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Siblings with Crohn's

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/14/2010 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
 I have just joined this forum so I hope everyone will bear with me.  I come from a family of 5 children; only one, my younger brother, has CD.  I have 3 children and 5 years ago my oldest son was diagnosed at age 21 (almost 22).  He was gravely ill for 5 months  until they started him on Remicade.  He has been on it and symptom free since then.  Knock on wood.  Last week my daughter, my youngest child, was also diagnosed with it.  She had just turned 22.  None of my siblings' children have this, and now TWO of mine do!  I just cannot believe it.  I don't know of anyone else with 2 children who have this disease.  Does anyone know, statistically speaking, how prevalent this is?   What are the chances that my other son, age 25, will also have this?  His girlfriend wants him to be tested, but he has no symptoms.  I watched my son go through 2 surgeries, 8 weeks apart, spend a month on a feeding tube, 6 weeks with a drain implanted in him, lose 50 lbs., etc.  I cannot bear the thought of watching all this happen to my daughter.

Thanks for any insight.   

Posted 8/14/2010 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Crohns April 10, and I have a sister who also has Crohns - she has had it for 20yrs. Niether of our parents have it nor any of our Aunts and Uncles. But one of our first cousins also has it (on our mothers side of the family - he has also been battling it for 20yrs) Who knows how this disease works! but there definitely seems to be a genetic link. I think I have read somewhere that if you have a sibling with Crohns that you have 30% chance of having it. Our father did have bowel cancer but has been in remission for years.

DREAMLADY
dx Crohns April 10
Current Meds: Pred (back up to 15mg tapering), Imuran 150mg, Somac 20mg, Vit. D, Coversyl 10mg
Posted 8/14/2010 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
My older sister was diagnosed with CD about 5 years before me. My younger sister suffers with IBS and my dad has IBS and diverticulitis. My mom hit the jackpot with autoimmune disorders and had CREST syndrome, with Schleroderma being the most prevalent of the disorders. So I really think there is a strong genetic link.
Posted 8/14/2010 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
My brother was diagnosed with Crohn's a few years before I was diagnosed, but both of us had symptoms for years prior to our diagnoses.  We have a paternal uncle and a cousin on the same side of the family who also have Crohn's.  All four of us can sit at the same table, look at each others' plates and ask how in the world the others can be eating what they have on their plates.  Our sister has IBS, diabetes, and numerous other health issues, and we lost another sister to leukemia when she was an infant.  We think that our paternal grandfather suffered from Crohn's, but he was never diagnosed with it.  My sons are in their 20's, and so far, they show no signs of Crohn's.  However, I do worry about the possibility of passing the tendency to them, and to their future children.  It is so important to support Crohn's research for our future generations ...

Glori

Posted 8/14/2010 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have a brother with crohn's. He was dx'd about 5 years ago, but I've had crohn's for 20 years. I also have 2 cousins (siblings) who have crohn's. Our grandfather had colitis. I have also read that the percentage of having crohn's is about 30%. I'm so sorry that your children have this awful disease. I hope your 3rd one will dodge the bullet, so-to-speak and be healthy for the rest of his life. While it can be very devastating there is a lot out there now in the way of medicine and there are diets that are also extremely helpful for many (Specific Carbohydrate Diet or Maker's Diet). Hang in there mom, you've had a rough road. None of us wants to see our children suffer.
Posted 8/14/2010 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I think it definitely can run in families, but how it picks who it hits.....who knows?

My husband just got diagnosed last year at 32, but his sister has had it since she was 9. Their father (who is getting close to 60) was diagnosed in his mid 20's. I think hubby also has a cousin that has it as well.

I very much worry about our children. I'm sorry that you are having to see yours go through this. ((((HUGS))))
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