Where does Crohn's come from?

[Domsmom]

I know that there is millions of dollars of research going into this, but I would love to know if there is a common thread between us that could possibly be a cause. If you have a chance please answer these questions and/ or add your own.
1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now?
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk?
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city?
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates?
6. Were you sick a lot as a child?
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?
8. What type of diet did you grow up on?
9. What are you allergic to?
10. Do you get stressed easily?

 

[Domsmom]

I'll go first:
1. Yes, second hand smoke
2. Yes
3. Yes...all three that are mentioned. Though no known food allergies.
4. Rural
5. Yes. There are a lot of steel plants near where I live.
6. I don't think more than any other child. No ear infections, no hospitalizations, mostly asthma.
7. Yes.
8. Mostly meat potato and vegetables. Lots of homemade stuff, but I've always loved my sweets and fatty foods too.
9. Penicillin, valtrex, mostly environmental allergies.
10. Used too. Not any more.

 

[Guest]

i'm pretty sure we have some polls like this somewhere... will have look around later..

but my answers to your questions are:

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? i wasn't around smoke when a child, but i do smoke now.

2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? no

3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies? - only allergies, but a family member had asthma.

4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? suburbs of a city.

5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? possibly.. not sure.

6. Were you sick a lot as a child? was reasonably healthy, but dogged by recurrent stomach pains, joint pains..

7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? infant ones yes.. later ones no.

8. What type of diet did you grow up on? fresh, homecooked food, red meat.

9. What are you allergic to? local anaesthetic, penicillin, metronidazole, cefaclor, and some food/food colourings.

10. Do you get stressed easily? not stressed, but i worry too much.

 

[Nytefyre]

I love things like this! Here are my answers.

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? No

2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? No

3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies allergies to grass only. No other autoimmune disorders

4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Suburbs

5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? Not until I moved to Atlanta.

6. Were you sick a lot as a child? No

7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Yes

8. What type of diet did you grow up on? No diet in particular.

9. What are you allergic to? Dexferrum

10. Do you get stressed easily? YES!!!!

 

[sawdust]

As I have been reading more about Crohns, I see speculation - and from what I can tell, these are trends that lead to speculation, but no hard facts - that, since it tends to be a disease of primarily industrialized nations, Crohns is likely a combination of genetics and some factor from what industrialized populations do. I've seen hypotheses on vaccinations, food additives and preservatives, and smoking, which are all in your questions here, but the new one I saw floated about is hormonal birth control (especially early versions), either yourself or from your mother. I don't recommend asking your mother about it. :ywow:

 

[Lisa]

My answers in color.....

I know that there is millions of dollars of research going into this, but I would love to know if there is a common thread between us that could possibly be a cause. If you have a chance please answer these questions and/ or add your own.
1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? NO
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? YES - but AFTER diagnosis
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies YES- but mostly manifested after initial diagnosis - up to years after
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Urban/rural
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? Not to my knowledge
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? - YES - but due to the Crohns'/colitis - not other illnesses
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?YES
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? - Normal, until illness- tried cutting out foods, as I remember everything bothered me - was on tea and toast at one point.
9. What are you allergic to? Foods - none....environmental - horses (HA!), hay, seasonal allergies...medications - morphine, diluadid....
10. Do you get stressed easily? - Not really - although I do tend to internalize a LOT!

 

[Absentminded]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? No

2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? No

3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies? I have asthma and eczema.

4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Semi-rural

5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? No

6. Were you sick a lot as a child? No more than usual. I had chicken pox and german measles.

7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Yes

8. What type of diet did you grow up on? Fresh home cooked meals. I dis go through a period of no dairy to see if it would help my eczema.

9. What are you allergic to? Asprin, pollen.

10. Do you get stressed easily? Yes, I'm also a worrier!

 

[Sue-2009]

We need to add accutane on this questionaire...I took it...I don't think it caused it,,,But I do believe it adds to a perfect storm...

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? Yes
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? No

3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies allergies to grass only. No other autoimmune disorders

4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Suburbs

5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? No
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? Yes
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Yes

8. What type of diet did you grow up on? No diet in particular.

9. What are you allergic to? Nothing
10. Do you get stressed easily? YES!!!!

 

[Becky]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? NO
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? NO
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies
some ALLERGIES but not bad
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? SUBURBS
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates?NO
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? NOT REALLY
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?YES
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? No PARTICULAR. MOSTLY HOMECOOKED
9. What are you allergic to? NOTHING
10. Do you get stressed easily? SOMETIMES
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[xJillx]

I know that there is millions of dollars of research going into this, but I would love to know if there is a common thread between us that could possibly be a cause. If you have a chance please answer these questions and/ or add your own.
1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? No
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk?No
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies No
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city?Rural
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates?No
6. Were you sick a lot as a child?I was born with bilateral club feet (corrected with surgeries), however, no other illnesses
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?Yes
8. What type of diet did you grow up on?I ate what kids ate. I never really ate fruits and veggies until I was in my 20's.
9. What are you allergic to?No allergies
10. Do you get stressed easily?

Yes, I am a high stress person

 

[katiesue1506]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? Secondhand as a child
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? no
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies- just an allergy to Penicillin
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Suburbs
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? No
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? - Really young I had a lot of tonsil and strep problems, but had them removed and never had problems again
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Yes
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? Ha... a crappy American one
9. What are you allergic to? Penicillin
10. Do you get stressed easily? Yep. And I internalize

 

[Guest]

just popping back regarding my first post... there are far too many polls which might be of interest along similar lines, for me to post all the links... if anyone would like to read through them, they can all be found in the Polls Galore forum, here... http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18

 

[Rebecca85]

1. I smoked from the age of 14 or so, up until diagnosis at 24.
2. Nope, and mostly avoided cow's milk because of allergy or intolerance or something.
3. Yes, eczema.
4. Village but not exactly rural. Maybe considered suburbs?
5. No.
6. Frequent ear infections, mostly I had paracetamol and waited them out, though did need antibiotics a few times. Other than that, just the usual stuff.
7. Yes
8. Not junk food but not health food. Things like home made lasagne but with sauce from a jar. Cheese sandwiches, apple and a mini chocolate bar for lunch.
9. Penicillin. Possibly erythromycin. I also seem to be intolerant of some e-numbers. (food additives to the Americans). Possibly milk. Though some of this may have been undiagnosed Crohn's.
10. Oh yes.

 

[kildare crohnie]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? no but started smoking when i was 12
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? no
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies, no
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? semi/rural
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? maybe
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? no
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? yes
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? junk
9. What are you allergic to? nothuing
10. Do you get stressed easily ? yes

 

[Astra]

1. Mum and Dad both smoked when I was young. I smoke now
2. no
3. no
4. Suburbs of large town
5. Yes, really smelly industrial town
6. no, really healthy child
7. yes
8. A lot of fried food, chips, sausages, eggs, chocolate, cheap crap
9. No allergies
10. No, so laid back I'm horizontal!

 

[outlier]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? Nope (maybe for a year in college)
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? nope
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? I have minor allergies, i do also have arthritis related to crohns
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? city!
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? not particularly considering I live in NYC. My block once one the greenest block award.
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? not particularly, but when ever I got sick my eyes would get inflamed.
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? yes and plus some other. I've had every vaccine expect for Small Pox and japanese encephalitis. I had all the routine childhood ones as a boster as an adult (i studied abroad in Africa)
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? Relatively healthy
9. What are you allergic to? cat's and hay fever.
10. Do you get stressed easily? Nope

 

[sinead]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? Yeah but not a lot, and do smoke now.
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? No, dont drink milk at all
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies - Yeah psorisas
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Rural area
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? No
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? Yeah, flus, tonsilitis, ovarian cysts, etc etc
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Yeah
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? Healthy enough
9. What are you allergic to? Nothing except IMURAN that I know about
10. Do you get stressed easily? YEAH !!! a real worrier

Sinead

 

[Josephine]

Interest questions

I know that there is millions of dollars of research going into this, but I would love to know if there is a common thread between us that could possibly be a cause. If you have a chance please answer these questions and/ or add your own.
1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now?yes and smoking for 14 giving up in twenties
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk?no
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergiesyes age 16 for 18 months
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city?city
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates?not sure London
6. Were you sick a lot as a child?no
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?I think so
8. What type of diet did you grow up on?average sort of malnurtions
9. What are you allergic to?as child plastic or band aid and tins tomato
10. Do you get stressed easily?Worried lot

Thamnk you interest questionairre

 

[hindyg]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now?
Yes - and smoked on and off for a few years
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk?
no - though not a big milk drinker
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies
allergies
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city?
city
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates?
no idea
6. Were you sick a lot as a child?
no
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?
yes
8. What type of diet did you grow up on?
very healthy, low meat diet
9. What are you allergic to?
environmental/seasonal
10. Do you get stressed easily?
not really

 

[Lydia]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? Yes my parents, and I smoked from 11 to 24.

2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? No

3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies
Allergies, many allergies. I also get psoriasis on my scalp if left untreated.

4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? In a city near an industrial park.

5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? Not as bad a some.

6. Were you sick a lot as a child? I had infections all the time. I had many courses of antibiotics.

7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Yes.

8. What type of diet did you grow up on? Lots of junk, pop, chips, boxed crap.

9. What are you allergic to? Penicillin, flagyl, sulfa, codeine, Many raw fruits, pollen, etc.

10. Do you get stressed easily? I was a VERY high strung child and teen, I am way more relaxed now.

 

[Rebecca29]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? YES
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? NO
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies PSORIASIS
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? IN THE WOODS
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? NO
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? YES
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? YES
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? MEAT & POTATOES
9. What are you allergic to? NOTHING
10. Do you get stressed easily? NO

 

[AZMOM]

Here's my answers for Claire:

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? No
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? No
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies. Yes, JRA at age 3, Transverse Myelitis (which may or may not be depending on which Neuro we are seeing ;-) at age 5, Crohn's dx at age 6.
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Rural
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? No
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? No - hardly ever until all he-- broke loose with the arthritis
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Some - had to stop because of the JRA dx and meds
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? - Regular
9. What are you allergic to? - Nothing
10. Do you get stressed easily? - Nope - she's a machine

 

[MADiMarc]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now?
Yes, yes
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk?
yes as a child
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies
no
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city?
very rural
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates?
after I left home at 17, yes.
6. Were you sick a lot as a child?
very bad colic until 18 months old. other than that, no
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?
yes
8. What type of diet did you grow up on?
I grew up on a working farm. We ate what we grew. My mom was a stay at home mom and we had three hot meals a day, or two when we started school.
9. What are you allergic to?
bee stings, ant bites. no other true allergic reactions but many things I am sensitive to.
10. Do you get stressed easily?
Not really. From time to time little things get stuck in my brain and they become big things to me but this is not the norm.

sawdust: I was having a normal life until I started taking the pill. My husband to this day feels that it brought the crohn's up to the surface. I don't think it caused it but I think it "woke it up" so to speak.

 

[Rebecca29]

I read and believe that CD is hereditary. My mother and grandmother have similar symptoms but never went to have it checked out. i am 29 years old and was just tired of going to the bathroom so I looked into it and this is what I am going through (not knowing at the moment what is wrong, but being treated for CD). My brother just recently started using the bathroom more frequently and right away went to the doctor because of what I am going through. Now i just need to get my mom and grandma to go as well.

 

[colitis_ind]

1. No
2. No
3. No
4. All 25 years in a City
5. No
6. No, Infact was very healthy . Used to get high fever in January. First symptom and flare up was also in January
7. No, Skipped booster dose of Hepatitis B
8. Largely Vegetarian food + Eggs and Chicken(very rare)
9. None
10. Yes.

Are Tooth aches and Appendicitis one of the triggers of UC ?

 

[Rebecca85]

I guess appendicitis could be, since the appendix is right next to the colon, maybe it could introduce bacteria or toxins or something? Not to mention that IBD can be misdiagnosed as appendicitis, sometimes a perfectly healthy appendix is removed. I don't know about toothache as such, but painkillers or antibiotics taken for it could, since certain ones can be irritating to the guts.

 

[PsychoJane]

I find the questions quite interesting and would be interested to see more answers so yeah, hopefully it will bounce back in the new posts!.

1. Yes, but never smoked.
2. No
3. Yes, I had a lot of Eczema as a child, and allergies until teenage
4. Until the age of 9 I was in the city, 10-18 rural and city after that.
5. No
6. Not quite before crohn.
7. yes
8. quite healthy one
9. Sulfa and pollens
10. yes

 

[araceli]

I know that there is millions of dollars of research going into this, but I would love to know if there is a common thread between us that could possibly be a cause. If you have a chance please answer these questions and/ or add your own.
1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now?
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk?
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city?
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates?
6. Were you sick a lot as a child?
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?
8. What type of diet did you grow up on?
9. What are you allergic to?
10. Do you get stressed easily?

I am going to answer for my two kids.
1.- Yes. around second hand smoke
2.- No
3.-I do have autoimmune disorder and allergic to penicilin and one of my kids is allergic too.
4.-They grow up in rural area
5.- medium pollution rates
6.- Not sick at all, actually if they had a cold, they will get better in one day, also very tolerant to pain both of them.
7.- all vaccinations
8.- I will say not a good diet.
9.- Only one of them to penicilin
10.- Other than school. none.

 

[bjeanb18]

Interesting, quite a few penicillin allergies, and myself as well... Does anyone know if that is a really common allergy in general? Also a couple of sulfa allergies (myself as well-very severe)...

 

[alex_chris]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? NO, NO
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? YES
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies NO
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Town 140,000 inhabitants
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? NO
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? NOT MORE THAN OTHERS
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? YES
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? NO SPECIAL DIET, HOME COOKED MEALS
9. What are you allergic to? NOTHING
10. Do you get stressed easily? I DID WHEN I WAS A KID AND TEENAGER AND STILL DO SOMETIMES, BUT NOT AS EASILY AS IN THE PAST

 

[amrycrohns]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? Yes as a child
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? Nope
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies? No
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? Inner City
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? No
6. Were you sick a lot as a child? No
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Yes
8. What type of diet did you grow up on? Inner CIty poor people diet
9. What are you allergic to? Pennicillian
10. Do you get stressed easily? Not really, more so lately

 

[hbrekkaas]

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now? Nope. Never.

2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk? Not as a child, and I consume no dairy now, except the rare bite of cheese or icecream.

3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? Ie. Eczema, asthma, allergies Seasonal allergies, food allergies and Celiac disease.

4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? I grew up in a little town in Canada. Compared to a big city, we'd be rural. Compared to "rural" areas around here, we're a city lol. 15,000 people, surrounded by forests and mountains.

5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates? No, pretty clear up here.

6. Were you sick a lot as a child? All the time.

7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations? Yes

8. What type of diet did you grow up on? My mom cooked most of our meals, but most meals included processed foods. Lots of white bread/pasta, kraft dinner, shake and bake chicken, honey nut cheerios every morning for breakfast and she make sure we always had a dessert after lunch at school and after dinner. I was a chunky kid....Kool-aide was already ready in the fridge.

9. What are you allergic to? Allergic to nuts, cats, seasonal allergies, and some pesticides on fruit. As well as gluten from Celiac disease, and serious intolerances to corn, dairy, rice and oats.
10. Do you get stressed easily? I really don't. Whats going to happen is going to happen.

 

[xmdmom]

answering for my son

1. Were you around a lot of second hand smoke as a child or do you smoke now?none
2. Did you ever drink unpasteurised milk?no
3. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders?no
4. Did you grow up in a rural area or the city? suburb and town
5. Do you live in an area with high pollution rates?no
6. Were you sick a lot as a child?no
7. Did you have all your routine vaccinations?yes
8. What type of diet did you grow up on?healthy diet with no red meat, lots of veggies
9. What are you allergic to?cats, pollen
10. Do you get stressed easily? yes
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