The Digestion Blog

Last year(2010), Ashley Hasty was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease causing her to be in and out of the emergency room for months. It was finally determined she would need resection surgery on her colon to alleviate her symptoms. This experience was very traumatic for her and during this time she felt alone as she did not know anyone else who had the disease. Continue reading “Purple Dress Project Looks To Raise Awareness About Crohn’s Disease” »

For the many people dealing with acid reflux, lying down can literally be a painful experience. When a person is lying down on their back they are putting more strain on  their lower esophageal sphincter(LES valve). The LES valve is what keeps the contents of your stomach from flowing into the esophagus. One of the reasons for acid reflux disease is a weakened or faulty LES valve, meaning lying down flat on your back is just asking for trouble. Even those who don’t have acid reflux, but have other digestive issues such as Gastroparesis, Functional Dyspepsia or even Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Inflammatory Bowel Disease may have issues when lying down. I personally deal with bouts of indigestion w/ acid reflux combo along with my Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is why I’ve been looking for a solution. Continue reading “Review – Trademark Bed Risers – Elevating Your Bed For Digestive Health” »

A joint study between multiple education & research institutions[1] has found two genome locations that both people with Crohn’s Disease & Celiac Disease share. The group of researchers found the new genetic locations through known genome data on both diseases. There are already two other genome locations that are different in those with Crohn’s Disease & Celiac Disease however they are independant of each disease, this new finding shows a genetic link between the two diseases. The findings shed more light as to the causes of bowel diseases & may very well improve techniques to identify those with the diseases or even lead to an eventual gene therapies.

1. Institutions Involved: University of Groningen, The Netherlands; the Broad Institute, USA; the Université de Montréal and Montreal Heart Institute in Canada

The Independant, a Santa Barbara based paper, has an interview with Ben Morrison, a comedian who has dealt with Crohn’s Disease since 1997.

… But for comedian Ben Morrison, who was hit with a Crohn’s disease diagnosis during his senior year of high school about a decade ago, finding humor in his situation has been the only way to stay positive and even keep the little known intestinal woe under control. He’ll be bringing his Crohn’s-related stand-up show “Pain in the Butt” to town this weekend, and he spent a few minutes chatting with The Independent last month.

Read the rest of the interview @ The Independant’s website.

You can also check out Ben Morrison’s website.

A recent study suggests that those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome eat a diet that meets or exceeds UK Dietary Reference Values. The study surveyed the eating habits of 104 people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome & then compared their answers  against nutritional guidelines to come up with their findings.

Essentially this means that someone with Irritable Bowel Syndrome is most likely not at fault for any nutritional deficiencies they may have as the foods they are eating should contain the nutrients they need. The study did not find any differences in nutrient intake between those with different subtypes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome(diarrhea dominant, constipation dominate  or alternating). The study does not appear to have actually looked into if those surveyed actually had malabsorption of nutrients despite eating a nutrient rich diet.

This study just reaffirms what many already know, that people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome aren’t purposefully eating nutrient deficient diets.

Awhile back I discussed converting your regular sit-down toilet into a squat toilet variety. Despite the sit down toilet’s conquest of most “1st world” nations, squatting a more natural position for the body to “do it’s business”. The Lilipad is a New Zealand invention that is essentially a high end, sturdy and actually attractive toilet platform. It’s definitely the nicest looking toilet platform I’ve seen out on the market as it doesn’t look like some sort of industrial medical device, but more like a piece of wood furniture.

Now the only sticking point I think might be the cost as it is a bit up there at $169 USD, but for those who are handy with tools there is a potentially cheaper option. Lilipad is now selling the plans on how how to build your own toilet platform. The plans cost $9.50(materials obviously not included!). This could mean big savings, given that you don’t cut your hand off while slicing and dicing wood. I have not seen the plans myself, but I feel you can trust the people at Lilipad because this is, a toliet platform, not a “time machine”, “perpetual motion machine” or “cold-fusion reactor” or any of the other scammy “plans” you might see on the internet.

Slate.com is doing a story on fecal transplantation:

“Then [Ruth] met Lawrence Brandt, a gastroenterologist at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx who believed he had developed a procedure to cure people of recurrent c. diff infections: fecal transplant. Brandt has been inserting feces into his patients for a decade now and claims to be solving their problems nearly 100 percent of the time. If his method really works—and he’s not the only doctor who believes that it does—then we may have found a viable, if weird, solution to a serious problem. C. diff infects 250,000 Americans each year and killed more than 20,000 from 1999 to 2004.”

At least the idea might be getting a little bit more mainstream. Maybe some day not only will we have blood banks, but “poo banks” teaming with healthy probiotics flora. Luckily there is already a “sciency name” to mask the “sinister truth” of the procedure: Human Probiotic Infusion. “Hey bob, where you going?” – “Oh, just doin’ my part, heading down to the Human Probiotic Infusion bank”.

If you want to get in contact with Dr. Brandt here is his information:

Advanced Endoscopy Center
5500 Broadway Suite A
Bronx, NY 10463
Phone: (866) 633-8255
Fax: (718) 548-8900

The Moose Jaw Times Herald is running a story about Melissa Rowe, a resident of Moose Jaw, Canada who is trying to raise money for a gastric neurostimulator device. It appears the local Saskatchewan healthcare system has denied her claim to get the device. The estimated cost to get the device is approximately $50,000. She is appealing the decision, so let’s hope they change their mind.

Unfortunately the paper has left out information about the actual fundraiser in the online version of the article and redirects you to buy the paper. I am sure it was probably just an oversight, but it would be nice if they’re trying to help this woman to make sure the information is on the Internet. I’ve e-mailed them to see if they can provide this information. I’ll update this post if it becomes available.

Also I’d like to point out that this shouldn’t be used as a jab against the Canadian healthcare system as it’s no cakewalk to get the the gastric neurostimulator covered by US insurance. Though it’d be nice if both systems had a smoother path.

For most people a trip or two through the buffet is all they can muster before it’s time to go for a nap. However, for others, chowing down more than anyone else is a thrill in and of itself. Competitive eating has been “expanding” in popularity over the last decade thanks in part to groups like the International Federation of Competitive Eating who dolled out $400,000 in prize money in 2009 alone & has partnered with big names like ESPN & Alka-Seltzer. The televised Nathan’s Hotdog Eating contests & shows like “Man vs Food”(which I personally like) have brought the concept away from it’s early sideshow/county fair roots and more into the mainstream. Continue reading “The Dangers Of Competitive Eating” »