Question about ulcers in the small bowel

[mrs. vr]

My brother had an endoscopy today and they found ulcers in two places. One was near his pouch from when he had gastric bypass, which I understand is a complication of that, but also in his small bowel. They're treating it as if they're all from the surgery, but I thought small bowel ulcers were generally associated with IBD. Do you think I should at least mention this to my GI doc?

 

[Colt]

Simply: Yes. Considering he has a sister with crohn's disease (UC doesn't affect the small intestine) he's at high risk to begin with.

 

[mrs. vr]

Simply: Yes. Considering he has a sister with crohn's disease (UC doesn't affect the small intestine) he's at high risk to begin with.

I just got off the phone with him. (they live across the country), and he said they're not SURE the surgery was the cause, but they're treating the ulcers. He's also having his gall bladder out. He was describing how during the ultrasound they kept going back to his GB and made him sit up...they did the same thing to me a couple weeks ago. Yikes.

Anyway, I told him to tell his doctor that my doctors believe I have IBD, and I would mention his ulcers to my doctors. OY.

eta: I'm 38 and he's 46, but we've both had stomach issues for years. The reason he had the bypass in the first place wasn't to lose weight, it was because his stomach wasn't emptying all the way, and he had severe pain. He's also had nausea, and vomiting, and pain. Ay yi yi.

 

[mrs. vr]

Hey Pen, I think it was a measure of last resort for him, I don't know what all else they tried, but I know he was in a lot of pain for a long time. I think he saw the GI yesterday, when he had the endoscopy, and he'll mention me to the doc. This is such an interesting development. Makes me wonder how much of what things aren't genetic. (that made sense in my head)

 

[mrs. vr]

Well as you know Crohns can be from the mouth to the anus, you never know could be an IBD? Trust me, genes go play a role, all my sibs have IBD or IBS, but not my mother....

You know, you just made a light bulb go off in my head. I knew that it was from mouth to anus, but I was so stressed because even though I have high inflammatory markers, the ASCA antibody, GI symptoms, as well as the extra-intestinal ones, they didn't see any ulcers on the scopes. Then I realized, Hello, I have ulcers in my MOUTH and back to my throat all the damn time! :ybatty:

 

[mrs. vr]

I get ulcers in my mouth too from time to time, depends what meds I am on can trigger it, like Cipro. Do you take Nexium for acid?

I take Prilosec. I've had reflux for years. Yuck.

 

[mrs. vr]

YOu could have Thrush too, I never did but some have. The best way for the mouth sores, is I take vitamin c and acidophulis. Works for me.

I don't have thrush, but my brother has had it twice recently. Once though was in AZ when he caught Valley fever and was in the hospital for a couple of days.

 

[Mazen]

Turmeric is said to help in ulcers as well as Crohn's. Check link below

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html