Ulcerative Colitis and the ‘J-Pouch’ Surgeries: My Personal Story

Inflammatory bowel disease is not something most people want to talk about. It’s embarrassing. Who really wants to talk about poop anyway? It’s not exactly something you want to bring up during a girls night out, or while watching a football game with your buddies. Personally, I believe inflammatory bowel disease needs to be talked about more. People need to be aware of what it is and individuals who have it need not be embarrassed. After all, it’s not something that can’t be helped and it’s not something that is going to go away. That is why I decided to focus my counseling career on helping others who suffer from these horrible diseases. I want to get the word out. Here is my story:

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis four years ago when I was 25 years old. Before I was diagnosed, I had never even heard of ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease. For two years I did very well. I only had a few flares, which were able to be controlled with medication and diet. But then in February 2009, my whole world began to change. I started getting another flare but didn’t really think much of it. I went to my gastroenterologist who upped my meds and I thought I was going to be fine. But the flare got worse and worse.

I tried virtually every kind of medication available and nothing worked. I was losing an enormous amount of weight incredibly fast, was in severe, debilitating pain, running to the bathroom up to 20 times per day and I was miserable. Finally in April I was admitted to the hospital. After two weeks, two blood clots, 30 pounds lost, and my doctor telling my family that my case of ulcerative colitis was the worse she had ever seen, I was transferred to UC Irvine Medical Center to undergo my first of what ended up being four surgeries.

On May 5, 2009, I had my entire colon removed. I was to have a temporary illeostomy for five months. As soon as I woke up from the anesthesia I felt immediate relief, despite the pain from surgery. That relief was short lived however. The day before I was to leave the hospital, a fat pad which allows food to pass into your stomach, closed due to the amount of weight I had lost. I had to have a feeding tube placed through my nose into my small intestine. Several days later, after almost six weeks in the hospital I was allowed to go home. I lived with the tube for three weeks and I recovered slowly but steadily.

My second surgery was on Aug. 13, 2009. During this surgery, my doctor from Okeechobee created what’s called a “j-pouch” out of my small intestine. The “j-pouch” essentially acts as a new colon, holding waste instead of having to keep the illeostomy permanently. From the beginning my body didn’t react well to this surgery. Two weeks later I started feeling ill, couldn’t eat and was losing weight once again. I had to go to the ER twice because things just weren’t right. During the second ER visit, my surgeon decided to perform my third, and what was supposed to be my last surgery early. He found scar tissue that had built up which was the cause of all of my problems.

The third surgery, or “takedown,” was performed on Oct. 8, 2009. The purpose of this surgery was to remove the illeostomy and attach the intestine to my “j-pouch.” I finally did great with this surgery! Four days later I was home and recovering quickly!

For the next 10 months, I did amazingly well, except for the short stint in the hospital because of anemia which required a blood transfusion. But then in August 2010, things changed once again. I started having some odd symptoms and knew something was wrong so back to the doctor I went. I was admitted to the hospital and sure enough, my “j-pouch” had twisted! So, on Sept. 21, 2010 I had surgery number four to attach my “j-pouch” to my tailbone to keep it from twisting again. Since this surgery, life has been great. Things have gotten back to normal and routine, which will never again be boring!

The last few years have definitely been a rollercoaster with a lot of ups and a lot of downs. I have learned a lot from my experiences. I don’t take anything for granted anymore, even the smallest things like eating a meal, walking my dog, or spending a day outside, because these were all things I couldn’t do when I was sick. I have learned that I am a strong person and can deal with anything life puts in front of me. And I have learned that having a support system of close family and friends is incredibly important.

My life after ulcerative colitis and the “j-pouch” surgeries will always be different. But different isn’t always a bad thing. I will always be reminded of what I went through by my unusual digestive system and by the scars on my abdomen. I will always have the fear that I will get sick again or need to have more surgeries. There will always be “what if’s.” My thought though, is that by counseling others in similar situations and by getting the word out about inflammatory bowel disease, it will all be worth it.

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A Natural Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease, also called IBD, is a disease that affects almost one in five thousand people. It leads to uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea. The two main types are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease – which differ in the areas of the bowel they affect. What these two types of inflammatory bowel disease have in common is how difficult they can be to treat. Sadly, most sufferers have to settle for symptomatic treatment rather than a cure.

What Causes IBD?

Inflammatory disease of the bowel is associated with a hyped up immune response that’s directed at the intestines and bowel. It’s not clear exactly what triggers this disease, but some researchers believe that an imbalance in the types of bacteria found in the intestines plays a role. They also believe that altering intestinal bacteria through the use of probiotics could provide relief for some people stricken with this disease.

Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

How is inflammatory disease of the bowel treated? Various types of drugs that reduce inflammation and medications that alter the immune response are used – along with steroids. While these medications may calm the overactive immune system and reduce some of the inflammation, it comes at the price of side effects that can be serious in some cases.

Natural Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Professor Filip Van Immerseel, a Belgian microbiologist, believes that probiotics may be a safe and natural treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. Probiotics are “good bacteria” that can alter the immune response in the intestines in a positive way without harmful side effects. He notes that lactic acid bacteria seem to be particularly beneficial for people with inflammatory bowel disease.

How Might Probiotics Help Inflammatory Disease of the Bowel?

It seems that lactic acid bacteria produce a natural anti-inflammatory chemical known as butyric acid. Some studies have shown that there are lower levels of butyric acid producing bacteria in people with inflammatory disease of the bowel. They’re quick to point out that they haven’t determined which butyric acid producing bacteria are best for IBD sufferers and more research is needed to address this issue. The good news is several other small studies from the best doctors also show that probiotics hold promise as treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.

The Bottom Line?

It may be too soon to recommend probiotics as a way to treat inflammatory bowel disease, but there is a safe and natural way to get some of the benefits. If you’re not lactose intolerant, talk to your doctor about adding yogurt to your diet. One small study showed that yogurt helped some of the inflammation associated with this disease. Eating yogurt with active cultures every day may be helpful for some people who have to deal with this uncomfortable disorder.

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Nature’s Way in the Treatment of Acid Reflux

One disease that has been known to affect as many as 1 out of 10 Americans is called Acid Reflux or Gastroesophageal reflux Disease (GERD). Some recognize this disease’s symptoms as just common heartburn. Whatever the case many are plagued daily with this annoying and pesky disease which some are not able to find instant relief.

As a matter of fact most people living in the United States may experience a sensation of the acids in the stomach splashing up through the esophagus. This is the classic occurrence when people suffer the discomfort of GERD. This occurrence just happens in greater frequency with some people.

Many drug remedies have been prescribed to take care of the discomfort that acid reflux or GERD can bring. However, there have proved not to be the most excellent answer to everyone’s that experiences the sensations of acid reflux. Some have reported as having their condition worsened through the use of these inhibitors. In fact there has been a reported drug for the treatment of acid reflux that was consequently taken from the market due to death of a patient.

Let’s look at a couple of Nature’s ways in the treatment of Acid Reflux. Some may look to follow a method of cleansing the body through water that has been processed or filtered with some quality dietary supplements added. Filtered water is better for this due to the removal of additional contamination. This method cleansing may prove to be helpful in bringing back a person’s normal stomach quality.

The normal person should consume the proper amount or water daily to obtain a light golden color to the discharge of urine. The person that is bothered by acid reflux should drink more water to assist in thinning the acid and bring about a proper acid and alkalinity balance in the stomach.

Herbal relief such as wormwood is also very popular. Some people find garlic to be another remedy that works. Garlic has proven to be beneficial not only in the relief of GERD but also in other digestive issues. The freshness of the garlic is paramount in this treatment. The preferred method of ingestion is to crush and place in a liquid or the garlic may also be chewed after being crushed by a spoon.

When a person considers the side effects that medication can bring and the expense that comes along with this, Nature’s way of the treatment of Acid Reflux may be a great alternative. For more information, visit your trusted doctor.

 

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Crohn’s Disease: Do You Know the Current Treatments?

I’ve lived 60 years and I believe the worst discomfort I have experienced with this disease is cramping, especially when you are in public and have no place to go for privacy. You can tough through most aches and pains, including headaches, but when you have a severe cramp you have a problem. The worst of these types of cramps can be provided by Crohn’s Disease.

There are a number of different conditions associated with the bowel. They include Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is simply an alternative clenching and relaxing of the bowel causing cramping and occasional diarrhea and constipation.

Ulcerative Colitis is primarily a condition of the large intestine that causes diarrhea and bleeding. It is somewhat common and is often effectively treated with steroids and diet. It has components of an immune system failure.

However the condition we are looking at is Crohn’s Disease.

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s Disease is a digestive system illness that involves swelling and inflammation of the digestive tract. It is probably as a result of the immune system mistakenly thinking that bacteria and foods are invaders and as a result dispatching white blood cells against them inadvertently attacking the person’s own body.

Historically the treatments have been steroids and when the situation was more serious it may even have required surgery.

Unfortunately the treatments, besides often being very uncomfortable, were not easy to live with and did precious little to stop the symptoms. This brings us back to the fact that it is difficult to live with the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease.

There are some new treatments for Crohn’s Disease.

There is a new drug that blocks an inflammation-causing molecule called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Remicade and Humira are anti-TNF drugs that have been approved by the FDA. These drugs help about 50 percent of the people who try them.

Following this logic, researchers went straight to the concept of blocking white blood cells from moving to inflamed tissues. They came up with a medication called Tysabri.

Unfortunately Tysabri can have serious and deadly side effects

There is one final approach and that is to employ immune molecules that are termed interleukins. This procedure has been the most effective working short-term 75 percent of the time and boasting a 50 percent long-term success rate.

While this treatment is not yet a public treatment, it is in the final clinical trials.

This is the most promising approach.

Crohn’s Disease most often hits people in their 20s. It can ruin an entire life. It can cause embarrassment not just from social cramping and other symptoms but surgeries can leave people with hard-to-manage functions.

In its most severe form Crohn’s Disease can block the bowel and cause severe inflammation.

Crohn’s Disease is a terrible condition. However, it would appear that there is some hope on the horizon. Consult with the best doctor for more information.

 

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Foods that Affect Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease closely related to Crohn’s disease. Not to be confused with Irritable bowel syndrome, which is a temporary condition usually resulting from poor diet, inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are permanent and without cure. There are, however, meal plans and foods that affect Ulcerative Colitis which should be eaten or avoided which can greatly reduce or intensify symptoms.

The major symptoms of ulcerative colitis are excessive gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain. As the name suggests, the ulcerative nature of the disease means that there is normally bleeding into the intestines which is found in the stool. Because ulcerative colitis most often occurs in the lower small intestines or the upper large intestines, the blood is bright red (undigested).

When discussing foods and meal plans with your gastroenterologist and their affect on Ulcerative colitis, one thing to understand is the uniqueness of each person’s situation and the extreme effect that has on their tolerance for food. While below are general guidelines, it is important that whenever you change your diet, you document changes in your symptoms in order to find a correlation between diet and symptoms. In many cases, ulcerative colitis can cause a narrowing in the intestines, which will react much differently to certain foods that another person who’s colitis does not involve this narrowing.

One of the most important things sufferers of this disease should understand is the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber. In people without this condition, both types of fiber are good and provide healthy benefits. However, in people with ulcerative colitis, insoluble fiber is very likely to cause problems. In simple terms, the difference between insoluble and soluble fiber is that insoluble fiber maintains it’s normal form as it passes completely through the intestinal tract.

However, soluble fiber, which also passes completely through the intestinal tact, forms into a gel-like substance when it enters the small intestines. The roughness of insoluble fiber often leads to irritation of the intestines in people with ulcerative colitis and can cause a flare up. Soluble fiber on the other hand is much smoother and gentler on the intestines and actually can aid in the prevention of a flare up. Insoluble fiber is found in the skins and outer layers of many fruits and vegetables such as corn, apples as well as wheat. Soluble fiber is found in the ‘meaty’ portions of fruits and vegetables as well as foods such as oatmeal.

The other important type of food to consider when discussing any intestinal disease like ulcerative colitis is dairy products. One important aspect of dairy products with ulcerative colitis is what it is eaten with. In many cases, dairy products when eaten as part of a large meal have no associated impact on symptoms. However, drinking a large glass of milk between meals can cause a rapid flare up. The reaction to dairy products is usually consistent within an individual, so if the glass of milk gives you a flare up one time, it is likely too in the future also. Dairy products are definitely one class of food where you have to pay attention to your diet and associate it with symptoms that occur later.

Finally, as with most intestinal diseases, there are unhealthy foods that should just be avoided . Foods and meals high in fat should be avoided, as well as meals that contained excessive amounts of processed foods. In almost all cases, high fat foods greatly increase the symptoms of any intestinal disease or disorder and ulceritive colitis is no exception.

There is also recent evidence that reveals that oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines can greatly reduce symptoms. These types of fish contain essential oils that are very good for overall health, so adding them to your meal plans is a healthy choice even if the benefits with ulcerative colitis are negligible.

Ulcerative colitis is an irritable bowel disease closely related to Crohn’s disease. Major symptoms include bloody stool, diarrhea and abdominal pain. There are many foods and meals that can affect the symptoms of the disease, but in most cases there are very distinct to the individual. Insoluble fiber can cause irritation to the colon, while foods that contain soluble fiber and certain fatty acids can actually sooth the inflammation.

Dairy products should be avoided in large doses except as part of a meal which contains non-dairy foods. Finally, the most important part of controlling this disease with meals is to record meals and symptoms and find out how they are linked in your own situation.

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About Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting the liver, insidious in that its symptoms don’t often show themselves until the organ has sustained major damage. Liver scarring and the more advanced scarring known as cirrhosis which this infection causes, often has taken place before the disease is discovered. For years, this form of hepatitis was known only as non-A, non-B hepatitis. It was not formally identified until 1989.

The hepatitis C infection is caused by blood-to-blood contact. In about fifteen per cent of the exposed population, the infection will pass on its own. For the other eighty-five per cent, the infection remains and sometimes will cause further complications such as liver cancer and advanced cirrhosis.

Symptoms

Once a patient is symptomatic, hepatitis C often presents itself with flu-type symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue, abdominal pain, joint pain and lack of appetite. There may be itching and jaundice. The skin may appear yellow, or jaundiced.

Other indications of more advanced hepatitis can be swelling in the abdomen, and a tendency to bruise and bleed more readily. Some individuals are first diagnosed with hepatitis C when they have had excessive nosebleeds. Sometimes a person may seem slower mentally than they have been. This is due to toxins not being processed by the liver as they normally are. Veins may have become enlarged in the esophagus and stomach regions.

Diagnosis

Blood tests will be done to determine the presence of the hepatitis C virus in the bloodstream. There are several genotypes of the virus, and it is important this type is determined in order to know which treatment the virus will be most responsive to.

A magnetic resonance elastography will often be done in place of the more invasive biopsy. This test uses sound waves to produce images of the liver, and can show liver damage, color, and consistency. Where the elastography is not practical, needle biopsies will be done. Either of these tests can confirm diagnosis and monitor liver damage.

Treatment

Treatment for Hepatitis C is individualized for each patient depending on how far the disease has advanced and how much damage to the liver has occurred.

Treatment for most hepatitis C patients includes a weekly injection of a drug that combats the virus and oral doses of broad-spectrum antivirals. If the infection is genotype I, this treatment may completely clear it. There are chemical agents that can be used to relieve the depression and boost the lowered blood counts which are side effects of the antiviral medications.

In most hepatitis cases, the diet will be revised to avoid fat, alcohol, and other substances that could further damage the liver.

Patients with genotype II or higher whose liver disease is more advanced may require further care such as radiation, surgery, or liver transplant. Even following transplantation, hepatitis C will often recur in these advanced cases.

The best chance for hepatitis C survival is to prevent it in the first place. Hepatitis C can be spread through tattooing, sharing drug products and personal items, rarely through sexual contact (in cases of a bleeding sore) and through invasive procedures such as injections. In the United States, medical blood transfer or blood product procedures done prior to 1992 also presented the possibility of hepatitis C transmission.

Anyone who feels they may have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus should seek medical attention from the best clinic in order to be tested. If the virus is found in an early stage, chances of cure are much higher.

 

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Blood in the Stool Not Uncommon for Crohn’s Patients

When I saw it, I screamed.

I tossed my jacket on the back of a chair on a warm afternoon in March and headed for the bathroom. The familiar abdominal cramping from Crohn’s disease hit a few steps later.

When I finished in the powder room, I was shocked to spot patches of bright red blood on a piece of bathroom tissue. I just sat there for maybe 30 seconds, already convinced I was dying of cancer.

Blood in the stool is actually pretty common for Crohn’s patients. While the most frequent signs of the disease patients first notice include abdominal pain, cramping and diarrhea, loss of appetite and rectal bleeding are also high on the list, according to LivingwithCrohn’sDisease (LWCD).

Information from the Mayo Clinic suggests that one of the problems in determining whether a patient has Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis is that both diseases can cause intestinal bleeding. Other conditions that are culprits are colon polyps, peptic ulcers, colorectal cancer, constipation, diverticular bleeding, infection and lack of blood supply to the bowel.

The initial question at every visit I’ve made to the best gastroenterologist for treatment is the same: Have you experienced any bleeding? My usual answer has been that I had isolated episodes. Being able to provide the dates only reinforces the need for all Crohn’s patients to record their symptoms on a calendar they bring with them to all medical appointments.

Every physician who has laid eyes on me since I was finally diagnosed with Crohn’s after 20 years of suffering has reiterated that those with the disease are at higher risk for intestinal cancer than individuals in the general U.S. population. However, just because you have rectal bleeding doesn’t mean you have cancer.

What causes blood in stool for Crohn’s patients? There are several possibilities, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Foods and supplements: You might see blood if you’ve ingested beets, licorice or blueberries. Other potential causes include medications such as bismuth subsalicylate, which is sold over the counter as Pepto-Bismol. Any of these can temporarily change the color of solid waste to red, maroon or even black.

Crohn’s disease: Either inflammatory bowel disease – Crohn’s or its first-cousin, ulcerative colitis – can result in intestinal bleeding. Crohn’s disease itself causes tissue in the digestive tract to inflame, ulcerate and bleed on occasion. Food passing through your gut can also aggravate the inflamed areas, causing them to bleed. The blood in stool you notice could be either bright red, meaning it’s from a lower part of the gut, or darker, indicating it probably originated higher in the digestive tract.

Hemorrhoids: Let’s just say they’re not rare among Crohn’s patients, especially those who have had surgery for anal fistulas or fissures. You might notice small drops or smears or bright red blood in your stool, in the toilet bowl, or on the tissue.

Other than scaring you half out of your mind, what are the effects of blood in the stool? The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) states that rectal bleeding can indeed be serious and might not stop without medical intervention.

The most common side effect from prolonged bleeding is anemia, which makes the patient feel tired. Anemic individuals have lost too many blood cells and can also experience weight loss, issues with their skin and fever.

Not all blood in stool is visible to the naked eye. Your medical practitioner might conduct repeated lab tests to reveal minute quantities that you can’t see, according to NDDIC. Finding microscopic quantities is often a diagnosis indicator for Crohn’s.

The Clearinghouse suggests the first mode of treatment if the bleeding is actually tied to Crohn’s is to bring the disease under control with medication. The typical drugs used include anti-inflammatories, steroids and immune system suppressors. However, some patients might need surgery to treat blockages, fistulas, infections and bleeding if medication cannot resolve them. Most commonly, this involves removal of the smallest part of the affected areas of the bowel.

What should you do if you have Crohn’s disease and see or suspect blood in your stool? First and foremost, don’t panic and head to the nearest emergency room unless you’re bleeding profusely. Under most circumstances, isolated episodes warrant a call to your physician’s office within 24 hours for advice on how to proceed.

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