[nauticalstar420]

I saw a post earlier about Crohn's Disease, and it made me think of a question.

My mother has Crohn's Disease. A pretty bad case actually. How likely is it that me or one of my children will get it?

My little brother also has Diabetes. How likely is it that me or one of my children will get that? Is it likely that I will get it since its in my generation?

[J_9]

The chance is high that you may get crohn's disease because your mother has it. Now your brother, does he have Type II or Type I? Type I is usually diagnosed in childhood, so the risk of you getting this is rather low. Type II would be lower too as this is a sibling and not a parent that has Diabetes. If you have not, you need to let your doctor know that you do have a familial history of these two disorders.

I am sorry your family has to go through this. While diabetes can be managed and is not nearly the serious condition it was in the past, Crohn's Disease can be very debilitating.

[nauticalstar420]

Well my grandfather on my dad's side had diabetes, so I'm assuming that's where my brother got it from. He has Type I. He wad diagnosed when he was 16. I was told I had borderline diabetes when I was younger but apparently I'm fine now.

Is Crohn's something that can necissarily kill you? Or is it just more of a nuisance? You can be honest :)

[templelane]

My mum had Ulcerative Colitis so I read the Chrone's and colitis newsletters and the research so far is very indecisive - there doesn't appear to be a very strong link although there may be one. It's not very clear cut at all, I think the immune system components which can lead to Chrone's are definitely hereditary but its not like height or eye colour, it's such a large group of genes (unidentified). It's just such a complex disease, yes malfunctioning of the immune system is involved which is controlled by genes, which are inherited so you could say it is but it is really not that simple at all.

Right as for diabetes is it type I or II? Type II has a genetic link, however it isn't a guarantee it is a predisposition a good healthy lifestyle/ diet and exercise will help prevent the development of this disease. Type I also has a strong hereditary component, but there is nothing much you can do to prevent it.

Right I'm in a rush so I'll post up links and references later when I get time! Don't worry too much, compaired other common disorders they are some of the most manageble. Also there is absolutely no sense in worring about things you cannot prevent/change.

[nauticalstar420]

Wow thanks for all that info. I'm not worried about it I was just curious :) But you're right, there is no sense in worrying about something that you can't change

[J_9]

Crohn's won't kill you like, say, cancer will, but it is a very serious disease nonetheless.

As I am sure you know it is a disorder of the intestinal tract, it causes what is called skip-lesions of the intestines giving them a cobblestone-like appearance. Absorption of necessary nutrients lessens as the lesions expand.

Here is a great website from the National Institute of Health on Crohn's Disease you may want to check out.

[nauticalstar420]

Thank you so much! I want to rate you but it won't let me :( I guess I've rated you recently

[templelane]

I have fourth year med student here who says, "Chrones disease can kill you if not properly managed - but then so can any disease. If you have regualar medical contact and follow your doctors advice it can have minimal impact upon your life." Good luck and remember this is a comman condition and you wouldn't be alone.

CCFA.org: Home

[J_9]

Yes, Crohn's can kill if not properly managed, but so can just about anything. Even diabetes.

[nauticalstar420]

They just discovered that my mother also has a hole in her intestine. Was this caused by the Crohns? The hole is causing like a big bubble on her stomach that drains nasty stuff every once in a while. She goes in for a colonoscopy next week, I'm assuming to locate the hole. She goes in for infusions every month to tame the Crohns but she skipped one in February because it was on the same day as my dad's funeral, so she got it about two weeks late. That's when the hole situation started.

[J_9]

I am not sure if that was the cause of the "hole" or not. It is very possible. This could be Ulcerative Colitis that Templelane was speaking of.

When you say it drains nasty stuff I can only assume you mean the acid?

[nauticalstar420]

I don't know what it is, I can only describe what she describes to me. She lives in California, I live in Florida :( But she says its greenish and smells really bad. Sometimes it will pour out of her stomach, other times it'll just barely drain.

[J_9]

Greenish? Smells bad?

Hmmm, that leads me to think that it may be pseudamonas. A bacterial infection.

You also say it will pour out of her stomach. Does she have a colostomy? Where does it come out of?

[nauticalstar420]

I'm nt sure what a colostomy is, but she says it comes out of or around her bellybutton. It sounds really weird to me.

[J_9]

A colostomy is where they remove a portion of your intestines and basically you have a hole in your stomach where your bowel eliminates into a bag that is changed periodically. Apparently your mother does not have that.

I am now beginning to wonder if she may have an umbillical hernia? She really needs to get this checked out as the color and odor signifies infection.

[nauticalstar420]

She has been to the doctor a million times for this and they have told her nothing. They keep telling her they can't find anything wrong with her. With her stomach draining I don't see how they can't find anything. She goes to the doc all the time and walks out with the same answer every time. Her regular doctor sent her to a specialist that wasn't doing anything for her, so her doc sent her to a new specialist. She has an appt. coming up with him so hopefully he can find out what's wrong.

[J_9]

A culture of this stuff should be taken to see exactly what it is. When she goes she needs to ask them if they feel this is necessary.

Color and odor are discussed with us strongly at school. Greenish and bad odor usually signify infection.

[nauticalstar420]

I'll tell her to ask for a culture. Thanks for all your help :)