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Crohn's Disease, GERD, Gastroenteritis

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/19/2008 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I'm looking for help for my daughter. She has Crohn's and seems to be responding to Remicade infusions. However, recent colonoscopy/EGD showed gastroenteritis (no symptoms present other than stomach lining issues found during procedure). Why would she have gastroenteritis w/o symptoms???  She is also on Imuran 75 mg per day & Nexium (just for gastro issues...6 other meds for asthma & ADD) Can long-term use of Cipro (she's been on 500 mg/daily since April 2007) actually cause this? I have heard that it can strip the intestine of the good bacteria. Will this cause gastroenteritis?? I'm awaiting the biopsy reports but need help!

Thanks,

Trish

Posted 1/20/2008 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Gastroenteritis is just a catch-all phrase to describe inflammation of the digestive and/or intestinal tract. If she is on nexium that could explain why she is not experiencing symptoms if the inflammation is in her stomach. The nexium can actually heal stomacb and esophageal lesions, but it is also used prophylactically (to prevent problems) especially with medications like Imuran, which can be very hard on the stomach.

I wouldn't get too concerned about the Cipro yet. Clearly your GI think she needs to be on it. When will you be sitting down with your GI to discuss the test results? In the meantime, maybe you could encourage your daughter to eat yoghurt with active live cultures every day. That might counteract some of the negative effects of antibiotics on the gut flora.

Then again, you say she has no symptoms. In the absence of symptoms like bad cramps, uncontrollable diarrhea and general malaise -- all of which I generally associate with a bad case of gastroenteritis (stomach flu), I suspect the term gastroenteritis is being used to describe the crohn's inflammation.
Posted 1/20/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
I have had gastroenteritis as well, and I'm not sure if Cipro can cause this, but if she is just taking the pill with very little water or liquid that can sometimes irritate the lining of the esophagus and I suppose stomach. I guess at this point have your daughter drink a full glass of water while taking her pills so that those little babies slide on down to where they are supposed to go. In terms of no symptoms that is good that she isnt feeling sick, but as you know it doesnt always mean that everything is peachy keen. The good news is that you know she has it so if she starts to have symptoms that fit the diagnosis you already have an idea of what it could be. I hope she feels better!
Posted 1/20/2008 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Chronie & Belleenstein...Thank you for the responses!! As my daughter also has Down's Syndrome, I had to actually fight to have her examined for Crohn's in the first place and was very frustrated. I have a great GI doc luckily!! She's taking Imuran 75mg/daily, has Remicade infusions every 8 weeks, and is taking the Cipro.  Both the Dr. & I are confused as to why the Nexium doesn't seem to be effective...I think it may have lost some of that effectiveness because she's been on it for 6 years.  Thanks for the input...it means a lot!!
Posted 1/20/2008 5:52 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Minnow,
You sure have been given a lot to handle with your daugher having Down's Syndrome and CD. This life sure isn't fair.
My thoughts and prayers are with you .I admire your courage and determination.
Mary
Posted 1/20/2008 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Minnow so sorry to hear your daughter is feeling so poorly.  Bless her little heart.  I just wanted to share that I have had the Gerd meds quit working for me and had to change to a different one.  I personally am on Prilosec, but have also used Protonix with good success also.  Maybe a change is needed.  Hope she gets feeling better soon.

Posted 1/20/2008 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Nanners & Marie-Claire...
Thank you for your kind words & support. We all have challenges and Ashley has been dealt many but endures it all with a wicked little sense of humor!! Thank you also for your advice. I am going to discuss changing the Reflux/GERD med. My true concern is for the long-term damage/issues that may arise later in Ashley's life. I'm not trying to be a martyr but making those medical decisions FOR her is very mentally taxing because I always fear I'm making the wrong choices. She had ARDS (respiratory failure) in 2001 and the (I believe) the ventilator and meds giving during that time of crisis caused long-term damage, albeit to save her life. I admire YOUR courage and kindness! Thank you again,
Trish
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