Sunday 23 January 2011

Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis compared in brief

There are several differences between Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis. 
Here are a few: Crohn's disease can affect the GI tract anywhere from the mouth to anus; Ulcerative Colitis only affects the colon. There is a term, "Crohn's colitis" that is used to describe Crohn's Disease affecting the colon. 
In Crohn's disease, the entire thickness of the bowel wall is inflamed and where the disease affects the small intestine there is swelling of the tissue that connects the small intestine to the back wall of the abdomen and contains the main intestinal blood vessels and lymph glands. 
In ulcerative colitis, inflammation is usually confined to the inner lining of the colon, which becomes raw and can bleed. In Crohn's disease, fistulas and abscesses can occur. 
Strictures (narrowing of the bowel) can occur in both forms of IBD, but are more common in Crohn's disease, owing to the swelling occurring throughout the thickness of the wall of the bowel rather than being confined to the inner lining ]that is usual in U.C. 
Hope this helps. For further reading a very accessible digest (pardon the pun), you might like Fred Saibil's, "Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crohns-Disease-Ulcerative-Colitis-Everything/dp/1552977714/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295816549&sr=1-4

Saturday 15 January 2011

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Plea to the silent majority of you - anonymity preserved

For those of you who like to be private and send me messages rather than write on my wall or discussion topics (I know there are well over 100 of you), here is an opportunity to be vocal anonymously and your views be seen by others. 

Please add your comments - you don't need to add your identity unless you want to, or you can make up a ncikname. Here is the first of my topics  - a request for help with my research:
Please tell me: 
How you would live your life differently if you didn't have Crohn's / Colitis? Please comment anonymously below!!

Alternatively you may go to my Crohn's help discussion page where there are more topics for you to review and comment on if you wish: Link to FACEBOOK Discussions topics page
Thank you very much - I really appreciate your help!
Joyx

Saturday 1 January 2011

Fart jokes vs science... you decide

I think it's really ironic that my posts about fart jokes get loads of comments and likes whereas...... stuff I spend a week researching and writing....