Colin Sweetland, 11, is now enjoying the typical life of a fifth-grader — looking forward to when the bell rings at 3 p.m. so he can play with friends or rush home to practice his chess moves, the trombone or strum his guitar.But Colin has experienced and survived an ordeal most young children have not. now, approximately three years into recovery from surgery for ulcerative colitis, Colin began experiencing severe symptoms from the disease in 2006, when he was just 6 years old. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are digestive disorders of the intestines. The illnesses are also collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is the inflammation of the inner lining of the colon (or large intestine), while Crohn’s disease effects all layers of the intestines and may occur in both the small intestine and colon. according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, an estimated 1.4 million Americans summer from the IBD and approximately 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. But thanks to a surgery Colin underwent in December 2007, Colin is all but cured from a disease that caused anemia, severe abdominal pain and rapid weight loss, among other symptoms. Colin’s Mom, Heidi Sweetland, said that by the time Colin had his surgery, he was down to 45 pounds, suffering form frequent abdominal pain and was so anemic he had had three blood transfusions. “He was in a lot of pain,” Sweetland said, adding that it was also taking a toll on her. “To sit there and watch your child suffer with this disease and not be able to do anything is unbearable,” Sweetland. “I felt so helpless.”

COLIN SWEETLAND, 11 of Laconia, who suffered from ulcerative colitis and is in recovery from that major surgery, has taught himself how to play chess and guitar. DARYL CARLSON/ CITIZEN PHOTO

Click here to view Foster’s prints for sale In may, Colin and his Mom will participate for the third time in the “Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis,” walk held in Manchester each year, benefiting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. The walk is on may 14. Registration begins at 4 p.m. a Derryfield Park in Manchester and walk begins at 5:30 p.m. This year marks the third year Colin and his Mom are participating in the walk, which averages between 400 and 500 participants each year. for the past few years, Colin has been an “Honored Local Hero,” during the walk. But this will mark the first year Colin will kick off the walk by giving a speech. Money raised for the walk goes toward the Foundation’s research as well summer camp programs for children with IBD. To that end, on April 12, from 5 to 9 p.m., there is a fundraiser for Colin and the walk at Patrick’s Pub and Eatery in Gilford. Anyone who goes to the pub during those hours and mentions the fundraiser will have 50 percent of their bill donated to the walk. according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America The cause if IBD is unknown. Sweetland said genetics may play role, but it could also be caused by bacteria or viruses. “That’s why we need money for more research” Sweetland said. The Foundation said that approximately 20 percent of people with IBD have another family members with disease. Symptoms of IBD range from mild to severe, including life-threatening symptoms.Symptoms include persistent diarrhea; abdominal pain or cramps; blood passing from the rectum; fever and weight loss; joint, skin or eye irritation; and delayed growth is children. both of the diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s, are unpredictable, with some patients suffering a single attack and then going into remission for years, while others require frequent hospitalizations or surgery. Without proper treatment symptoms may worsen and cause serious complications such as abscesses, obstructions, malnutrition and anemia. Colon cancer is also more likely to develop for people suffering from long-term ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease of the whole colon.While Crohn’s is incurrable, there are medications that can alleviate inflammation and reduce symptoms.according to the Foundation, common IBD medications are corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and 5-ASA preparations, such as sulfasalazine and newer versions of the drug that have fewer side effects. Antibiotics are sometimes for Crohn’s disease affecting the colon. Ulcerative Colitis can often be cured by surgery. Sweetland, said that when Colin was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in the summer of 2006, he had been suffering from worsening symptoms for several months.”He was rushed to hospital,” Sweetland said, after his father, who is divorced from Sweetland, discovered blood in his stool. a year-and-a-half later, when Colin was eight, he underwent a colectomy. a colectomy is the surgical removal of the colon, cures ulcerative colitis.according to the Mayo Clinic, Ileoanal pouch anastomosis (more commonly called J-pouch surgery) is newest form colectomy and it allows patients to not have to have a permanent outside colostomy bag. It involves removing the large intestine (or colon) and taking a portion of the small investing and turning into a pouch to hold the body’s waste until it can eliminated normally.Sweetland said now, roughly three years after the surgery, Colin’s symptoms are all but cured. he still has to take anti-diarrhea medication, and he is more prone to infection.he also takes fiber supplements. But this nothing compared to amount of medications he had to take just after surgery. Sweetland said Colin was on some 30 different types of medication. The Surgery was done at Massachusetts General Hospital, Sweetland said, praising the doctor who did it. Colin could not eat regular food for three-and-a-half weeks after the surgery, so Sweetland said he devoted his first meal of crackers. Sweetland said while he was at hospital, before an after the surgery, he met many other children with the disease. until then, she said she and her son were not aware of too many other children with the disease. “That’s why we now do the walk, to help inform people about IBD and that effects thousands of people, including hundreds of children in the new England area. she said for both children and adults, it’s disease that no one talks about because of the type o symptoms involved, which some consider embarrassing. “It’s the silent disease nobody wants to talk about,” Sweetland said.

I've been looking up my symptoms and researching colitis over the internet, I was recently on anitbiotics and a side effect was developing colitis. Since I began taking the pills over 3-4 weeks ago it seems as if I go to the bathroom every other minute. The thing is, I stopped taking the pills almost 2 weeks ago and now I'm having severe abdominal pain almost to the point where I can't move and the visits to the bathroom have become more frequent. can anyone shed some light on this? Am I just being over dramatic ?

i have colitis if theres blood go to the er it is very serious if not your a hypercondriac

He has been in hospital 3 times in 8 weeks, always with vomiting and diarreah and severe abdominal pain which is in his right hand side and travels to his back. He has lost 5 stones in 3 monthes. He has been on a drip for the past 4 days (nil by mouth) and is still vomiting etc. Has had MRI scan, barium enema, endescope, scans, x-rays etc ALL CLEAR. his CRP blood levels show infection and he does, at times run a temperature. can anyone recognise these symptoms as anything? please help

I think you need to be really careful about asking for medical advice on Y!A. the vast majority of people on here will not be doctors, and those that are shouldn't be attempting to make a diagnosis based on a short case history.

If you want the doctors to check, ask them to. yes, things sometimes get overlooked, but they are the experts. they may well already have considered pancreatitis as a differential diagnosis and rejected it for some reason. If they don't think test are warranted, or they have tested but don't believe it's pancreatitis, get them to explain their reasoning to you. If you're still not satisfied, ask for a Consultant to look at your husband or for a second medical opinion.

pancreas is on the LEFT side, and if he did have pancreatitis it would have been evident in his blood work, long before now. the abdominal pain on the right side, with the elevated blood counts would make me consider the kidney first, especially as he is passing stones, have they done a KUB? have they cultured his stools? and have they drawn a blood culture? It sounds more like cystitis than anything else, or a severe infection of the bowel involving the right ascending colon. Surely the doctors have considered all of these as well. be patient, I suspect they will solve the problem soon.

My sister was in hospital a few weeks ago with pancreatitis, thought to have been triggered by a gall stone. the (large) gall stone showed up on ultra sound when she was first admitted to hospital – but after about ten days – all further tests were clear. We have family history of gall stones – anything in your husband's family?

I have had pancreatitis 2 times , very strong pain , almost taking your breath away, sick about 20 times a day , weight loss, I had all the test your husband had , if your husband drank a lot of alcohol then yes it could be , but not all cases of pancreatits is caused my this , I hope I have help you, and hope your husband gets better real soon , Merry Christmas to you

Uterine fibroids are benign tumours of uterus. Fibroid tumour of uterus is a disease condition every woman should be aware of. it is a very common condition. Read more to find out the types of fibroid tumours and its medical treatment.

There are 4 types of uterine fibroids. they are interstistial or intramural, submucous, subserous and pedunculated fibroid tumours. The tumour which grows symmetrically and remains within the wall of uterus is called as interstitial fibroid. The tumour which grows outwards and forms a growth on the outer wall of the uterus is called subserous fibroid.

Some tumours have a peduncle through which they are attached to the wall of uterus. such fibroids are called as pedunculated fibroids. those which grow from the submucous layer of the wall of uterus are called submucous fibroids. Different types of fibroids give rise to different complications. Subserous and pedunculated fibroids may undergo rotation at their site and can cause complication like torsion of fibroid which results in severe abdominal pain.

Infection is common in submucous fibroid. Recurrent abortions are caused mainly due to submucous fibroids.  Symptoms also vary according to the type of uterine fibroid. Progressive menorrhagia (heavy menstrual flow) is seen in interstitial and submucous fibroids. Most women complain of heaviness in the lower abdomen. Congestive and spasmodic dysmenorrhoea is also an important symptom of fibroid uterus.

The woman affected becomes anaemic due to heavy flow of menses. An abdominal lump can be noted in a woman with large fibroid. it can be easily detected on physical bimanual examination. Visit a gynaecologist if you have the above symptoms. Small fibroids do not show any symptoms and often do not require treatment. one needs to keep a check if they are growing.

Hormonal tablets like mifepristone 50 mg causes amenorrhoea and helps in shrinkage of tumour. Other medicines such as danazol are used for the same. All these medicines are hormones and have side effects. so they need to be taken only under the advice of a gynaecologist. Iron tablets are used for anaemia and hormonal tablets are also given to control heavy menstrual flow.

Surgery is required in cases where the fibroid does not respond to medical management or if there is large fibroid tumour. so do not neglect this gynaecological disease condition.