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New Member, RA ..now Crohn's?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 10/29/2009 6:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new to the board. I have had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (now regular old RA), glaucoma and uvitis since I was five years old, so-- for the past 20 years. Recently I've developed something the GI says is ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease? I'm wondering if any other RA patients out there who also have Crohn's?

I had my first colonoscopy yesterday and (sorry if this is tmi) and I am bleeding large quantities but my GI does not seem very worried? Has not given me anything to stop the bleeding, says we will wait for a diagnosis first? (Another week for biopsy results?) I'm sorry this isn't very specific I think I'm undergoing a general confusion about what is going on. Chron's does seem to explain all my other diagnosis, but does this mean if I have Crohn's I don't have rheumatoid arthritis?

Thanks in advance, and bless everyone on here for dealing with all the meds, doctor's visits, etc...


Lula
Posted 10/29/2009 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lula and welcome to HW!

There is a lot of crossover between IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and RA. Crohn's Disease itself can cause joint pain, but you'll find a lot of people on the board who do have both diseases. I'm kind of the opposite of you, having first been diagnosed with Crohn's and am now being treated for RA. Luckily, the treatments are often very similar so you can treat both diseases with the same set of meds.

As for your concerns about blood, what exactly do you mean by "large quantities"? Also, is this bleeding only since the colonoscopy? If that is the case and you are still passing blood several days after the colonoscopy then you need to call your doctor's office stat and let them know what's going on. That said, if you are seeing blood in the toilet bowl, be aware that a little bit of blood can look like a whole lot in the water. A lot of people with Crohn's and UC pass blood with every or nearly every BM. I know it can be awfully scary at first, but a little blood should not be something to get too scared about. If you are concerned though, just call the doctor's office. That's what they're there for. The doctor is probably waiting to start treating you until he gets the biopsy results back because they'll give him a better idea of what he's dealing with and that way you're not possibly receiving an unnecessary treatment.

Hang in there and keep us updated on your results.
Posted 10/29/2009 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lula,

If it were me, I would immediately try the SCD introductory diet as outlined at the following URL:

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/the_intro_diet2.htm

except I would avoid the homemade yogurt (I can't tolerate it when I am flaring.)

Best,
CH
Posted 10/29/2009 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you!
Posted 10/30/2009 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Lula, welcome!  I have Crohn's related arthritis.  Many of the same medications (methotrexate, prednisone, Humira, Remicade, Cimzia, etc.) can be used to treat both RA and Crohn's.  The problem I have run into is that many of the arthritis treatments upset my stomach too much.  I can't take any of the NSAIDs and several other meds in pill form that my rheumy has tried.  That has left me with very little options for treating the arthritis.  So, as long as one of the meds that treat both works for you, it's not much of a problem.  Otherwise, it may be very difficult to find something that will work for one without aggrevating the other.     
Posted 10/30/2009 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
I love Enbrel for arthritis- I have been on them all and that is the most gentle (I couldn't tolerate Methotrexate or Humira). I understand it doesn't really work for Crohn's, but if you haven't already tried it for RA it might be worth looking into?
Posted 10/30/2009 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
One thing that does not seem likely that is supposed to help RA is the use of probiotics. You might want to try adding something like Culturelle, Align or VSL#3 to your regimen to see if it helps.
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