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Crohn's--Can I pass it on?

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Posted 4/2/2012 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
This is my first post to this website, in fact I just purchased my first computer 2 months ago for this very reason, to talk to other people who have Crohn's.  I am a 60 year old Gramma with 2 beautiful grandaughters. 

I have had 3 surgeries, an ileostomy, that has since been reversed and my biggest concern is that I will pass my Crohn's to my grandaughters. 

Does anyone know of anyone that got Crohn's from a family member?  This issue really concerns me, because I do not want my grandaughters or for that matter, my son to have to go through what I go through.

Thanks so much for allowing me to join your group, I really hope that I can contribute and learn from everyone.

Post Edited (cleanfreak) : 4/2/2012 1:06:36 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/2/2012 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Crohn's is somewhat genetic, but those aren't the only factors, and it's not guaranteed that you'll pass it on. What I've heard is that if you have identical twins, and one has Crohn's, then the other one has a 50% chance of also having Crohn's.

I've also heard that the younger a person is when diagnosed, the more likely there are to be genetic factors -- some other factors are likely environmental, although not well understood (diet, pollution, stress etc), and the older we get the more of those factors we've been exposed to (plus there's just bad luck, which we also have more chances for as we age). How old were you when you were diagnosed? I was already in my early 40's and there's no one else in my family who has it.

Do you have other people in your family w/Crohn's? That would be another way to tell if it's more likely to be genetic in your case.

Another genetic issue is that some groups have more Crohn's than others. I've read, for example, that Aske**** Jews are five times more likely to have Crohn's than average. (A Jewish friend of mine w/Crohn's is very happy that her husband is not Jewish -- gives her kids less of a chance of having it too).

I think that no matter the answer, there's not much you can do (other than maybe working with CCFA or another group to try to improve treatment/find a cure) and little to be gained by worrying about it. Of course you don't want your son and grandchildren to suffer as you have. I hope they don't.

Welcome to the forum!
Posted 4/2/2012 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure of the percents but there was a study done (at least I thought it was a study) that showed that offspring from two parents, whom both have an IBD, have a higher chance of also having an IBD. Whereas if only one of the parents has an IBD then the percent is lower.

My father had Crohn's and my mother had Irritable bowel syndrome. I was diagnosed as a teenager with Ulcerative Colitis and my brother as had symptoms (although not anywhere near the severity of mine) but has yet to be diagnosed with an IBD because nothing has shown up.

I don't have any kids of my own, but I too am also concerned that when I have kids that they will have Crohn's/UC.
Posted 4/2/2012 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
ps, funny that the "n-azi" in Ashkena-zi is getting blocked..... seems a little backwards... btw, for those who don't know, that just means from Eastern Europe...
Posted 4/3/2012 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with crohns/colitis at the age of 25 I am now 49 and have had a horrible time with it over the years. I have a sister that has UC and now my eldest daughter who is 30 is having lots of symptoms , so she is going in for a scope in 2 weeks, I am praying she doesnt have it, she is so scared as she has seen what I have had to endure with this dreaded disease. The doc that examined her the other day pressed lightly on her tummy and she ended up in tears, doc said she could feel my daughters colon. I am so worried. So I can understand how you are feeling. I guess unless they are showing signs keep your fingers crossed and pray they don't ever have to deal with this disease. I do think it is somewhat genetic. it has to be. All the best and take care
Doreen
Posted 4/3/2012 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
We were told that, for Ulcerative coliitis, if one parent has the disease that there is about a 5% chance of passing it on to offspring. That means that if you had 20 kids that 1 would be likely to get the disease. If both parents are afflicted the numbers go up
Posted 4/3/2012 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
yes the odds do go up
Posted 4/4/2012 9:11 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome, cleanfreak,
I was diagnosed with Crohn's at age 28. My parents both have autoimmune illnesses (Rheumatoid Arthritis and my mom also has Psoriasis), but nobody in my family has ever had Crohn's. Since Crohn's is an autoimmune illness, I think it was genetic for me.
Cecilia
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