Questions :)

[B_Atchison]

I also posted this in the general thread, but it was suggested I post here also.

1. Erythema nodosum? I've had it for about 6 years. I didn't even know it was from Crohn's until I was diagnosed this past May. I had been told it was staph infection ( which it did have, Bc it ulcerated, but it was Crohn's first) so for the last 6 years I've had it off and on. It's left scars all over my legs. I get them as knots first usually or bruises. Any tips to help with it? I know I'll always have scars but hoping now that I know what it is that I can prevent more.

2. Epilepsy. The day I came home with my daughter from the hospital I had my very first seizure. 21 months ago. They chalked it up to a reaction from the epidural and figured it would never happen again. Fast foward a year and a half. I had just gotten out of the hospital after 6 days and a diagnoses of Crohn's. 3 days later I had two seizures. A few hours apart. Another 3 day stay and I'm now on kepra. That was in May. I had another seizure last week. All of my tests have come back great so they are not sure what's causing it but are diagnosing me with epilepsy. My mother used to be epileptic ( grew out of it) and she also had her first seizure a few days after I was born. She was only 18. They told her she developed it Bc I took all her nutrients away from her and she was malnourished. She was a baby having a baby and didn't take good care of herself. She hasn't had one in years. I wonder if my seizures are just hereditary or related to my Crohn's disease? Does anyone else also have seizures with Crohn's?

Thanks in advance
Britt

 

[Eridon2002]

Hi Britt, I can comment on the Erythema Nodosum but not the epilepsy. I have had multiple bouts of EN. Starts out as a knot then flattens into what looks like a bruise. Very painful, I would get it on my legs and it would feel as if they were on fire. All the doctors and even the infectious disease specialist thought it was cellulitis. I was hospitalized(twice) and put on IV antibotics. I mentioned-"could this be erythema nodosum?" and the the closed minded doctors said no. I went to a dermatologist who diagnosed it. Thankfully, I never got any scaring from the EN(and I get scars from almost anything!). It did take a while for the discoloration to fade from the EN; but no scaring. Steroids like Prednisone are used to treat EN. I think the last time I had EN was 2009(never on any maintenance meds). Not sure why I haven't gotten any more...I have radically changed my diet since then. Not sure if that has made a difference. Is your Crohn's under control? Perhaps a maintenance med may help control the EN and seizures?

 

[Eridon2002]

Found this journal article, it's old but interesting. I think the authors statement:"erythema nodosum is a type of hyper-reactive tissue response to different bacterial allergens" might hold true in my case. I had my first Crohn's flare after being on doxycyline and the EN quickly followed. I think the doxycyline caused dysbiosis of my microbiome triggering both the Crohn's and EN.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2369660/pdf/brmedj07366-0010.pdf

 

[B_Atchison]

Thanks for the replies guys! I have had it off and on for 6 years. It kept being diagnosed as staph and I would be put on antibiotics. No my Crohn's disease is not under control. I was just diagnosed about 2 months ago. Although now they think I've had it for 6 years ( when I started getting spots on my legs) I've had 2 remicade infusions. I will ask about a mantinence med next time I go to my GI! Thanks!