Crohn's Disease and Pregnacy - Great Article for Women with Crohn's Disease

Ladies - Found this article that contains freat info for women as it relates to Crohn's Disease and pregnacy. Good info on what meds to avoid while pregnant with Crohn's as well as other potential risks.

CHROHN'S AND PREGNANCY: In the past, women with Crohn's were counseled against pregnancy. However, current medical management strategies have made childbearing safer for both mother and baby. Some medications are best avoided during pregnancy, but others are considered safe because of their long history of safe use by patients.

Resarch studies have shown that some drugs commonly used for both maintenance therapy and acute flare-ups of Crohn's are safe for pregnant women to use. They include sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), forms of mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa) and corticosteroids (Prednisone). Other drugs like azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (Cimzia) and infliximab (Remicade) appear to be safe to take during pregnancy.

Methotrexate and thalidomide are two immunosuppressive drugs that should not be used during pregnancy as they have an effect on an unborn child. Methotrexate can cause abortion and skeletal abnormalities, and it should be discontinued at least three months before conception. Thalidomide is well known for causing limb defects as well as other major organ complications in a fetus.

The severity of Crohn's symptoms that are present at conception often continue throughout pregnancy. Women are encouraged to get their disease under control and in remission before conception. They can also get their bodies prepared for a pregnancy by increasing intake of folic acid, quitting smoking, getting more exercise and eating healthier.

For women with Crohn's, the biggest factor influencing a healthy pregnancy is the state of disease activity. A planned pregnancy when Crohn's is in remission has the greatest chance for a favorable outcome. To best manage all aspects of your care during and after pregnancy, work carefully with the doctor you're seeing for Crohn's disease as well as your obstetrician and your baby's pediatrician.
BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease is a chronic, long-term illness in which the intestine, or bowel, becomes inflamed. It is part of a group of diseases known as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.
Chrones disease can affect any area of the GI tract, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum.
The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ and can cause pain, fever and diarrhea.

The disease can surface at any age, but it is most common between the ages of 15 and 30. People with Chron's disease experience periods of severe symptoms, followed by weeks or years of remission.

Treatment may include drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery or a combination of these options. The goal is to control inflammation and relieve the symptoms. Treatment can help control the disease by lowering the number of times a person experiences a recurrence, but there is no cure.

For More Information, Contact:Dana Wirth Sparks
Department of Public Affairs
The Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN(507) 538-0844
Sparks.dana@mayo.edu
http://www.mayoclinic.org

Anal Crohn's, Candles, Suppositories (Canasa) and a Poop Joke

Yeah so I guess now I have "anal Crohn's" in the form of a potential fistula. I guess that explains why I walk around with paper towels folded up between my ass cheeks and have such urgency issues. Anyways, now crohn's has given me the luxury of an excuse to shove my own fingers up my ass. So after a Corona or two the other night, I laid on the couch and lit some candles (yes, literally...I am such a romantic). After the mood was set I got the astroglide out of Amy's night stand and crammed a Canasa rectal suppository up my ass. How hot is that!? So I guess the Canasa is pretty much like a Pentasa or Asacol but it just goes up the poop chute.

Gross I know, but makes for good laughs as I have in typical fashion told this story to everyone. Gotta love Crohn's humor and poop jokes. Always a good time. So I guess this is a good time for a poop joke:

At the start of English class, the teacher asked the students to use the word, definitely, in a sentence.

Little Timmy raised his hand. The teacher pointed and said, “Yes, Timmy, can you use the word definitely in a sentence?”

Little Timmy stood and said, “The grass is definitely green.”
The teacher shook her head and replied, “No Timmy, sometimes the sun is so hot, it browns the grass, so the grass is not definitely green.”

Little Susie raised her hand and said, “The sky is definitely blue.”

“No Susie, sometimes there are clouds in the sky. So the sky is not definitely blue,” the teacher stated.

Little Johnny raised his hand.

“Yes, Johnny, can you use the word definitely in a sentence?”

“Um, well … when you break wind, does it have chunks in it?” Johnny asked as he squirmed in his seat.
“No,” the teacher replied.

Little Johnny stood and said, “Then may I be excused, because I have definitely just shit on myself.”

Stem Cell Transplant or Surgery? Meet with Dr. Shafran Tomorrow

to find out...I ran into Ira and Anita on the street today at a St. Patty's Day Parade in Winter Park (a bit early I know). Anyways after reading up on the whole stem cell and Crohn's thing I am nervous as hell for this appointment. However with nothing really working medication wise (Pentasa/6MP, Asacol, Remicade, Humira, etc), I am down to either letting it go until a major flare up, Surgery or this whole Stem Cell Transplant. I will post after I meet with Dr. Shafran and his staff.

My Personal Crohn's Update

Since some of you guys have been asking....I am doing fairly well right now. I am off of the Asacol, Pentasa, 6mp, etc. I am currently only on Humira. I am due for a shot in about 5 minutes so I thought I would write. My neck is hurting, so my excercise (soccer, running, weight-lifting) is decreasing while my weight is increasing. I haven't gained too much..but a couple pounds. For those of you that don't know me. I am the rare Crohn's guy that never feels too skinny. I eat a cheeseburger and gain 3 pounds...that's just me. So when I get sick or have a Chron's flare up, (and this is sick) I like the liquid diet and weight loss portion. Anyways, my Crohn's Disease is currently under control. i am watching my diet and trying to behave. The night sweats are on and off. One night they are awful. The next night they are OK. I think I have had two good nights in a row, but the AC has been on cold and now that I have a Humira shot coming I will probably sweat tonight. ****UPDATE**** I got my Humira shot tonight and Amy pushed the plunger down on the syringe much faster than normal. This was a good thing. I got it over in 5 seconds instead of 25 and all things considered this Humira shot was significantly less painful.

Beers, Night Sweats, and Hives

Here I sit, after taking a break from reading The Great Gatsby and I feel hives breaking out on my body. Stomach, arm, back, ears. I have NO idea why. I haen't gotten them since I have been on Humira, but got them during my remicade infusions. I am baffled as to why I have them now. I had a few beers tonight and just took an ambien, so I don' want to take a benadryl. Ahh, the fun of being me! Earlier today I was able to hit the gym for weights and the treadmill before taking a 15 mile bike ride in the midday heat.

Another Humira Shot and more night sweats!

Those of you that know me laugh when I talk about getting shots for something related to my Crohn's Disease. You laugh because I have somewhere around 15 tattoos, but wimper at the thought of a quick prick with a needle. Well these Humira shots HURT! The needle itself is no big deal, but the pain as the medicine enters is pretty tough. I usually get through it thinking about tattoos or using the adreline part of it. Either way, I am off of the Asacol, 6MP, etc so I guess I should not complain too much. My next Humira injection is on the horizon. For those of you looking for more information on Humira and Crohn's Treatment, click here for the humira website.

And while I am complaining....Anyone else get the night sweats? I have them more often than not, but I sweated through my sheets twice last night. I do not entirely understand the connection between Crohn's disease and night sweats but I often (well my wife Amy does) change the sheets by 1am, then have to cover my side with towels again at 3 am. A pain in the ass...no pun intended.