IBD Connected To Accutane Medication

Sufferers of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) who were prescribed Accutane for acne in their past, should be aware that some cases of IBD have been connected to the drug - which was popular for a while but has been pulled from shelves since 2009.

Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Pregnancy

The decision to have a child is an important one, and there are many things to think about before you take the plunge. For people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease there is an extra layer of considerations to add to the list.

When I spoke to my doctor, he told me about the 'thirds' rule. That generally speaking women with IBD who get pregnant find that one third feel worse, one third feel better and one third feel the same. Not a very helpful rule in my opinion. My research has found a consistent statistic that if you are in a flare-up when you conceive, you will possibly feel worse and potentially have more complications than if you are in remission. So if possible, try to time a pregnancy between flare-ups. I was in remission and my own pregnancy went pretty smoothly.

News Article: Immune system compensates for 'leaky gut'

Article Summary: A recent news article reports that university scientists discovered that a defect in the intestine causes it to break down due to bacteria or stress. A normal immune system would help heal the damage but the defect causes a 'leaky' barrier in the intestine and as a result the individual is more susceptible to developing IBD. How this can be connected to a treatment or cure remains to be seen.

Don't Give Up

(photo: marc falardeau)

Before I start writing about what's going on in my life on the IBD front, and providing some helpful information about Crohn's Disease and such... I have a feeling that some Readers out there might need a pep talk.

Don't give up. There, I said it. Three little words. You're reading and you're thinking "Whatever, you don't know my situation." Don't give up. There is always something to fight for. There is always a reason to go on. Stay determined with your doctor visits and treatments. Something might work one day, and remission will come. "What if it doesn't?" True, you might struggle with this for a long time. But there is a reason to go on in your life. Think! A child maybe or a spouse? A close sibling or a good friend who makes you laugh? A treasured hobby or a fantastic adventure in a good book. Learning something new, or creating something yourself? Think hard, you can find your reason somewhere.

Back On the Bright Side

Well, life is rolling these days, and I'm back to blogging! My little guy is 6 months old and doing amazing! My darling husband is back to teaching now and our nice summer together is over. What a great time!

I'm currently working on some posts covering some of the pregnancy and post pregnancy issues and considerations related to Crohn's Disease that I experienced and learned about over the last year. I'll try to add in some info for the men out there too!

Good news - the blog now has it's own domain name. So update your links! http://www.brightsideofcrohns.com!

Let me know if there is any interest in another scheduled group IBD chat. We haven't had one in a while.

Having IBD is a life-long deal. But with a little support, strength and tips, we can kick it in the butt!

Glad to be back. Sincerely,
Bright Side

Time For A Hiatus

With my due date only 2 weeks away, I am now on maternity leave and awaiting the big event. I've been slowing down my work load and banking up lots of rest and quality relaxation time. Feeling great and having reached the official 'full term' mark is a big relief. Luckily I haven't had any Crohn's related pregnancy complications other than a bit of tugging and slight pain with the scar tissue in my abdomen.

So, taking it easy and pending motherhood means that I will be taking a brief hiatus from regular posting here on the Bright Side blog. So, good luck to everyone - but stay subscribed, as I will return when things calm down and I get back into the adult world!

UPDATE: We have a beautiful baby boy, born Feb 17. Welcome to the world!

Sincerely,

Bright Side

IBD Trigger Food Survey Results

In a previous post I asked visitors to fill out a survey about their experiences with trigger foods related to their Inflammatory Bowel Disease (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7HDTNFK). I set this up mostly for my own curiosity and to encourage people to keep an eye on the effect that food can have on their disease.

The interesting results I've observed are some things such as, most resondents are in their twenties or thirties. The most common trigger foods are greasy or deep friend foods, and alcohol. All respondents have made at least some attempt to avoid their trigger foods, and almost half have had to bring their own meal to an event. On the positive side, the majority of respondents who have tried to avoid trigger foods, have noticed a positive result from doing so.

Here are the results so far (Updated Jan 30, 2012):  

1. Disease Diagnosis:

Crohn's Disease	79%
Ulcerative Colitis	7%
Undetermined Inflammatory Bowel Disease	14%