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How To Help Your Spouse Who's Flaring

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:39 +0000

When you love someone with IBD, you are in the thick of things with them. You help out around the house when your partner is not feeling well and maybe even go to doctor's appointments. At times you may think that you don't quite know what to do to when your loved one has a flare-up. There is plenty that you can do to help, from helping to find bathrooms to just being understanding about the challenges that IBD brings. Find out more about what you can do to help during the worst times with IBD.

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Casey Abrams Shaves His Beard

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00:07 +0000

Back in October, I told you about a deal that Casey Abrams made to shave off his beard. As it turns out, Abrams made good on his promise, and shaved his beard, while being filmed of course! He was a good sport about it -- singing a little bit during the process. It took some doing, and he had to call his dad in to help, but eventually the deed was done!

You can see the video on YouTube.

Do you think Abrams will just grow the beard back? Should he? Click on "comments" below and tell me what you think!

More about Casey Abrams and the IBD Icons program:

_{Image © Frederick M. Brown / Getty}

Do Children With IBD Do Worse In School?

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:00:36 +0000

As a teenager with IBD, I spent a lot of time in the hospital, of course missing school. I was a straight-A student until the ulcerative colitis kept me out of high school for months at a time. The school worked with me and my parents to minimize the impact, and I even had a tutor. I had several understanding teachers -- I was the kid who did the work and didn't make trouble, so they were happy to help me.

I had one teacher who still expected me to turn in all my work at the same time as everyone else in the class, and I wound up with a poor grade. On this point, the school refused to budge, and the grade stuck. It brought down my GPA, and while it didn't affect my being accepted to the college of my choice, it did prevent me from graduating with honors. To this day, I still have anger towards that one teacher who had no compassion for me. I never understood his reasonings, and he never fully explained them to me.

A study in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics examined the affect that IBD has on the academic performance of children who have Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. A total of 92 students between the ages of 11 and 17 were included in the study. Not surprisingly, IBD does put kids at risk for poorer performance at school than their peers who do not have IBD.

The severity or the activeness of the IBD did not necessarily equate to more problems at school. Instead, the researchers found that the children who kept their problems to themselves -- so-called "internalizing" -- had poorer attendance and academic performance. Social factors, such as the marital status of their parents, were also found to have an effect.Kids and adults who have IBD are at risk for depression, so that could also be a factor in their functioning at school. Also thrown into the mix are the side effects from medications, such as steroids, and time spent receiving medications that must be given by infusion.

What can parents and kids do? The authors of this latest study suggest that more be done to help kids with IBD overcome the social issues that they encounter. There isn't much research on this topic, as is the case with most matters affecting kids who have IBD. But, the authors think that addressing the problems kids with IBD have may help improve their attendance at school.

More about kids with IBD:

_Source:

_{Mackner LM, Bickmeier RM, Crandall WV. "Academic Achievement, Attendance, and School-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease." J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2012 Jan 19. [Epub ahead of print] 15 Feb 2011.}

_{Photo © photostock}

Top 5 Picks for Easing PMS

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) has caused havoc in the lives of many women, and in the lives of those close to them. You might have already figured out that PMS can also affect your digestive tract and make diarrhea worse during your period. Complicating the matter for women with IBD is the possibility that medications that could bring some relief, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), could cause more digestive problems. The good news is that there are plenty of home remedies that you can use to combat the symptoms of PMS -- and most of them could be beneficial for your overall health too.

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Plan a Romantic Valentine's Day

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:00:05 +0000

Some people look forward to Valentine's Day. Others dread it. Whether you're single or involved, most people have an opinion -- love it or hate it -- about Valentine's Day. It doesn't matter which camp you fall in, if you have IBD, the day can be a tricky one for you. But don't let your IBD spoil your fun. Use these ideas to plan a Valentine's Day you will enjoy.

More about love and sex with IBD:

_{Photo © Maggie Smith}

Do You Have Heartburn And IBD?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:19 +0000

People who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may also experience other digestive problems. This is especially true of Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Heartburn is a common problem, and so it's not unheard of for someone with IBD to also have heartburn. Many people who have heartburn also take medication to treat it, and a common class of drugs used to treat heartburn is proton pump inhibitors. Commonly prescribed proton pump inhibitors include Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium), Prevacid (lansoprazole), and Prilosec (omeprazole).

Recently proton pump inhibitors have been associated with a risk of infection. C difficile is a type of bacteria that normally colonizes the colon, but if there's too much if it, it can cause symptoms such as diarrhea. Diarrhea, of course, is also a symptom of IBD.

If you are taking a proton pump inhibitor and are also experiencing diarrhea that is not resolving, you should speak to your physician about it. At this time, the FDA is working with pharmaceutical companies to change the patient information included with proton pump inhibitors, and it is recommended that patients use the lowest dose of these drugs for as short a time as possible.

C difficile is easily spread, so if you are diagnosed with this infection, care must be taken to prevent spreading it to others. Careful hand washing and properly disinfecting surfaces is important to preventing contamination.

More about C difficile infection:

_Source:

_{Food And Drug Administration. "Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) - Drug Safety Communication: Clostridium Difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD) Can be Associated With Stomach Acid Drugs." FDA.gov 8 Feb 2012.}

_{Photo © CDC}

Join My Blog Carnival: Chronic Illness in Kids & Teens

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:45:01 +0000

About.com is hosting monthly Blog Carnivals on issues surrounding health and wellness, and everyone is invited! What's a blog carnival? A blog carnival is an opportunity for bloggers to write about a common topic, with the lead blogger connecting all the different pieces together in one single blog post. Anyone can participate in a blog carnival, because the idea is for every participant to bring their own voice and opinion to the conversation. This month, I will be hosting the blog carnival: "Chronic Illness in Kids & Teens."

When we think of chronic illness, we think of older people. But the truth is, chronic illness affects children as well. Illness is more complicated in children -- kids are still growing, and many treatments are not tested extensively in children. Schools may not be capable, or willing, to help children with chronic illness receive the care and attention they need. Because of these confounding factors, children may wind up being treated like little adults, which does not serve them.

I'm extending an invitation to you to write about how children are affected by chronic illness: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), thyroid disease, cancer, migraines, arthritis -- the list goes on and on. Join the carnival by submitting a blog post to me by February 25, and I ask that you add a link back when my blog is published on March 1.

If you're looking for inspiration, here are a few ideas:

Drug side effects: How do the medications normally used in adults adversely affect children and teens?
Surgery: Children are amazingly resilient, but surgery is an extremely frightening prospect for them. How can their fears be eased?
Anxiety and depression: What are the most effective ways to deal with mental disorders in children? How to ensure they can grow up to become productive adults?
Growth: How does a chronic illness affect a child's growth pattern? What can be done to minimize the effect that illness has on a child's growth?
Fertility: Could an illness, or tests or treatment affect the future fertility of a child?
Working with physicians: How can you find the right pediatric specialist for your child? Should they see a doctor that works primarily with adults?
Socialization: How does a child's illness affect their relationship to their peers?

Illness affects children in unique ways, and this is why I've decided to host this blog carnival. I'm looking for your perspective on this topic. Make sure to follow the Health Channel blog carnival rules and send me your blog post link by email at ibdcrohns.guide@about.com. Come back on March 1 for my posting that includes the submissions from all the bloggers who participate. Let the blogging begin!

Helpful Information

Blog carnival posts and links are not reviewed by About.com's Medical Review Board.

Camp Oasis Open This Summer for Kids With IBD

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:30 +0000

This summer, kids with IBD can attend a camp with kids just like them. Camp Oasis, offered by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), is open to kids with medical stable Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. For 2012, camps are located in California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Camps are also looking for volunteers such as counselors, activity specialists, physicians, nurses, and mental health specialists. Learn how you can be part of Camp Oasis.

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Ally Bain And Dr. David T. Rubin Discuss "Ally's Law"

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:44 +0000

I recently interviewed Allyson Bain and David T. Rubin, MD about the big changes that are taking place for people with IBD across the country. You may remember that Allyson Bain is the woman with Crohn's disease who, as a teenager, was denied access to a restroom while out shopping. The incident spurred her to contact her local legislators and thanks to her efforts The Restroom Access Act (also called "Ally's Law") was passed in Illinois. Dr Rubin is the Associate Professor of Medicine; Co-Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center; and Program Director, Fellowship in Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the University of Chicago. Dr Rubin is Allyson's physician and he specializes in the treatment of people with IBD.

You can read the transcript of the first part of my interview, where we discuss The Restroom Access Act that has been passed in 12 states, what it's like being the "Ally" in "Ally's Law," and the possibility of a federal version of the law. You can see the entire interview on video here.

Tools To Manage Stress

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:09 +0000

Your doctor has probably told you that you need to manage your stress. Stress doesn't cause IBD, but it can complicate matters. We all have stress in our lives, and any kind of change, even good ones, can bring a certain amount of stress.

We all have different ways of reacting to that stress. Stress can be a positive force in your life, but stress can also be negative and aggravate any medical condition. The goal is to find a way to manage your stress and to have a calm and focused mind. There are a variety of outlets that you can use to manage your stress. The trick is to find the one that works best for you. Learn to take control of your stress by employing some stress-busting tools.

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