Comment from: loving daughter, 65-74 Female (Caregiver)Published: August 26
I have just read several posting's and I can relate to several in the care my mother is receiving (or lack there of). She has been sick for almost three years and lost over 25 lbs. The doctors have treated her with anti-depressants and fiber. The symptons persit with swelling after the second meal of the day to the point of vomiting. She is mal-nourished and now on a liquid diet. We are pushing with the current GI doctor for some answers after several Barium x-rays and CAT scans we do not have any.
Comment from: drleac, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: May 04
I am a sufferer of Crohns Disease and more recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Double Whammy! My pain in my lower right quadrant of my stomach was so intense; I was literally bending in half. The frequency of diarrhea is still a consistent problem. (Appx. 7-10 times a day) Still losing weight; approx. 18-19 lbs. so far in almost 2 months. I was also told that I also have narrowing of small intestine, so therefore; I have been taken off any fiber, any fruit, with the exception of bananas and any skinned fruit in which skin has to be removed, and all vegetables except those are to be considered to be root vegetables, which to the best of my knowledge consists of potato, (white and sweet), beets, carrots, parsnips, and most recently discovered that onions are root vegetables. My Dr. has me on Entocort, Flagyl, and was just told to order VSL#3(Probiotics), consisting of live bacteria and germs. I have not yet started that method yet. I will be starting VSL#3 this coming week. I do not know if this information will be helpful to any of the other sufferers out there. All I know is that I am still suffering, though not quite as intense, but nonetheless, still suffering. I truly hope that something will soon help.
Comment from: 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: May 04
I developed an anal fistula that began about 4-5 inches above the anus and exited and drained through an opening in my buttocks. It would not heal and after about 2 years of dealing with this a colon rectal specialist suggested a series of surgeries (fistulotomies) to cure this, but probably would have left me incontinent of stool. A colon rectal specialist in Houston,TX (associated with a training program for colon rectal specialists) was able to cure this condition with a simple surgery that left me with full control of my sphincter muscle. A flap of intestinal wall was sewn over the hole in the rectum and it healed and I have no recurrent problems. So if you are faced with this type of problem, do not settle for numerous fistulotomies. Look further.
Comment from: Gottagogogo, 45-54 Male (Patient)Published: April 14
I have had a bloating feeling with bouts of constipation and loose stool for about the last two weeks and have been taking some supplements for some time along with a stool softener. It just seems as if it came upon me suddenly. Normally, I would contribute this to something I ate, but this just won't go away. I am drinking eight to 10 glasses of distilled water a day and taking two tsp of Benefiber each evening with a glass or two of water. It is really wearing me out, and I'm making about six to10 visits to the bathroom each day. Mostly I pass loose brown stool. I also pass lots of gas during the day and have lots of belching too.
Comment from: sassy6668, 13-18 Male (Caregiver)Published: November 13
Eight weeks ago, my 15-year-old son came home from a party having to desperately go to the bathroom. For the next two weeks, he was going to the bathroom constantly with some vomiting. He had pains in his stomach as well. He had a CAT scan to check his appendix (it wasn't his appendix) and blood work. It was not determined what was wrong. He felt OK for the next few weeks, and then it started up again. He has since had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. They took biopsies and more blood and urine tests and stool tests. Everything came out negative. The GI doctor did say that he read the CAT scan and thought there was some inflammation in the small intestine; however, it came out negative for Crohn's disease. There was a little bit of blood in the urine and also the stool. He is now scheduled for a barium X-ray. He has lost about 10 pounds. He is feeling a little better and is able to eat; however, he still has pain in the lower left side of his stomach, especially after he eats. The doctor is now asking me if he has been depressed or doesn't want to go to school, and I get the feeling that they think he might be exaggerating. My son has missed a lot of school because of this and is now very upset because he has a lot of work to make up. He is in pain and very frustrated because the doctor cannot find out what is wrong.
Comment from: JRobbins, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: November 13
I am a 42-year-old female. Here's what I have experienced: It starts with a regular stool followed by several watery stools. Once the watery stool begins, a severe burning sensation fills my abdomen. The watery stool has an acidic odor to it. I feel as though I could vomit, and I wish that I could. These symptoms last about 30 minutes to an hour. Afterward, I feel weak. This has occurred about four or five times over the last year.
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Suggested Reading on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Intestinal Problems of IBD) by Our Doctors
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
Rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Rectal bleeding may be moderate to severe and most bleeding comes from the colon, rectum, or anus. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and more.
One in every 20 people develop a kidney stone at some point in their life. A kidney stone is a hard mineral and crystalline material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones symptoms and signs are, blood in the urine and pain in the abdomen, flank (lower back), or groin. A number of different conditions can lead to kidney stones including: gout, hypercalciuria, people with inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, and hypoparathyroidism. Some medications also increase the risk of kidney stones.
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease,
primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can
affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are
common symptoms.
Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is redness or irritation of the conjunctivae, the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids and the membranes covering the whites of the eyes. These membranes react to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, allergy-provoking agents, irritants, and toxic agents.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
Liver disease can be cause by a variety of things including infection (hepatitis), diseases such as gallstones, high cholesterol or triglycerides, blood flow obstruction to the liver, and toxins (medications and chemicals). Symptoms of liver disease depends upon the cause; however, common symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and jaundice. Treatment depends upon the cause of the liver disease.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease, and together they are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment depends upon the type of ulcerative colitis diagnosed.
Pernicious anemia is a blood disorder in which the body does not make enough red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12 in the blood. Pernicious anemia can develop from a lack of a protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B12, not getting enough B12 in the diet, and certain intestinal conditions that interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12 such as Crohn's disease, celiac sprue, or ulcerative colitis. There is no cure for pernicious anemia, thus treatment is life-long.
Inflammation of the inner lining of the colon is referred to as colitis. Symptoms of the inflammation of the colon lining include diarrhea, pain, and blood in the stool. There are several causes of colitis including infection, ischemia of the colon, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, or microscopic colitis). Treatment depends on the cause of the colitis.
Juvenile arthritis (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or JRA) annually affects one child in every thousand. There are three types of JRA: pauciarticular (less than four joints affected), polyarticular (more than four joints affected), and systemic-onset (inflamed joints with high fevers and rash). Treatment of juvenile arthritis depends upon the type the child has and should focus on treating the symptoms that manifest.
Corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone and prednisolone are commonly used to treat asthma, allergic reactions, RA, and IBD. Steroids such as these do have serious drawbacks such as steroid withdrawal symptoms such as: fatigue, weakness, decreased appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Speak with your healthcare provider prior to tapering off steroid medications.
Shigellosis is a disease caused by the Shigella bacteria. Bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever are common symptoms. Mild infections usually resolve on their own. Antibiotics are used to treat more severe cases.
Bronchiectasis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes of the lung become damaged. Inflammation from infection or other causes destroys the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes. Bronchiectasis is a form of COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis). There are three primary types of bronchiectasis: 1) cylindrical bronchiectasis; 2) saccular bronchiectasis; and 3) cystic bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis may also be acquired or congenital. The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis are recurrent cough and sputum production. There is no cure for bronchiectasis. Treatment is often geared toward controlling the symptoms of bronchiectasis.
Abdominal adhesions (scar tissue) bands of scar tissue that form between abdominal organs and tissues. Symptoms of abdominal adhesions are pelvic or abdominal pain. Abdominal adhesions on the intestines can cause bowel obstruction, which is a medical emergency. Treatment for abdominal adhesions is generally surgery to cut the adhesions away from the internal tissues and organs. There is no way to prevent abdominal adhesions.
Brain lesions (lesions on the brain) are caused by trauma, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancers, other diseases, stroke, bleeding, pituitary adenomas, and cerebral palsy. Symptoms of brain lesions include headache, nausea, fever, neck pain and stiffness, affected vision and speech, weakness or paralysis to one side of the body. Diagnosis of brain lesions is generally with imaging studies like CT or MRI scans. Treatment and prognosis of brain lesions depends on the cause of the lesion.
Scleritis is inflammation of the white part of the eye. It may be caused by a serious underlying condition, such as an autoimmune disease. Symptoms include redness, pain, tearing, sensitivity to light, and decreased visual acuity. Treatment may include eye drops as well as treatment for any underlying disease process. Scleritis cannot be prevented.
Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called
Shigella. Most who are infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and
stomach cramps starting a day or two after they are exposed to the bacteria. The
diarrhea is often bloody. Shigellosis usually resolves in 5 to 7 days. Persons
with shigellosis in the United States rarely require hospitalization. A severe
infection with high fever may be associated with seizures in children less than
2 years old. Some persons who are infected may have no symptoms at all, but may
still pass the Shigella bacteria to others.
What sort of germ is Shigella?
The Shigella germ is actually a family of bacteria that can cause diarrhea in
humans. They are microscopic living creatures that pass from person to person.
Shigella were discovered over 100 years ago by a Japanese scientist named Shiga,
for wh...
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I have just read several posting's and I can relate to several in the care my mother is receiving (or lack there of). She has been sick for almost three years and lost over 25 lbs. The doctors have treated her with anti-depressants and fiber. The symptons persit with swelling after the second meal of the day to the point of vomiting. She is mal-nourished and now on a liquid diet. We are pushing with the current GI doctor for some answers after several Barium x-rays and CAT scans we do not have any.