Okay...You're All Going To Think I'm Crazy!

[Jessi]

Lately, my husband's x-wife has been really sick. I mean IBD-type sick. She's vomiting and has D with blood on both ends. She was in the hospital last week because of severe abdominal pains.

My husband told me that she was always sick like this while he was married to her, as well. And that as soon as I was diagnosed, he started wondering if this is what is wrong with his x-wife's health, too.

So I started thinking about this... If Crohn's or colitis is caused by MAP bacteria or something like that, this might make sense.

My question is this: Is it possible that my husband is a carrier of the bacteria, and that it was passed on to me? I mean, what are the odds that his x-wife AND his current wife both have the same health problems?

I'm just throwing this out there for others to think about. Please tell me your thoughts.

 

[Emily]

Wow Jessi that's kinda crazy. I can't help but wonder cause that is too crazy of a coincidence! It very well could be, I mean it would fit right in with why so many people have parents with IBD right? I would love to see the day that "Science" officially announces that they know for sure the cause of IBD. It has to happen sometime right?

 

[Jessi]

Yeah, Em, it could just be a crazy coincidence, but can't help but wonder - like you said. She has had probs her whole life, and I've had UC for a few years. It's very weird.

 

[Crohn's Mom]

I'll just say this....I do NOT think you're crazy; not one little bit! I'll refrain from explaining exactly why I think this on here lol...but I tend to agree with you, that is for sure!

 

[Jessi]

T ~ You have a whole lotta reasons to agree with this one, I guess. Still, it's the strangest thing and it only occurred to me today. Funny, in my 8 and a half years of marriage to James, I never knew of his x-wife's health probs. There was just no reason to discuss it before.

 

[DustyKat]

Holy haberdashery! :eek2:

I certainly don't think you're crazy for thinking it. If I was in your situation I surely would! Hmmm...that has given me something to ponder, if you go down the path of IBD being caused by an infective agent I don't think you can dismiss any mode of transmission until proven otherwise, particularly when you are intimate with someone.

Thinking, thinking, thinking...

Dusty. xxx

 

[archie]

Interesting theory, could be something in it although if it was passed on so easily surely there would be more people suffering from it so maybe although the MAP virus causes it maybe people with crohn's also have a defective gene that inables them to fight it off. Who knows but the more research the better.

 

[kiny]

Well, some things to consider.

*In cows, johne's disease gets transmitted to younger animals mostly, full grown cows are less prone to getting it, although it is still possible.

*MAP can be transmitted through fecal matter, I found this interesting: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2011/10/14/18825366.html

*house pets can carry MAP and might be able to give it to humans

I really don't think you got MAP through him, but there is a tiny possibility probably, I don't think anyone has actually tested this.

If you're interested in MAP, you should really start here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPO63UWZgy4 , then you can watch other videos on the channel and after that it's much easier to understand research papers.

I don't know who said it to me, but it's not doctors pushing for a cure anymore, it's crohn's patients and biologists.

Anti-biotics, probiotics and immune stimulants are trying to stop crohn's from happening in the first place, immune supressants are trying to stop the second phase after an inflammation, stopping the cause should be the priority, not the effects.

 

[Del]

My question would be this....Did she have these symptoms BEFORE she met your husband?
Is there anyway of knowing this Jessi?

 

[Jessica]

Haha - Jessi, we know you're crazy. It's okay, we still :heart: you though. Just kidding.

Actually for the past year my boyfriend has been having lots of tummy trouble. We joke sometimes about how I gave it to him. God, I would not know what to do with myself if this was the case. (which is why I lean towards the side of you being crazy)

I mean, I still argue with myself as to the scientific beginnings of Crohn's. Much more research is needed. Thank you for feeding MY crazy paranoia today.

 

[flowergirl]

if she's been that way her whole life, she probably had it before she met your husband.

 

[Crohn's 35]

The only thing that most of us have in common in multiple IBD families is the water. Maybe the water in the area could of been contaminated? Also your husband could of spread a virus and only you women caught it and it activated it? Theories are there, and my thinking is hormone relations too. Good theory tho, no one is crazy on here just don't think out loud :lol:

 

[Jessi]

Wow, everybody! Thanks for all the responses.

Dusty ~ Thanks for not thinking I'm crazy. In truth, I am a bit.

Archie ~ Could it be possible the a vast majority of the population are carriers and only a few actually get to be lucky like us and end up with IBD?

Kiny ~ Thanks for the thoughts and links. I was thinking MAPS is a possibility, but perhaps it's something entirely different. And it's really a shame that our only advocates are ourselves and biologists. We have to fight our own fight it seems.

Del ~ Good question. I'm not sure about her symptoms starting before or after her relationship with my hubby. I'll have to ask her. But even if it was before, he could have picked it up from her only to become a carrier. *shrug*

Jessica ~ Thanks, girl. I knew you'd understand that I really am a crazy kook. I'm sorry about your beau's tummy. Maybe it's just sympathy pains, eh? Fingers crossed.

Flowergirl ~ You're right. If she had it her whole life.... What I should have said is that she's had these symptoms for as long as I can tell. Like I said to Del, I'll check with her. She's really open with me.

Pen ~ About water... I can see that as a possibility, too. She's an hour's drive south of me, but we both drink water from the Rocky Mountains. Does that mean anything, I wonder? And you're certainly right about thinking out loud. The only place I dare do it is here on this forum. People here are fine with my crazy thoughts. Or at least you all appear to be fine with it. :shifty-t:

 

[Del]

Well I am not going to start calling members here crazy after 1 week...
Not good etiquette me thinks...but I have my suspicions....

 

[Jessi]

@ Del ~ LOL. Jump right in. After a week, you are a permanent member of this fam.

 

[Gwen pippy]

Hey Jessi
Anything is possible honey and if you're nuts then so am I.

I was dx 2 years after a family member was dx won't say who to protect them but I had my suspicions and then a few years after I was dx a close but non blood relation was dx!!!

On a recent out patients visit, a very nice new GI from eastern europe told me his country didn't have any IBD issues 15 year ago as all produce was locally sourced and pesticides were kept to a minimum, then big supermarkets came (imports and processed foods) and 10 years ago they started to see a major rise in bowel issues and now they have the same rate of IBD as the rest of europe. He had a patient in with him in another hospital in Dublin and this guy has started to source and grow his own organic fruit and veg as there is a wax used on apples to delay the decay and give a longer shelf life, and this wax contains elements of the pesticides that cannot be washed off, the only way is to peel apple and that means getting rid of the best bit. The GI said it was great in theory to really look into what you eat but unless you grow your own you'll never really have a diet that is free from damaging elements. Really gave me a lot to think about.

Also mum said that some people are carriers, they rarely feel the effects of an infection or condition but can unknowingly pass these things on and she said that long before I was dx.
Maybe natures way????

 

[Jessi]

Very very interesting, Gwen. Thanks so much for sharing this. It means more than you know. :hug:

 

[AshleyElaine87]

I don't think you're crazy either. My grandpa has Crohn's, and so does his ex-wife. She got dx awhile after they got divorced, but still...now his current wife has colon cancer, and so does his ex-wife's sister. I have Crohn's, and my Aunt, his daughter. Not all of us are blood related. Oh, and my Aunt's husband is having a second colonoscopy to confirm colon cancer. Again, not blood related. Weird.

 

[Jessi]

Wow, Ashley, that's a lot more bizarre than my scenario. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jessica]

Maybe I'll share my family history here too...
I was the first to be dx'd. My brother then got half dx'd. My sis is now having trouble. Mom was told she had a Megacolon, now looking for cause. Stepgrandfather just had colon cancer confirmed, removed, and treated. As previously noted, boyfriend has troubles lately, but after a bout of something resembling C.diff. Umm... Oh, and after my dx, one of my good girlfriends was dx'd.

Awesome, huh?

 

[outlier]

why it is crazy coincidence. always remember correlation is no causation