As a long time Crohn’s patient, I am often sought out for advice on handling the disease by newly diagnosed patients and their families. And while awareness of Crohn’s is much greater than it was twenty years ago, most people really don’t understand much about the disease or the way it impacts a patient’s life. so I’ve decided to write a four-part document that hopefully explains to new Crohn’s patients and the general public what to expect and how to cope. these posts cover the medical symptoms tips for patients living with the disease and tips for people who know someone living with Crohn’s.

In this post, I’ll cover some of the treatment options available and the improvements made since I was first diagnosed. but before deciding on a treatment or treatments, discuss all of these options with your doctor. you may want to read to read the section on symptoms before reading this post, so that you understand why certain treatments are used.

When I was first diagnosed in April 1991, there weren’t any truly effective treatments for Crohn’s Disease. the treatments were either drastic – an ostomy – or did their best to mask the symptoms . Medications included a form of sulfa, antibiotics, oral steroids and anti-diarrhea solutions. Since these medications rarely induced remission of the disease (that is, a significant reduction of symptoms), most of us with Crohn’s were hospitalized often. Between 1991 and 2000, I was hospitalized 18 times for Crohn’s or Crohn’s related symptoms. all told, I spent 318 days in a hospital bed during those ten years.

The principle reason treatments were so ineffective was that so little was understood about the disease or how it functions. Fortunately, great strides have been made over the past ten years. thanks to the work of researchers, current treatments are much more effective. I’ll go through each of these.

Corticosteroids are artificial hormones often given to patients in during “flare-ups” (periods of extreme disease activity). During a flare, what happens is the tissue surrounding the disease inflames, causing the extreme pains for which Crohn’s is noted (I’ve joked that I know what labor pains must feel like – my wife actually agrees!). Corticosteroids such as Prednisone, Prednisolone and Deltasone work by reducing the inflammation. these drugs are artificial replacements for the corticosteroids generated by the human body, but are given in much higher doses than the body normally makes. I’ve received as much as 120mg of prednisone a day, or about 60x the body’s normal production. While they are as close to a miracle drug as any for ending flare-ups, they pose serious risks with extended or frequent use. the first is dependence; when receiving such massive doses the body stops producing its own. this is why they are usually prescribed for short periods and ramped down while prescribed. Prolonged use can also lead to cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and cataracts. also, patients taking corticosteroids should note that weight gain and mood changes are common when taking them.

This type of medicine is used to help maintain remission. It’s been used since I was first diagnosed, but the delivery of the active ingredients in sulfonamides has improved greatly in that time – meaning lower and less frequent doses are needed for the same effect. the first medication I was prescribed was Sulfasalazine; I had to ingest three 600mg tablets 4 times a day. if you’re not interested in doing the math, I was taking 7200mg every day, without much positive effect. Today, I take 1200mg of Lialda daily. the most commonly prescribed sulfonamide for Crohn’s today is Asacol (or its generic equivalents, Mesalamine and 5-ASA ), usually at a 800mg dose three times daily. the side effects are relatively minor, such as excessive gas and bloating. in rare cases, it can exacerbate pre-existing heart and lung cases. And some studies link these drugs to reduced fertility in men.

Everyone has bacteria lining their digestive tract. we actually need them to help with proper digestion. but during Crohn’s flare-ups, the bacterial populations literally explode. Nobody is quite sure why, or what the connection may be. regardless, most gastroenterologists will prescribe one or more antibiotics during a flare-up. the most common is flagyl, given intravenously.

The first major advance was in understanding the role an antigen called tumor necrosis factor (or TNF) plays in Crohn’s and the use of anti-TNF drugs in fighting Crohn’s. TNF forms naturally within the body and is one of our immune system’s defense mechanisms against cancer. it works by inflaming the cells around the cancer cells, in essence choking them. Nobody is quite sure why Crohn’s patients suffer this type of inflammation, but studies in the mid and late 1990′s showed that anti-TNF drugs actually reduced the chronic tissue inflammation. Since then, drugs like Imuran or 6-Mercapturine (6-MP) have been introduced. They can’t actually induce remission, but they are effective in maintaining remission once it’s been achieved. the big downside is since they reduce the body’s principle anti-cancer agent, patients taking them are at much higher risk for developing cancers. recent studies show the possibility that Crohn’s patients who have been on one of the anti-TNF medications for extended periods are at substantially higher risk for a type of leukemia.

An offshoot of anti-TNF medications, biologics as used in Crohn’s treatment are designed to essentially “turn-off” the immune system. there are three currently in use: Remicade, Humira and Cimzia. Each has some unique side-effects; ask your doctor about them. in 1998, Remicade was the first of these drugs approved for use in Crohn’s, so it has the longest track record. However, it also has the most common allergic reactions and needs to be administered by IV over a course of several hours. Humira and Cimzia are similar to one another, but whereas a Cimzia injection can last 4 weeks, Humira needs to be injected every other week. Generally speaking, since the immune system is kept in a very depressed state while taking these, the patient is very susceptible to any airborne illness and contracting one can be deadly. if you are planning to take one of these, know the risks and make certain you discuss them with your doctor. I’ve been taking Cimzia for close to a year and it has made a HUGE difference in my quality of life.

Crohn’s patients often require surgical procedures. these can range from the relatively benign (colonoscopy for examining the lower GI tract and removing polyps for closer examination) to a full-blown ostomy. before undergoing any surgical procedure, make certain you discuss all of the implications with your GI doctor and meet the surgical team. you should also try to have a trusted friend or family member with you for these consultations – odds are if you’ve reached this point, the pain has also become nearly unbearable. Whether you’re fighting the pain au natural or with painkillers, you won’t be in the best command of your mental faculties.

For Crohn’s patients, diet is truly a four-letter word. we obviously need to eat, but many foods (including what can seem like most of the yummy ones) will cause an exacerbation of symptoms. Eat too many of them and you may wind up with a full-blown flare. Match that with the fact that as a Crohn’s patient, you need to ensure good nutrition even more so than most people and you stand a good chance of being baffled by your diet – or going insane J. your best bet is to avoid foods that are hard to digest, such as nuts, popcorn and seeds. as for everything else, keep a log of everything you eat and if you experience increased symptoms, then avoid it in the future. Personally, I try not to exclude anything unless I’m in a flare – I just make certain my “avoidance” foods aren’t a constant part of my diet.

Also, you may want to consider nutritional supplements if you find you can’t get enough nutrients from eating. these can range from vitamin supplements to more robust liquid supplement shakes, like Ensure or Boost. in any case, working with a registered nutritionist is always a good idea. And one more thing: most Crohn’s patients find eating large meals tend to make them symptomatic. Try to eat smaller meals and eat more often. for instance, I typically eat 6 times a day – I cover this in more detail in the lifecyle adjustments post.

There are quite a few alternative (or herbal) therapies out there for Crohn’s patients. I do not recommend any of them, although parts of them can be helpful. for instance, I find mint tea can help calm my stomach if I overdue it. regardless, before trying any of them, be sure to check with your doctor and investigate them fully to find out how they can interact with your medications or each other. just because they’re herbal or all-natural doesn’t mean they can’t have side-effects.

Perhaps the most important part of treatment is your ongoing care. your doctor will likely send you for seemingly endless tests. CAT scans, GI studies, barium enemas, X-rays, colonoscopies, blood tests and more are part of the typical “Crohnie’s” regimen. Undergoing these and maintaining your relationship with your doctor are crucial in keeping Crohn’s at bay.

Medical symptoms of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may make it quite tough to breathe for an individual. Due to intensive smoking, this illness is brought and is one of the most deadly diseases. It is a main lung problem. below are the medical symptoms of the COPD and the actions that an individual can detect those:

COPD symptoms and the reasons for it

This is probably recognized as dyspnea which toughens the breathing after performing some activities.

The individual coughs with the production of mucus.

The lung undergoes repeated infections as a result of this disease.

The person suffers from extreme tiredness and exhaustment.

The individual wheezes.In some of the affected persons, the color of the fingers turn out to be slight bluish and grayish in color, which is recognized as Cyanosis, is observed.

Pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis and combination of two lung disorders can be seen in majority of the affected person with COPD. Not only can this other long-term lung illness such as chronic asthma and chronic bronchiolitis also be observed in the patients. the most essential reason for this illness is intensive smoking. the much more a person smokes the more medical symptoms will arise and he will suffer from this deadly lung illness called COPD. though these are basically comes from direct smoking, but there are also some external elements responsible for the birth of this illness such as passive smoking, extensive exposure to harmful fumes or the staying in front of the gas for along time with out having correct ventilation.

The treatment and diagnosis of the COPD

A proper physician or a health provider to prevent the disease from obtaining much more intense should instantly do the initial diagnosis following the notice of the above-mentioned medical symptoms of the disease. Diagnosis such as spirometry, which checks the function of the lungs and some physical examinations, can also be performed for the diagnosis and the elimination of the illness. to measure the quantity of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs, the physician can also perform a blood test. However, the CT scan and the x-ray method of visualization of the lungs can be valuable or useful but might mot show the signs of COPD.

This is such a harmful disease that it has no cure still now and it is an extremely progressive disease, which is permanent, and increases day by day. the remedies, which are used, are done to slower the progress of the illness and its medical symptoms. to open up, the airways and help in respiration the doctors might offer bronchodilator, which is an inhaler or other drugs, may also be given. Oxygen therapy might also be required for some sufferers at home.

Are you looking for medical symptoms ? Check out more about medical symptoms here.

Cholecystitis signs and symptoms typically present as a major suffering felt in the top right-side division of the abdomen. Cholecystitis is infrequently referred to as a gallbladder assault as it’s due to an inflammation of the gallbladder. This post shares the medical symptoms related with the disorder, what causes it and what you contingency do to obtain comfort from the suffering and embarrassment and how to stay divided from severe medical complications.

Cholecystitis Symptoms And Causes

Signs and symptoms may include:

* serious suffering and embarrassment in the upperright side of the stomach that may worsens if left untreated or on respirating deeply

* Pain and embarrassment in the correct shoulder or top back that radiates from the belly region

* Tenderness over top of the abdomen

* Bloating of the stomach

* Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) may be seen in someindividuals

The suffering and joined signs and symptoms may be felt rapidly after eating a dish high in fat.

The inflammation is triggered by the blockage of the channel leaving the gallbladder. it stops the ride of bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum . the blockage may be triggered by gallstones (most common), damage (i.e. mishap or surgery), infection or growth development . There are variables that can enlarge your luck of building the disorder such as gallstones, long labor, stomach mishap and diabetes.

The ailment may advance on unexpectedly (acute cholecystitis), or advance on steadily over time (chronic cholecystitis). Cholangitis is an inflammation of the channel fleeting bile from the gallbladder and the liver to the tiny intestine (common bile duct) and results in related signs or symptoms.

Cholecystitis Diagnosis And Treatment

This complaint requires healthcare consideration and it is necessary to deliberate a medical provider if you watch the on top of referred to signs or symptoms in specific if they strong correct after a dish high in fat. A earthy examination inclusive blood tests, ultrasound studies, a CT indicate of the stomach, or a Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid (HIDA) indicate (a indicate to follow the prolongation and transformation of bile) may be mandated for a correct diagnosis.

If kept untreated, cholecystitis can lead to poignant medical complications, such as tears in the gallbladder and an infection that propagates to assorted other areas of the abdomen.

Treatment could many expected requires a sanatorium stay. you may be since drug for suffering comfort and antibiotic medications to fighting germs infection. you will expected be refused dishes or drinks but may take fluids by means of an IV (intravenous line).

If gallstones are responsible, care will often engage operation to obtain absolved of the gallstones or the total gallbladder (lapraroscopic cholecystectomy). in a few environment the care will combine on dissolving the gallstones. This may be completed by taking medicine to melt away the Gallstones (Ursodiol) or Lithotripsy (utilizing startle waves to break down the stones in to little pieces that may be passed).

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Overlake Hospital Medical Center and Providence Health & Services in Washington have formed a partnership with Healthagen and its iTriage application to give local residents on-the-go access to medical and facilities information through a free, consumer smartphone application for iPhone, iPod touch, Android and Palm users, and also for all Web-enabled devices at iTriageHealth.com.

With the tool, users can:

• Search medical symptoms.

• Learn about possible causes of symptoms.

• Find appropriate locations for medical treatment.

• get access to health care provider specialties, recognitions, videos and social media links.

“We have the great fortune to live and work in a community surrounded by many high-tech companies and very tech-savvy consumers,” said Steve Marshall, M.D., medical director of Overlake’s Emergency & Trauma Center. “By providing detailed information about our hospital, urgent care and medical clinics via iTriage, we’re able to reach smartphone users who want instant access to reliable health care information so they can seek treatment at the most appropriate and convenient location. this application allows us to connect with patients in a way that’s most helpful to them.”

I'm looking for a website that I don't have to subscribe to where I can enter a list of medical symptoms and get a possible diagnosis. Any suggestions??

Merck Manual of Medical Information – Home Edition
Comprehensive information about diseases, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in easy-to-understand English. Features illustrations, photos, animations, and videos.

merckhomeedition.com – 45k – Cached

Author: Shauna RupertSource: ezinearticles.com

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