Crohn's Disease Relief

Crohn’s Advocate Magazine Debuts

It took Tocomba Murphy years to find out what exactly was ailing her, then even more time to find an effective treatment for Crohn’s disease.

 Now, the Shaker Heights woman is taking her experience full circle, becoming an advocate for those also afflicted with the illness, and appearing in the pilot issue of Crohn’sAdvocate Magazine, which premiered this month.

via blog.cleveland.com

There's a new magazine available in both print and online, designed for Crohn's patients. It's called Crohn's Advocate.

The magazine is free - sign up on their web site here - http://crohnsadvocate.com. It's published by the drug company UCB, (they make Cimzia) so there is some possibility of a bit of conflict of interest there of course... But, if it is helpful it's all good, right?

Biomarkers Could Be a New Objective Measurment of Crohn's Disease Activity

A study in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology reported that data using GeneNews’ Sentinel Principle platform technology identified complex changes in blood gene expression patterns that were differentially regulated between active and inactive Crohn’s disease.

via biotuesday.ca

Because so many Crohn's symptoms are objective and require patients to accurately report things they would rather not keep good track of, doctors and researchers can be frustrated by the lack of an objective way to measure the disease activity.

Yes, its easy to see when someone is really really flaring and needing hospitalization, throwing up, going to the bathroom 30 times a day, fever, losing weight, etc. But between flares in times of remission, most sufferers still report symptoms like abdominal pain, the big D, body aches, fatigue. As you can see so many of these are subjective it makes it hard to measure in a scientific way.

That's why this new study is so cool - they have been able to see differences in blood gene expression patterns to see the difference between active and inactive Crohn's disease. I have no idea what "blood gene expression pattern" are but I can see how this news could signal a better way to track patient's status, especial when testing new drugs.

The Associated Press: No quiet fadeaway for federal insurance option

The leading congressional proposal as of Wednesday — a Senate Finance bill that relies on private coverage with no new government plan — could price out some 17 million Americans. And the insurance industry may have unwittingly helped the case for public coverage with a report over the weekend asserting the Finance bill would raise premiums for everyone.

via www.google.com

In my opinion a health care overhaul package that does not include the availability of affordable health insurance for every citizen is not much of a solution at all.

Five Ways to Find Time to Live Healthily

Look for other areas of your health where you can get 80% of the health benefits from 20% of the time investment. If driving to the gym, getting changed, working out and showering takes up far too much of your evening ... why not go for a 30 minute walk in your lunch hour instead?

via www.dumblittleman.com

Usually these "Five Ways to be More Healthy" type of articles are useless and stuff you already know. This one is good though. Author Ali Hale has some concrete tips that you might not have thought about to tackle how to fit healthier living into your day. How to make it easier.

Since Crohn's patients have a limited amount of energy, it really makes sense to be practical in how you plan your tasks. By using some of these ideas you could perhaps get a little exercise in, pack a healthier lunch, or make other small changes that can have a positive effect on your overall health.

For College Students, Health Overhaul Starts Today - NPR Health Blog : NPR

Today a law Congress passed last year becomes effective. It's known as Michelle's law, after Michelle Morse, a New Hampshire college student who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004.

via www.npr.org

"Michelle's Law" goes into effect today in the US allowing college students still covered under their parents' health plans to keep coverage if they become ill and have to take time off of school.

Good Gifts for Someone in the Hospital

An online forum I frequent was having a brainstorm for ideas to give someone in the hospital so I thought I would put together a list.

I think its a good idea to remember when bringing stuff to the hospital that the person (and their family) is going to have to cart all the stuff home when they leave so try not to bring a bunch of big extraneous stuff.

• Nice smelling lotion
• Dry Shampoo
• Manicure Kit
• Tea bags and light cookies
• Jelly beans or hard candies
• Gift card for iTunes or Amazon MP3s
• People, US Weekly or some magazines with fluff content. Good for when you can’t concentrate on anything.
• Nice socks. The hospital floors are gross.
• Crosswords, Sudoku, easy puzzle book from the drug store magazine rack.
• Scratch off lottery tickets is an idea I saw. Could be fun.

Questions and Answers About H1N1 Vaccines - NYTimes.com

The first doses of vaccine for the H1N1 2009 influenza, commonly called swine flu, began arriving at hospitals and doctors’ offices this week. But fear and confusion about the vaccine are spreading almost as quickly as the virus itself.

via www.nytimes.com

This New York Times article (does not require login) does a good job of answering many questions about the newly available H1N1 Flue vaccines.

Highlights for Crohn's patients - ask your doctor if your immune system is suppressed by any of your Crohn's treatment and if the flu vaccines are right for you. The FluMist vaccine does not contain any thimerisol. The H1N1 vaccines were manufactured in the same way as the standard flu vaccines, but only contain the H1N1 strain.

Uninsured And Sick, Student Begged For His Life

"I'm a pretty humble guy, but it's really demoralizing to have to beg a hospital for your life, to be to be able to be treated for this thing you just found out that you had," he said. "I don't just have a right to be healthy? I have to beg for it? I have to show that I am poor? It's frustrating. It's embarrassing. It's really unacceptable."

via www.huffingtonpost.com

Interesting article about a University of Alabama Law student who contracted cancer while being uninsured. He has now become an advocate for health insurance reform.

Probiotics - Looking Underneath the Yogurt Label

Consider Lactobacillus, a probiotic that comes in a number of strains, among them: Lactobacillus GG (often called LGG), which can be found in the diet supplement Culturelle as well as several milk products in Finland; L. casei DN114 001, included in Dannon products; and L. casei Shirota, found in Yakult, a popular probiotic drink from Japan.

Studies show that all of these strains are associated with reducing diarrhea; LGG, among the most studied, has also shown a benefit in treating atopic eczema and milk allergy in infants and children, according to a 2008 report in The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. Meanwhile, both LGG and Dannon’s L. casei strain have been shown in studies of children attending day care to reduce illness.

“Lactobacillus is just the bacterium,” said Gregor Reid, director of the Canadian Research and Development Center for Probiotics. “To say a product contains Lactobacillus is like saying you’re bringing George Clooney to a party. It may be the actor, or it may be an 85-year-old guy from Atlanta who just happens to be named George Clooney. With probiotics, there are strain-to-strain differences.”

via www.nytimes.com

From the perspecitive of a Crohn's patient I am really trying to figure out which strains of probiotic are best for IBD.

I have heard of at least one study showing Primadophilous Reutera is good for Crohn's so I take the Natures Way pearls version of that.

I make my own yogurt and am trying several different types of yogurt culture starter to see what I like the taste of as well as if I feel healthier. Apparently the reuteri pribiotic doesn't stay alive enough in yogurt so you can't just make a starter culture from that - you need the supplement. I always like to get my nutrients from food rather than a supplement when I can, I just feel its more natural. But sometimes I guess a supplement is worthwhile.

At any rate, I am very interested in the different strains of probiotics and what they can do to help the digestion and immune system. Digestive flora is so important, its a large part of your immune system.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh

I find I can always get a chuckle out of the LOLCats.  And LOLCats destroying toilet paper seemed like a good one to share with my fellow Crohnies.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures