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Crohn's disease | Healthy on the outside, suffering on the inside Woman works to strengthen Crohn's support group Date published: 1/10/2010
BY EMILY BATTLE
In so many ways, Carly Medosch looks and acts like a normal 28-year-old professional woman. She talks about the MBA classes she is taking, and laughs and jokes with those around her about the crazier parts of her day. But that normal exterior is sometimes a liability. Like when police question her suspiciously when she uses her handicapped parking permit to access needed facilities in times of emergency. Or when she has to explain to friends or co-workers why she has had to take time off when she doesn't look or act ill. Medosch has been living with Crohn's disease since she was 13. Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause pain, inflammation and blockage of the intestines and other parts of the digestive tract. It can force patients to re-examine every aspect of how they live their daily lives. "You get really good at having a really high tolerance for pain," Medosch said. And because its symptoms aren't the most fun thing to bring up in a normal conversation, and there aren't many outward signs of the illness, it can be hard for patients to explain to those around them why they're making frequent trips to the bathroom, to the doctor's office or to the hospital. "So many people just haven't heard of Crohn's or colitis," Medosch said. SUFFERING IN SILENCE According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, about 30,000 new cases of Crohn's and colitis are diagnosed each year, mostly in people between the ages of 15 and 35. There is no cure for Crohn's disease, and the severity of symptoms can vary greatly among those who have it. Symptoms include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, extreme fatigue and loss of appetite. Children with Crohn's can suffer delayed physical growth--one of the signs that prompted Medosch's mother to begin asking the questions that led to Carly's diagnosis. Crohn's symptoms are similar to those of ulcerative colitis, another inflammatory bowel disease that attacks the colon. UNPREDICTABLE BOUTS Since being diagnosed in middle school with Crohn's--whose symptoms, Medosch says, are "probably the least socially acceptable thing you could think of"-- Medosch has had many surgeries, including the removal of 5 feet of her small intestine.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 1/10/2010
My wife learned about these clinical trials shortly after undergoing major abdominal surgery for Ulcerative Colitis. Her mother died of complications from Chron's disease. Anyone familiar with these diseases would understand why someone would gladly accept an intestinal parasite if it meant controlling the other symptoms.
http://www.buygenericdrugs.net/diseases/Crohn%E2%80%99s-Disease/
I would urge anyone with Crohn's, particularly the newly
diagnosed to consult a doctor about Low Dose Naltrexone.
This is a cheap drug which has been arond for years with
little of the side-effects of existing Crohn's treatments and
many people find it works to put them into remission,
including myself. Just google LDN or Low Dose Naltrexone,
the worst that can happen is it has no effect. The best is
you will achieve remission.
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