Genetic possibilities?

[Nancye50]

I am in the process of what looks like it will be a straightforward Crohn's diagnosis.
I am adopted so I don't have family medical history. Funnily enough, I think I found my biological mother on Facebook a few weeks ago. I hadn't decided how to proceed with that but now am wondering if it's obvious that I need to reach out.
I have three kids. My 7 year old has always had mild stomach issues, aches and always constipated with large, hard BMs that draw tears each time.
What's your advice as parents for me at this point?

 

[crohnsinct]

That is a hard question and I think it depends on the person.

Are you about to be dx'd and are worried about your children? I think if you are about to be dx'd easily there really isn't a medical reason to get your mother's history. If you have it that is all your child's doc will need to know. Having your mother's history isn't that important.

If you are having a hard time getting docs to take notice of your issues or your child's then it sometimes helps having family member history but ...I have a daughter with Crohns and my youngest is like yours but add occasional miscellaneous vomiting and headaches and for safe measure a bit of blood in one bm recently. She also has Vitiligo (an auto immune disease which puts her at higher risk). Even with all this they still aren't perking up to take notice of my younger one. So I am not so sure having Grandma's history will help there.

But like I said it is personal preference and if you just "need to know" or need a reason to contact her than that makes total sense.

Good luck...I really hope you and your children don't have to face Crohns.

 

[Jmrogers4]

My hubby was adopted and was diagnosed with Crohn's over 20 years ago, he had probably 1/2 a moment at that time to try and find his birth parents but figured it would have been more helpful before the diagnosis.
Our oldest child was diagnosed with Crohn's and was quickly referred to a Ped GI once inflammation levels were found to be high in a blood test. His symptoms at that time were stomach aches, constipation, anemia and rapid weight loss. Blood tests were done primarily because he quit eating and was losing a lot of weight which based on his father having crohn's further investigation was warranted.
I hope you get answers for yourself quickly and you do not have to worry about Crohn's any longer

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

Hi Nancy, my son was dx'd last yr and we have no family history of CD at all. There are bowel issues on my side of the family, but it seems to be more like IBS. When my son was dx'd I asked the GI if others in my family should be tested. He said this was unnecessary, as they were sure he had CD and it didn't really matter if anyone else had in the family or not. So, like crohnsinct and jmrogers said, if they are unsure of the dx, then it would be helpful to know if there's a family member with it. Otherwise, I don't know if it's too important. All the best to you! I hope you get the answers you need soon and are on the path to feeling healthy again.

 

[Nancye50]

Thank you all! I just want to be thorough in dealing with this. I hate to think that she would go on with issues while we are all making a fuss over me. Mom guilt.

 

[ThanksP]

Best of luck to you in whatever you decide. I too am adopted and have since found both of my biological parents and am absolutely blessed to have them in my life. Turns out that my father has UC. Go figure. It is nice to know a little more medical history, but as far as anything Crohn's related, I don't think it matters much. I do however wish that in closed adoptions, they would at least leave a medical history. It doesn't seem right to be denied such basic yet possibly life saving information.

 

[nikimazur]

My paternal grandmother has Crohn's as do I. My maternal grandmother, and many aunts have Rheumatoid arthritis. My brother has had severe food allergies since birth(autoimmune), and my sister has celiac disease as well as a fructose intolerance (again autoimmune). I 100% believe that genetics have some role even if it's just a predisposition. It's just too ironic.

 

[Ands]

At our GI appt last week we starting the initial process of taking part in a Crohn's research project, of which genetics are the main focus. It is still in the early stages but will be interesting to see what results show over the years.

Good luck with the decision on contacting your birth mother, not an easy one I am sure, regardless of the medical information.

Ands xxx