of 5

Many people are confused when it comes to the differences between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis (UC). The short explanation is that IBD is the umbrella term for the condition under which both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis fall. But there is, of course, much more to the story.

Both Crohn’s and UC are marked by an abnormal response by the body’s immune system, and they may share some symptoms. However, there are important differences as well. These distinctions primarily include the location of the maladies in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the way each disease responds to treatment. Understanding these features is key to obtaining a proper diagnosis from a gastroenterologist.

Part 2 of 5

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD was seldom seen before the rise of improved hygiene and urbanization at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, it’s still found mainly in developed countries such as the United States. Like other autoimmune and allergic disorders, it’s believed that a lack of germ resistance development has partly contributed to diseases such as IBD.

In people with IBD, the immune system mistakes food, bacteria, or other materials in the GI tract for foreign substances and responds by sending white blood cells into the lining of the bowels. The result of the immune system's attack is chronic inflammation. The word inflammation itself comes from the Greek word for flame. It literally means "to be set on fire."

Crohn’s and UC are the most common forms of IBD. Oftentimes, the terms are interchangeable. Less common IBDs include:

microscopic colitisdiverticulosis-associated colitiscollagenous colitislymphocytic colitisBehçet's disease.

IBD may strike at any age. According to theMayo Clinic, most people with IBD are diagnosed before the age of 30. It’s more common:

in urban areasamong people in higher socioeconomic bracketsindustrialized countriesnorthern climatesin Caucasians as opposed to darker-skinned people and those of Asian descentin people who eat high-fat diets

Aside from environmental factors, genetic factors are believed to play a strong role in the development of IBD. Therefore, it’s considered to be a "complex disorder.”

Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for IBD. This is a lifelong disease, with alternating periods of remission and flare-up. Modern treatments, however, allow people to live relatively normal and productive lives.

IBD should not be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a much less serious affliction than either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. It doesn’t involve inflammation or appear to have a physiological basis.

Part 3 of 5

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease may affect any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, although it’s most often found at the end of the small intestine (small bowel) and the beginning of the colon (large bowel).

Symptoms of Crohn's disease include:

persistent diarrheacrampy abdominal painfeveroccasional rectal bleedingfatigue

Unlike with UC, Crohn's isn't limited to the GI tract. It may also affect the skin, eyes, joints, and liver. Since symptoms usually get worse after a meal, patients with Crohn's will often experience weight loss due to food avoidance.

Crohn's disease can cause blockages of the intestine due to scarring and swelling. Ulcers (sores) in the intestinal tract may develop into tracts of their own, known as fistulas. Crohn’s disease can also increase the risk for colon cancer, which is why patients must have regular colonoscopies.

Medication is the most common way to treat Crohn's disease. The five types of drugs are:

steroidsantibioticsimmune modifiers, such as azathioprine and 6-MPaminosalicylates, such as 5-ASAbiologic therapy

Some cases may also require surgery. Still, surgery will not cure Crohn’s disease.

Part 4 of 5

Unlike Crohn's, UC is confined to the colon (large bowel) and only affects the top layers in an even distribution. Symptoms of UC include:

crampy abdominal painloose stoolsbloody stoolurgent bowelfatigueloss of appetiteanemia due to blood loss (in severe cases only)

The symptoms of UC can also vary by type. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are five kinds of UC:

acute severe UC (a rare form that causes eating difficulties)left-sided colitis (affects descending colon and rectum)pancolitis (affects the whole colon and causes persistent bloody diarrhea)proctosigmoiditis (affects lower colon and rectum)ulcerative proctitis (mildest form that affects the rectum only)

With the exception of biologic therapy, treatments for the disease are the same as for Crohn's. Unlike with Crohn's, however, most patients with UC will almost never require surgery. 

Children with the disease may not develop or grow properly. Remission periods tend to be longer with UC than with Crohn's disease, and complications are far less frequent. Still, when complications do occur, they can be severe. Left untreated, UC may lead to:

holes in the coloncolon cancerliver diseaseosteoporosisblood clots

Part 5 of 5

Diagnosing IBD

There’s no doubt that IBD can significantly decrease quality of life, between uncomfortable symptoms and frequent bathroom visits. Even worse is the fact that IBD can lead to scar tissue, and even permanent damage. If you experience any unusual symptoms, it’s important to call a doctor. You may be referred to a gastroenterologist for IBD testing, such as a colonoscopy or a CT scan. Diagnosing the right form of IBD will lead to more effective therapies.

While there’s no cure for any form of IBD, early treatment and lifestyle changes can help minimize damage and complications. Treatment will also reduce the amount of symptoms.

Copyright © 2005 - 2015 Healthline Networks, Inc. All rights reserved for Healthline. Healthline is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Terms of Use |Privacy Policy

Update on my health

Im still having this flare up and it's getting worse. The nausea and urgency is getting bad.  The entocort hasnt started helping yet but I do feel like its going to.  And im not having the same side effects as with regular steroids. I like that.