My wife had her colon removed this past March after suffering from [what we think is] ulcerative colitis for the past 8 years. She has recovered well and has been doing great. Although, just a few days ago she noticed some canker-type sores on her lower lip in the inside of the mouth. A couple days following, she found some on her top lip on the inside. She's NEVER had this happen before. So my question is: if she actually has crohn's, could the removal of her colon have caused the symptoms to spread to her mouth? Or would she have likely experienced this sometime during the past 8 years if it had been crohn's and could instead be due to something she ate possibly? ANY insight would be GREATLY appreciated!
HELP!!! Mouth Sores
- Thread starter tz.maryk
- Start date
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Hi tz.maryk and welcome to the forum! 
Canker sores can be caused by many different things. Does she have any other symptoms? Both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease can cause canker sores/aphthous ulcers. I've tried looking up to see if you could still get canker sores from UC even though the colon has been removed yet all I'm finding is that UC can cause canker sores (Judith would you happen to know if this is possible?). It's very likely could be related to diet or another health condition possibly. If its really bad or persists then she should see her doctor about it to find the direct cause and get that treated.
Possible triggers for canker sores include:
A minor injury to your mouth from dental work, overzealous brushing, sports mishaps, spicy or acidic foods, or an accidental cheek bite
Toothpastes and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate
Food sensitivities, particularly to chocolate, coffee, strawberries, eggs, nuts, cheese and highly acidic foods, such as pineapple
A diet lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folate (folic acid) or iron
An allergic response to certain bacteria in your mouth
Helicobacter pylori, the same bacteria that cause peptic ulcers
Hormonal shifts during menstruation
Emotional stress
Canker sores may also occur because of certain conditions and diseases, such as:
Celiac disease, a serious intestinal disorder caused by a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in most grains
Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
Behcet's disease, a rare disorder that causes inflammation throughout the body, including the mouth
A faulty immune system that attacks healthy cells in your mouth instead of pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria
HIV/AIDS, which suppresses the immune system
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/canker-sore/DS00354/DSECTION=causes
I hope its just related to what she might be eating though. Keep us posted.
Canker sores can be caused by many different things. Does she have any other symptoms? Both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease can cause canker sores/aphthous ulcers. I've tried looking up to see if you could still get canker sores from UC even though the colon has been removed yet all I'm finding is that UC can cause canker sores (Judith would you happen to know if this is possible?). It's very likely could be related to diet or another health condition possibly. If its really bad or persists then she should see her doctor about it to find the direct cause and get that treated.
Possible triggers for canker sores include:
A minor injury to your mouth from dental work, overzealous brushing, sports mishaps, spicy or acidic foods, or an accidental cheek bite
Toothpastes and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate
Food sensitivities, particularly to chocolate, coffee, strawberries, eggs, nuts, cheese and highly acidic foods, such as pineapple
A diet lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folate (folic acid) or iron
An allergic response to certain bacteria in your mouth
Helicobacter pylori, the same bacteria that cause peptic ulcers
Hormonal shifts during menstruation
Emotional stress
Canker sores may also occur because of certain conditions and diseases, such as:
Celiac disease, a serious intestinal disorder caused by a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in most grains
Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
Behcet's disease, a rare disorder that causes inflammation throughout the body, including the mouth
A faulty immune system that attacks healthy cells in your mouth instead of pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria
HIV/AIDS, which suppresses the immune system
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/canker-sore/DS00354/DSECTION=causes
I hope its just related to what she might be eating though. Keep us posted.
DustyKat
Super Moderator
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- May 8, 2010
- Messages
- 25,247
Hi tz.maryk and :welcome:
It sounds like wife has hard a hard time of things.
Does she have a definitive diagnosis of UC? Or are they debating whether it is UC or Crohn's?
What medication is she taking, if any?
Both of these types of IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's, can cause mouth ulcers (canker sores). They are considered what is called an Extra Intestinal Manifestation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and appear when someone is flaring (their disease is active).
So the removal of your wife's colon would not have triggered this, it is triggered by disease somewhere in the bowel or it can be caused by some of the vitamin B deficiencies. Not everyone with IBD gets mouth ulcers and if they have had them at some point it doesn't necessarily follow that they will always get them when they flare, just as never having had them before doesn't mean they may show up at some time. As you can see, very unpredictable!
Of course if you can link it to something hot or acidic she has eaten it could be something as simple as that.
I will link you to the Mouth subforum here, you will find loads of threads about mouth ulcers there.
My own son suffered with mouth ulcers before I realised he had crohn's. At the time I researched thoroughly and ended up putting him on B Complex tablets, that solved the problem and he hasn't had them since, even when flaring quite severely. Some people also use mouth wash that contains hydrogen peroxide.
Any questions you may have, please don't hesitate to ask!
Dusty. xxx
It sounds like wife has hard a hard time of things.
Does she have a definitive diagnosis of UC? Or are they debating whether it is UC or Crohn's?
What medication is she taking, if any?
Both of these types of IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's, can cause mouth ulcers (canker sores). They are considered what is called an Extra Intestinal Manifestation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and appear when someone is flaring (their disease is active).
So the removal of your wife's colon would not have triggered this, it is triggered by disease somewhere in the bowel or it can be caused by some of the vitamin B deficiencies. Not everyone with IBD gets mouth ulcers and if they have had them at some point it doesn't necessarily follow that they will always get them when they flare, just as never having had them before doesn't mean they may show up at some time. As you can see, very unpredictable!
Of course if you can link it to something hot or acidic she has eaten it could be something as simple as that.
I will link you to the Mouth subforum here, you will find loads of threads about mouth ulcers there.
My own son suffered with mouth ulcers before I realised he had crohn's. At the time I researched thoroughly and ended up putting him on B Complex tablets, that solved the problem and he hasn't had them since, even when flaring quite severely. Some people also use mouth wash that contains hydrogen peroxide.
Any questions you may have, please don't hesitate to ask!
Dusty. xxx
First off, thanks for the quick responses! It is very much appreciated!
Jennifer- She does not have any other symptoms. She has only been improving since the surgery as far as weight gain, energy levels, etc. goes. She hasn't felt this good in years.
DustyKat- The doctors have always believed it to be UC and that's the only diagnosis she's ever been given, although they've indicated Crohn's can't be 100% ruled out. She just weaned off steroids around a month ago and is on no other medications.
I just find it odd that if this is related to her UC [or Crohn's] that this would be the only time she's experienced this over an 8 year period since her initial diagnosis. HOPEFULLY it's related to something else, like something in her diet! She did use a different toothpaste recently while staying with a friend (Tom's natural brand) and ate seafood a day or two before the sores appeared I just found out.
We'll see how the sores are in a couple more days.
Jennifer- She does not have any other symptoms. She has only been improving since the surgery as far as weight gain, energy levels, etc. goes. She hasn't felt this good in years.
DustyKat- The doctors have always believed it to be UC and that's the only diagnosis she's ever been given, although they've indicated Crohn's can't be 100% ruled out. She just weaned off steroids around a month ago and is on no other medications.
I just find it odd that if this is related to her UC [or Crohn's] that this would be the only time she's experienced this over an 8 year period since her initial diagnosis. HOPEFULLY it's related to something else, like something in her diet! She did use a different toothpaste recently while staying with a friend (Tom's natural brand) and ate seafood a day or two before the sores appeared I just found out.
We'll see how the sores are in a couple more days.
DustyKat
Super Moderator
- Joined
- May 8, 2010
- Messages
- 25,247
I hope it is something simple too and having the surgery provides a cure for your wife! Fingers, toes and everything else crossed that the diagnosis stays as UC!
If the mouth ulcers persist I think it would be worth having bloods done for:
Iron Stores.
The various B vitamins.
Zinc.
Magnesium.
As a starting point for answers. Good luck!
Dusty. xxx
If the mouth ulcers persist I think it would be worth having bloods done for:
Iron Stores.
The various B vitamins.
Zinc.
Magnesium.
As a starting point for answers. Good luck!
Dusty. xxx
