what is crohn's disease

What is Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The swelling can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, the general name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines. Because the symptoms of Crohn’s disease are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. In Crohn’s disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel.
Crohn’s disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn’s disease can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. People of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease, and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis.
What causes Crohn's disease?
Several theories exist about what causes Crohn’s disease, but none have been proven. The human immune system is made from cells and different proteins that protect people from infection. The most popular theory is that the body’s immune system reacts abnormally in people with Crohn’s disease, mistaking bacteria, foods, and other substances for being foreign. The immune system’s response is to attack these “invaders.” During this process, white blood cells accumulate in the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation, which leads to ulcerations and bowel injury.
Scientists do not know if the abnormality in the functioning of the immune system in people with Crohn’s disease is a cause, or a result, of the disease. Research shows that the inflammation seen in the GI tract of people with Crohn’s disease involves several factors: the genes the patient has inherited, the immune system itself, and the environment. Foreign substances, also referred to as antigens, are found in the environment. One possible cause for inflammation may be the body’s reaction to these antigens, or that the antigens themselves are the cause for the inflammation. Some scientists think that a protein produced by the immune system, called anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may be a possible cause for the inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, weight loss, arthritis, skin problems, and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia. Children with Crohn’s disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. The range and severity of symptoms varies
Two-thirds to three-quarters of patients with Crohn’s disease will require surgery at some point in their lives. Surgery becomes necessary when medications can no longer control symptoms. Surgery is used either to relieve symptoms that do not respond to medical therapy or to correct complications such as blockage, perforation, abscess, or bleeding in the intestine. Surgery to remove part of the intestine can help people with Crohn’s disease, but it is not a cure. Surgery does not eliminate the disease, and it is not uncommon for people with Crohn’s Disease to have more than one operation, as inflammation tends to return to the area next to where the diseased intestine was removed.
Some people who have Crohn’s disease in the large intestine need to have their entire colon removed in an operation called a colectomy. A small opening is made in the front of the abdominal wall, and the tip of the ileum, which is located at the end of the small intestine, is brought to the skin’s surface. This opening, called a stoma, is where waste exits the body. The stoma is about the size of a quarter and is usually located in the right lower part of the abdomen near the beltline. A pouch is worn over the opening to collect waste, and the patient empties the pouch as needed. The majority of colectomy patients go on to live normal, active lives.
Sometimes only the diseased section of intestine is removed and no stoma is needed. In this operation, the intestine is cut above and below the diseased area and reconnected.
Because Crohn’s disease often recurs after surgery, people considering it should carefully weigh its benefits and risks compared with other treatments. Surgery may not be appropriate for everyone. People faced with this decision should get as much information as possible from doctors, nurses who work with colon surgery patients (enterostomal therapists), and other patients. Patient advocacy organizations can suggest support groups and other information resources.
People with Crohn’s disease may feel well and be free of symptoms for substantial spans of time when their disease is not active. Despite the need to take medication for long periods of time and occasional hospitalizations, most people with Crohn’s disease are able to hold jobs, raise families, and function successfully at home and in society.
Can diet control Crohn's disease?
People with Crohn’s disease often experience a decrease in appetite, which can affect their ability to receive the daily nutrition needed for good health and healing. In addition, Crohn’s disease is associated with diarrhea and poor absorption of necessary nutrients. No special diet has been proven effective for preventing or treating Crohn’s disease, but it is very important that people who have Crohn’s disease follow a nutritious diet and avoid any foods that seem to worsen symptoms. There are no consistent dietary rules to follow that will improve a person’s symptoms.
People should take vitamin supplements only on their doctor’s advice.
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/
http://www.faqs.org/health/Sick-V1/Crohn-s-Disease.html

An adjacent story line develops in Johnny's footnotes, detailing what is progressing in Johnny's life as he is assembling the narrative. It remains unclear if Johnny's obsessions with the writings of Zampanò and, subsequent delusions, paranoia, etc. are the result of drug use, insanity, or the effects of Zampanò's writing itself. Johnny recounts tales of his various sexual encounters, his lust for a tattooed stripper he calls Thumper, and his bar-hopping with Lude throughout
various notes he wrote through the book. The reader also slowly learns more about Johnny's childhood living with an abusive foster father, engaging in violent fights at school, and of the origin of Johnny's mysterious scars (House of Leaves, 505). This means Johnny has had a hard life, with many disturbing encounters. This influenced how he reacted to the events in his life, the good and the bad.

for anyone and anything

Why could'nt you see, you and me were one and the same. Back then, before i gave you myboby, my soul. You were my first i thought you were the one. We both feel, we both love as we hate. We both heal, the wounds burn still today. We want, we need. I'm glad to say i was stupid, stupid to belive you could feel, feel the touch of warm skin,skin that held your scent. The scent that could made me weak. Weak as i was i belived in someone. Someone who was never here. Never there ,there for me, when i needed them the most. When you where there, you where miles away. away from me, dreaming of a new life, leaving me behind. Too fall so deep, you could never reach me, no one could.a lie, a fake, nothing in its meaning. you said you were a mess, when it was me breaking down. crumbling to your will, your touch, even if it was cold. eyes as dark as night, holding secrets. i know im selfish, but im not careless. i never would have lost you if i didnt want too. i hate you, i dont want you back, i dont care. cry, beg, worthless attemts. i could never see inside of you, that scared me. i couldnt see you, not the real you. so why do i love you? feel i need you? id rather die, then be like you. you where sexy, when you fell from gace. so shitty, so lost, someone i could relate too. you cut me, bit me, scratched me, to be honest, i loved it,as it built. can you belive i actually thought, thought you were real. i guess they were right, i was naive before i met you as you, the real you. if i were as stupid as you said, i would have been like most stupid people and taken you back. when you called crying, begging,asking for forgiveness and death. so naive to belive id fall again, fall for that. all i need, i have. no longer weak, no longer deppressed, i am me again. so proud to be, with a better man, who showed me love. a man whos so much better then you, and yet so much greater then me.

losing you

Things are not getting any better,in fact they seem to be getting worse.me and my girl are having alot of problems and todays our anniversary and she is talking about leaving the county for good!! she says she doesnt know where she is going but she will call me when she gets there. she said she is leaving this hell hole. I mean things between us are bad, it hurts alot. its like if things between us keep getting worse then I might lose her and without her im nothing its bullshit but then again so is life. I feel like im losing everyone.
today I was so depressed and I feel like im not good enough 4 anyone. I feel like im not pretty enough even though she says im sexy and hot,but today I was on the-n and I saw a pic comment that she left for her ex's picture and she said omfg your so fuckin sexy thats when my depression started I know im not pretty enough for anyone I mean im not ugly but I felt like it today.I mean I think thats the first time she seen a pic of her ex I was so hurt I still am.I feel like a big part of me is dead.I swear my life sucks big time! I mean today was so boring and stressful.

FACEBOOK!

hey people just reacently made a face book, already have 174 photos, you should check it out, at face book, Rachel Lynn Bridges, im the only lynn bridges. yep and if u have one ADD ME!!! love to chat but i gotta go!

I dont know why so dont ask me

Dont make me kick youre ass mother fucker!!!!
Have you ever seen these windows,
Have you ever tried
To see them through, to see the home
Of eternal twilight?
You hear no sound
Through these windows,
There's no noise
Behind these walls
When the night falls
And the lights glow up in the city
These abandoned windows
Remain dark and emply.
And when the morning comes
To paint the world in gold,
These windows reflect no light
They remain dim and cold.
Eyes like wells
Like a window to nothing
Only darkness dwells
Behind the window to nothing.
Only silence flows
Behind these windows,
And no one knows
What's behind these walls.
Eyes like wells
Like a window to nothing
Only darkness dwells
Behind the window to nothing.

English 494 Thomas Wilk week 5 blog entry.

The physical dimensions of words themselves are not in any way perfect. Even in great quantities, words do not physically round up too much. Despite their physical size, words can move countries to civil war, overthrow governments, or move someone to tears. All these were dealt with in the newspaper, in its own relativities place of course, (though we never actually succeeded in overthrowing the government.) Death in the school, reactions to new policies, and new school administration were the most important subjects through the school newspaper. With proper skills, people can use their literacy skills to accomplish their own goals. Late in my senior year I tried to use my literacy to capture the school’s attention, to realize what was going on around them. I felt that people should understand how the world around them works, and should be aware of what they can do to change that surrounding. Overall, I think an important part of being literate is being a responsible and aware human being.