Heredity Question

Hi cleanfreak, welcome to HW!

IBD can definitely be genetic, the problem is researchers are still not sure how it can be passed down but there are definitely many cases of familial IBD where nearly every family member has an IBD.

Keep in mind, IBD is not just crohn's, ulcerative colitis is an IBD as well and either crohn's or UC can affect other family members regardless of which IBD you have....my mom had UC and I have crohn's (CD) AND to boot, I got sick with my crohn's in my early 20's BEFORE my mom got sick with her UC in her late 60's but obviously I got my IBD as a result of my mom's genetics, it's just happend to turn out that mine was triggered before her's was (the trigger is often many don't think about but fact is, it's one thing to be predisposed to getting an IBD, it's another to have it triggered) therefore so far I'm the only one that got an IBD but that doesn't necessarily mean that my other siblings/nieces/nephews etc won't get either UC or CD as well.

hi cleanfreak (I laughed reading your name because me & all of our friends tease my partner about how much of a cleanfreak he is!)

I have been diagnosed as having 'only' IBS so far but am in the process of testing for Crohns and my 14 year old son has been having a lot of symptoms too.. he's had them for a long time though but only mildly (excessive runs, lots of sore tummy's etc). I do know that IBS is familial.

it is part hereditary runs more in jews and eastern europeans. thats life no one in my family are jewish or have crohns yet but they all have Irritable bowel disease in the first with crohns-im the mutation

I'm adopted as well, but I do get to meet my birth mother occasionally. I know she has Crohn's & I guess that's why I got it. Autoimmune diseases run in my biological family from what I've heard. I'm blessed to have Crohn's. I'ts made me stronger & more compassionate!

Don't worry about it too much! I always say "What happens is fate." We can't do anything about what genes we give our children.

Hope your feeling good :)!

Hi CleanFreak! I am 22 years old and I was diagnosed when I was 12. Shortly after I was diagnosed my older sister was diagnosed. Turns out BOTH my maternal and paternal grandmothers have Crohns. none of their kids have it only grand children. I have alwasy heard it skips a generation.

My sister was diagnosed with Chrons about 10 years ago. None of us really knew what was wrong with her until she had an appendix burst. She often complained of pain in her side after that and bloody stools, then years later had an operation, which I now know as resection. Years after that I had my son, who is now 14 and has been diagnosed with Chrons. So, my sister had it first, now my son. My dad is now 84, and has always had to watch what he eats, we just thought he had a very sensitive stomach, didn't know much about Chrons in those days - it wouldn't have mattered anyway He as born during the depression.