======================================================================= -] The Olde Crohn [- ======================================================================= Agrescit Medendo "the cure is worse than the disease" Volume 1 -- August 1995 Dedicated to the concept that no one should suffer from Crohn's Disease or Colitis ====================================================================== This Issue: Candida Albicans - Anemia - Book Reviews ====================================================================== WELCOME to the first edition of "The Olde Crohn", an electronic magazine written by former Crohn's and Colitis sufferers who have taken back their health and have begun new and productive lives. Published online every other month, we will devote each issue to a detailed discussion of a specific topic from the causes and effects of inflammatory bowel disease. Over the years I have come to know many people like myself, who have been diagnosed with Crohn's. And through those years I have suffered from my "affliction" along with them. However, it always seemed that there were a few lucky individuals who showed little or no symptoms and were leading happy and productive lives. As a scientist and researcher I was intrigued, and as a Crohn's sufferer I knew I had to find the answer. What I was hoping to find was some "miracle" cure, some magic bullet. Some simple thing that I could do, or eat, or take, that would make my pain go away. I was to be disappointed. What I have come to learn is that while there is not one global answer that fits everyone, there is an individual group of answers that will work for each and every one of us. There are solutions to our pain and suffering. If you are looking for an easy answer or a single pill solution like I was, don't bother to read "The Olde Crohn". The simple, no investment answer is simply not here. However, if you are willing to work hard at conquering your disease, if you are willing to experiment, if you are relentless in your desire to be healthy, if you are dedicated to taking back your health from an "incurable disease", then you may find your answers here. In the pages of "The Olde Crohn", thanks to the volunteer assistance of Novus Research, you will find technical reports that we have discovered both from traditional medicine and from alternative sources. You will find nutritional information, drug descriptions along with their success and failure rates, and new therapies that are showing promise from around the world. But of the highest importance, you will find the personal stories of people who have conquered Crohn's Disease and Colitis. People like you and me, who have suffered for years, but who have refused to submit to the label "incurable", and have persevered and succeeded. The most well known Latin phrase comes from Julius Caesar who said "Veni, Vidi, Vici" ( "I came, I saw, I conquered") The word "vidi" not only means "to see" but to "understand or know". The people who have conquered Crohn's and Colitis have a basic, pervasive similarity. First and foremost, they came to "know and understand" their enemy, and as a result they came to conquer it. If you are willing to come to that place of understanding, that place of knowing, you too can and will conquer the "incurable". It is the mission of those of us involved in "The Olde Crohn" to assist you to know and understand. We plan to motivate, educate, elucidate, and teach anyone with the desire, anyone with the vision, who wants to defeat Crohn's and Colitis. The mythical old crone, the ancient woman who was charged with the preservation of the knowledge of her tribe, is the model of our format. In ancient times, seekers of knowledge went to the elders, who taught through stories of their ancestors, and solved problems from knowledge gleaned from those revelations. This "Olde Crohn" will be no different. To that end we will publish "The Olde Crohn" every other month [the even numbered ones]. We are presently looking for a permanent archive site for "The Olde Crohn" and we will post the location through alt.support.crohns-colitis once we have it locked down. If anyone has any suggestions, let us know via Email. Feel free to copy "The Olde Crohn" and distribute it to anyone. We will also make the hard copy edition available by subscription to anyone without online access. In the spirit of our common cause we welcome and encourage debate, informed disagreement, your own comments, stories and perspectives. We will publish those that can be of value to our readers. We also solicit articles from those of you who have valuable information and perspectives to pass on to the rest of us. If you have a question about anything you read in "The Olde Crohn" or a question specific to your disease, and you take the effort to Email to us; we will make the effort to respond to you. Between issues we strongly suggest that you continue to subscribe to the alt.support.crohns-colitis newsgroup, and continue to support it by your postings and comments. In the meantime, we will be out there lurking, searching and surfing, hoping to find the good stuff. OLDE CROHN EMAIL : rmalloy@squeaky.free.org Please do not send articles for publication by Email. Please send articles to be considered for publication to: The Olde Crohn - Submissions Editor Novus Research 2345 Buckskin Drive Englewood, Florida USA 34223-3987 Articles should not exceed 2,000 words unless approved in advance by the editor. Query us by Email if you think you have something of value to be published. Articles should be submitted on DOS disk in WP5.1 or ASCII format. Hard copy of the articles are welcomed but not required. We don't return disks or hard copy. ===================================================================== **************************************************** ** I CONQUERED CROHN'S ** ************** Michael J. Harris ************** ======================================================================== [ This is the first in a series of articles written by individuals who have conquered Crohn's disease and Colitis through personal perseverance, research, and dedication. These articles are not intended to be an exhaustive account or a medical course of therapy. We do not suggest that anything espoused in any article is a sure cure for Crohn's or Colitis, nor is it meant to contradict another course of treatment. These articles are intended as a source of new information, perspectives, and a stimulus for discussion and debate. Instructions for comments or questions to the author are located at the end of the article -ED ] ======================================================================== My name is Mike Harris and I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1975. I was twenty-one years old, in my first year of a promising career in law enforcement, and beginning a master's degree program in psychology at the University of Bridgeport [Connecticut]. Since my mid teens I seemed to have some predilection to catching the flu. Just thinking about it seemed to bring on the aches, diarrhea, and high fevers. But being young and hearty, I refused to let it interrupt my work, education or social life. I simply pushed on past it. But by the time I hit 21 the flu bouts were becoming longer and nastier. I was regularly missing several days in a row of classes and it was becoming a struggle to keep up. My supervisor at work began calling me aside about the number of sick days I was taking. The pressure to keep up with class work and perform at a physically demanding job blew my social life out the door. A two year-old relationship also went down the tubes. Slowly, but irreversibly my well ordered world was unraveling. And as it unraveled, the pressures on me to perform increased. Final exams hit like Hiroshima. My work schedule got bumped from the 4:00 PM shift to the midnight shift because my supervisor "couldn't rely on me." In the flurry of activity I forgot to deposit a paycheck and my utility bills bounced like superballs. I came home one rainy morning at 7 AM from a particularly bad night shift where I had been reprimanded for studying for a statistics final while on duty, to find no light, no phone. My gut was on fire. I was convinced that I was getting an ulcer, a big one. I went inside to my personal mess, pushed an empty pizza box off the couch and collapsed. That's were a co-worker found me two days later. I had blown my work schedule, missed two finals, and was lying on a sweat soaked blanket with a blast furnace of a fever. He managed to get me into some clean clothes (where he found them, I have no idea) and drove me to the hospital. The nurse at the ER gave me a strange look as she touched my forehead. The look she gave the thermometer was even stranger. She pressed the intercom by my gurney and said "Stat 14", and I said to myself "I'm a gonna die." I managed to crack a smile and grinned, "must be a new record..". "Sir, a 104 degree fever is nothing to joke about. She was right, I am a gonna die for sure. Lots of tubes, probes, needles, a gallon or two of barium "it tastes just like a milkshake" goop applied from both ends and the diagnosis was in. My family doctor, the same man who had seen me down the birth canal, delivered the news. "You have TERMINAL ileitis." I didn't give a hoot about the ileitis part, it was the "T" word that got my attention. However, I was quickly reassured that it referred to a place, not an event and that I was not "a gonna die for sure." All that was needed was some "simple" surgery. Simple in that you snip out the bad section of bowel and sew the severed ends back together. I wanted a second opinion about the terminal stuff. It was at this juncture that my ultimate fortune, if not my immediate comfort took a turn for the better. My family doctor, not being familiar with terminal ileitis, aka regional enteritis, had called in a specialist. He was fresh out of gastroenterology residency and was "up on all of the new research and therapy" on my problem. "No", he said as he prodded my tender and inflamed innards, "we don't rush to section the bowel anymore, since in most cases the inflammation just comes back, only in a more aggressive manner." The translation was simply "cuttin' does nothin'." It would be this one piece of medical advice that would save me from even greater horrors and afflictions. I am convinced today that had I undergone surgery, my final recovery would not have been as successful. ENTER PREDNISONE Prednisone. My constant companion, friend, best buddy, lover. With you in my life, I functioned flawlessly. With you in my life, I worked at maximum potential, got promoted to CO II at work, I made dean's list, I graduated with an M.S. in Psych and I was dating two, (count them, two) great ladies. Without you in my life, my insides burned, my fever soared, and my anus glowed red hot. Prednisone. My colleague, my support, my energy. With you in my life, I had no worries, no cares, no pain. With you in my life I felt euphoric. I just don't know what they mean when they say ileitis is "incurable". So what, who cares. With prednisone there is no ileitis. Ah Prednisone, how fickle you were. I loved you so completely and needed you so desperately. Why, how could you abandon me like that. The first signs that I was being played the fool by my lover were physical. But I didn't care. So what if my upper body strength was draining away and my muscle mass was disappearing. So what if my face was a little rounded. I really didn't mind the mood swings, and the embarrassing bursts of anger although my friends seemed to take exception to them. I could put up with all of it, I could give myself to you completely. Just stay and keep the burning from my insides at bay and I'll put up with anything else you do to me. But the doctors said no way. The affair needed to come to an end, gradually, but to an end. They assured me that there would be other lovers. But I was not to have them. Azulfadine and all of her sorority sisters made me sick, and they did nothing for the burning. I rebelled from all of the other prescription drugs, I refused to follow diets, Pepto Bismol gave me a dark tongue and wicked black stools, and Kaopectate made me retch. I wanted my Prednisone, no substitutes, just prednisone. The doctors finally relented. But now they would try a new approach. If prednisone was bad for me every day, even in moderate doses, perhaps taking a dose every other day would be less damaging. I didn't care, I got prednisone. Prednisone. No burning in my guts, no long sessions on the commode, no fevers. Muscle wasting, mild psychological disturbance, brittle bones, potential retinal clouding, but no burning in my guts. I was happy. THE FIRST REVELATION The career in law enforcement just didn't work out. I was rapidly losing the physical prowess thanks to my love affair with prednisone and I saw the writing on the wall. Get out now vertically or get out later horizontally. I quit and went back to school. My undergraduate degree was in engineering so I got myself into an advanced degree program in mechanical engineering. After graduating, I went to work for an engineering group that designed mass transit systems. A great job, lots of international travel, and a sense of accomplishment at the end of a project. Yes, yes, I was a skinny, round faced, moody bastard most of the time, but I felt great. I was working on a project in Cairo, Egypt and had the great fortune to have lunch with a professor of internal medicine at Cairo University. Somehow, he got the impression that I was taking corticosteroid (how I don't know :-]) and began to question me at length. We talked about the drug, its prescription alternatives, and Crohn's. His response to prednisone was standard medical profession, his statement about Crohn's floored me. He leaned across the table and said, " I don't believe that there is such a malady as Crohn's disease." After I dusted my self off, he then elaborated. Let me paraphrase for you. Crohn's disease, according to the good doctor, was a "catch all" for any unexplainable inflammation of the bowel. Once a root cause appeared from testing, then a "treatable" diagnosis was given. If a root cause was not discerned, then the label "enteritis" aka Crohn's disease is applied. Discovery of a localization of the inflammation will result in a more precise sounding diagnosis such as ileitis (involved ilium or ileocecal valve) or Colitis (involvement of the lower colon). However, the end diagnosis is still merely an acknowledgement that there is inflammation at a particular site. There is no diagnosis of the root cause. Thus the disease is referred to as being "incurable". As a result, the physician must treat the disease symptomatically. Prednisone treats the inflammation, not the cause of the inflammation. Once the "catch-all" diagnosis has been reached, physicians tend to be satisfied with successful symptom suppression, not aggressive, curative action. It's quite simple, he concluded ,"you read the barium x-ray, you find inflammation, you identify the region, you give it the assigned name, and then you direct your energy at suppressing the symptoms so your patient can function." "Hmmm", I thought. THE SECOND REVELATION The concept of being functionally undiagnosed was quite disturbing. It was difficult to fathom that after years of physical and psychological deterioration, I had merely been "suppressing symptoms" and that no real attempt had been made to relieve my affliction. After a quick reality check with several physicians, I confirmed that they could not nor would not dispute the theory. I was left with the following irrefutable facts: FACT 1: The last twenty years of treatment, including my on again, off again affair with prednisone, had been directed solely at symptom suppression. FACT 2: No real effort had been directed at finding out why "I" had inflammation. Sure, there is research into Crohn's in general, but the causes might be broad based and individualized, not from a single focused causative agent. Besides, I didn't care about anyone else's inflammation other than my own. Deep burning pain in the gut has a way of suppressing brotherly love. FACT 3: After twenty years, I had no idea what was really wrong with me. Those people that I had met that were actively involved with dealing with their illnesses all seemed to have a common trait. They all were engaged in researching, reading, and asking about their problems. When I was first diagnosed, there was no alt.support.crohns- colitis group to turn to for help. I found myself at reference libraries, alternative medicine seminars, and watching "Medlife" on the cable access channels. However, even ten years ago, there was little in the literature (traditional or alternative) of value about Crohn's. And I had no idea that I should be looking at things other than Crohn's. A BAKER'S WISDOM My first break through came at a bakery in Alvarado, Texas. One consistent symptom that I had never been able to suppress was that classic of Crohn's, the sticky, tar-like stool. No amount of over-the- counter medication, no amount or type of prescription drug, no bland or roughage diet seemed to have any effect. With that in mind the following will make some sense. How the topic of sticky stools ever came up at a bakery, I don't know, but it did. My friend seemed to know something that I was unaware of, and being a good, close friend, was relishing in withholding it from me. She seemed to be enjoying the sense of complete and utter desperation she was creating. She grabbed a packet of something from the back room and we strolled across the street for lunch. At the local diner, she drank half of the water from my glass and directed me to put one piece of everything I ordered to eat into the half empty (half full, I can never decide) glass. The list went something like this: 1) small hunk of grilled hamburger and toasted bun; 2) dribble of melted cheese; 3) one french fry with dab of catsup; 4) goop from the inside of a tomato slice; 5) spoonful of coffee with cream and sugar; 6) bit of apple pie with a few drops of vanilla ice cream. (Really, I was trying to gain weight). As I would drop each item into the glass she would sprinkle something from the packet into the glass and stir it vigorously with her fork. I was then directed to pay for lunch, and steal the glass and its contents by slipping it into my coat pocket. I walked gingerly back to the bakery. At the bakery, I was directed to sit at a table and hold the glass between my hands while she got some "additional items." She collected a clove of fresh garlic and a press, a small glass bottle and came back to the table. When I put the glass on the table I was moved to say the least. The putrefying mass in the glass was bubbling and rising into some sci-fi amoebic monster. "Put your finger in it", she demanded. Yes, it was indeed sticky. If you haven't guessed already, her magic packet contained baker's yeast. And what, I said, does baker's yeast have to do with my innards. Ignoring that remark she said that we were going to simulate a yeast die-off. She deftly plopped the clove of garlic into the press and dribbled the oils into the glass of bubbling goop. Within just a few minutes, the bubbling, expanding sponge monster began to rapidly contract. It contracted back to a slime on the bottom of the glass with a cloudy liquid floating on top. I was once again directed to touch it. This stuff was like wood glue. She then decanted off some of the liquid into the bottle. Out back of the bakery, she prodded one of the local fire-ant mounds with a stick. These guys do not need much prodding. As the ants began to swarm, she poured the liquid on top of the mound. In just moments, the little nasties were heading back to Mexico. "The juice is alcohol and toxic yeast waste" she remarked, "kills'em dead." She grinned at me slyly and said "and you got a yeast infection." Wait one damn minute here. Gals get "yeast". Guys don't get yeast. Wrongo. In all of our intestines, regardless of gender is baker's yeast's closest cousin, Candida Albicans. In small, naturally occurring amounts, in any mucosa, they do us no harm. However, let them get out of balance and there is hell to pay. My lesson, if you got sticky stools, you got yeast. And if you got yeast, you will eventually have a die-off. The yeast, while aggressive, are easily killed, especially by things like (as every baker knows) excessive heat and garlic oil. When they die, they release alcohol and toxins. More than enough to get you sick. But they don't all die. Enough survive to start the cycle all over again. [See the accompanying report on Candida - ED] MY PERSONAL CURE So I began to research and treat for Candida. I combined both alternative medicine with the informed cooperation of my gastroenterologist who assisted with the anti-fungal drug Nystatin and gradually weaned me from the prednisone. I altered my diet with the help of several books about Candida. I avoided, whenever possible, sugars, wheat and alcohol. The first several months were brutal. The toxic effect of the die- off almost got me to give in. However, the support of friends, family, and my doctor got me through it. It took about four weeks for the sticky stools to disappear. Abdominal cramps and gas lasted for several months. During a very long year, I had two "bouts" of Crohn's symptoms. During the next year I did not have any. It is now four years since I have had "flu-like" symptoms (and I insist that the one episode really was the flu). Three months ago, when I was asked to participate by writing this article, I realized that I was "symptom free". I still watch what I eat, and I have regular check-ups, but symptom free I be. No more burning pain in my bowels, no more commode marathons, and I don't buy toilet paper by the truckload anymore. Now I buy a few rolls of the really soft, expensive stuff, because life, you see, is meant to be enjoyed. Let me say it again. I am symptom free, not symptom suppressed, symptom free. A PASSING THOUGHT It was really difficult to write this article. I agonized over it for weeks. I argued with myself and my friends, and I was deeply embarrassed. I could not conceive of how I would fit fifteen years of affliction and five years of discovery into "2,000 words or less". But in the end, I did it because I know that someone else can benefit from what I went through. Someone else need not endure what I endured, and what I lost over the years. My solution is not THE solution. If Crohn's is a "catch-all" diagnosis for numerous causes, then there will be numerous solutions to be found. Solutions yet to be discovered. But my process is your process. Search, research, talk, ask, experiment, read, but most of all, don't give up. _M.J.H. June 1995 [You may respond or ask questions of this author by sending Email to rmalloy@squeaky.free.org and putting the word HARRIS in the subject header - ED] ***************************************************************** ================================================================= -----]The Olde Crohn Speaks[----- ================================================================= [This column is devoted to answering questions of significance about Crohn's and Colitis related topics. It is NOT intended to be medical or treatment advice, but rather to stimulate discussion on the many aspects of inflammatory bowel disease -ED] ===================================================================== Q: Does diet play any role in treating inflammatory bowel disease? A: According to traditional medical literature, the jury is still out. Several reputable sources claim that diet has no effect. For years doctors prescribed "bland" diets which had little or no effect on the progression of the disease. A debate over "high fiber" vs "low roughage" for Crohn's sufferers still continues, but over all, diet is regarded as relatively insignificant. However, The Olde Crohn has seen over the last several years that the "diet" factor is becoming a more prominent concern in traditional medicine. Probably since alternative medical practitioners have been quite vocal (screaming about it actually). According to alternative medical sources, diet is "the critical issue" in bowel disorders. Consider the following: 1. You are the sum total of all that you eat. Every cell is composed of material that you have ingested or absorbed. 2. There is increasing information that some bowel disorders are related to severe food allergies or to the effects of Candida Albicans. If this is so, then diet is critical. Finally, while it is by no means a definitive answer or "cure-all", many Crohn's and Colitis sufferers who experiment and adjust their eating habits claim to feel better and have reduced symptoms. At very least, diet should be one of the areas of personal research and experimentation for anyone seeking to reduce symptomology. The standard caveat applies: check with your medical care provider to make sure that your are getting the proper nutrition from any diet. Be aware that Crohn's and Colitis reduce your ability to absorb nutrients and that modifications to diet can have negative as well as positive effects. _____________________________________________________________________ Q: How do I know if I have an intestinal yeast overgrowth. A: According to numerous medical and alternative sources, if you have taken either prednisone or antibiotics for periods of longer that one month, then the odds are very high that you have a Candida imbalance. Antibiotics wipe out beneficial intestinal flora and fauna that keep the naturally occurring Candida in check. Prednisone and birth control pills provide the yeast with a hormone that accelerates its growth and conversion into a pathogenic form also increasing your risk of yeast overgrowth. The primary signs to check are: 1. gas and bloating after a sugary or processed flour meal. 2. rectal itching 3. sticky stools However, symptomology is only an "indicator" and not a definitive diagnosis. Seek a medical practitioner who can perform the accepted laboratory testing for Candida overgrowth. If the testing is positive, then a combination of medication and diet will generally become your treatment regime. _______________________________________________________________________ Q: Why is there so much conflict between medical doctors and alternative medical people? It's so confusing to me, how do I know if I am doing the right thing? A: We don't really know, but that does not mean there are no answers. The Olde Crohn is conducting research into historical medical practice to provide some minor insights for a future article, but the answer to your first question is probably not going to be simplistic. Note however, that the split between traditional and alternative medicine is not as pronounced elsewhere as it is in the United States. Medical doctors in Europe, for example, seem to successfully blend both philosophies. It is all very confusing, it is very difficult to know what the right path is if you are not completely informed. Therefore you must strive at all times to be informed. The "right thing" will always come from the "right source". The bottom line is, IT'S YOUR HEALTH, and you, not a doctor or health practitioner, is responsible for your good health. First you must decide that YOU are responsible. If you are responsible, then you must decide to be active and "In Charge". Then you will be able to determine if your health professional is supporting you in asserting that responsibility. The rest is simple. Seek out and work with those that do, reject and avoid those that don't. Enough said. [Email BRIEF questions for The Olde Crohn Speakes to: rmalloy@squeaky.free.org and put "Olde Crohn Speaks" in the subject header. Remember that this forum is not a replacement for medical advice.] ====================================================================== HEALTH NOTES FROM THE WAITING ROOM ====================================================================== It appears that all inflammatory bowel disease sufferers have several serious "secondary" symptoms in common. Aside from the pain and fever associated with Crohn's and Colitis, these common symptoms prove to be the most taxing on individuals, often affecting their ability to function normally even when the pain and fever are suppressed. This column is devoted to discussing and understanding the often overlooked parts of a full treatment regime. ======================================================================== THIS ISSUE'S TOPIC: ANEMIA Anemia is characterized by a reduction in the number of circulating red blood cells and by the reduced volumes of hemoglobin. As red blood cells are the vehicles that carry oxygen to the cells, a reduction in their number causes a concurrent reduction in available oxygen. This is usually manifest in overall feelings of weakness, vertigo, headaches, and a chronic feeling of "no energy". Generally speaking, inflammatory bowel disorders promote "nutritional anemia" in that the root cause of the problem is vitamin and mineral deficiencies that reduce the number of red blood cells. Perhaps the most common and pervasive problem, anemia in Crohn's disease may be multifactorial. The anemia may primarily be due to chronic inflammatory changes of the intestinal lining. It has been suggested from several university studies that vitamin deficiency caused by mucosal blood loss and malabsorption due to inflammation are the major contributors to this pervasive anemia. The inflammatory bowel sufferer should consider the following: 1. Due to malabsorption of your food intake you probably are chronically deficient in most major vitamins and minerals, especially B-12 and iron. The danger of diet experimentation, especially in leaning towards a mostly vegetarian diet is that these diets are low in sources of B-12. If you already have difficulty in absorbing B-12 from meat, you will get no B-12 from a vegetarian diet. In the case of iron deficiency, the problem is likely caused by not only malabsorption, but by blood loss from the mucosa. Tar-black stools are one indicator of such blood loss. However, the lack of iron in your system may also be a result of the progress of the anemia. The more severe the anemia, the less iron that is absorbed and processed. Females who are menstruating experience a natural lowering of their systemic iron that is then naturally replaced by diet. The complication of inflammatory bowel disease prevents the rebound of dietary iron. Some Solutions: The quality of diet, while it is important in your overall health, is not a sufficient answer for inflammatory bowel induced anemia. Since the problem is really one of absorption and not intake, the quality of the diet may have little or no noticeable effect. The next avenue to consider is vitamin and mineral supplements. However, their absorption in the intestinal tract may still be minimal. It has been suggested that the concentration of vitamins and minerals caused by supplements can overcome the deficiencies by sheer volume. However, most reputable medical sources warn against "mega-dosing" and the toxicity associated with certain vitamin and mineral superconcentrations. Statistically, the taking of a few vitamin and mineral supplements, while they may have some small effect on your systemic vitamin absorption, are not worth the expense. Regardless of the claims made in health food stores, vitamin deficiency and anemia cannot be cured simply by taking a "super" multivitamin especially if the root cause is malabsorption. Combining the increase in the quality of your diet with a vitamin supplement will have some positive effects on your overall health, however, they will not necessarily relieve your problems of anemia. There are still some alternatives: First to consider is "sub-lingual" vitamin and mineral supplements, especially for the B vitamins. The supplement is a liquid or gel taken orally and absorbed by the mucosa of the mouth thus avoiding the inflammation of the digestive tract. There are commercially available and available by prescription sources of sublingual vitamins. The use and effectiveness is still not firmly established, however, preliminary studies are showing that the level of anemia can be reduced by sublingual dosage. Second to consider is injectable supplementation. So taken by injection, the vitamins and minerals go directly into action in the blood stream. Your physician can discuss these options with you, however, we suggest that you do some basic research into these alternatives and meet with your doctor as an informed patient. The lack of energy that makes you less functional in your world is not something that you need to endure. The lethargy and resultant lack of performance is not something that you should allow to reduce the quality of your life. These things are the result of anemia common to inflammatory bowel sufferers and can be controlled and reduced if not eliminated. Unfortunately, they are not aggressively treated nor are they effected by the medication that controls your inflammatory symptoms. Take the time to research anemia and supplements and go see your health practitioner. Your good feelings may be only a vitamin away. NEXT MONTH: Gas and Bloating If you would like to contribute to this column, query us first by email at rmalloy@squeaky.free.org and put "Query-Notes" in the subject header. If you have a question about the contents of this column send email and put "Health Notes" in the subject header. Please limit your questions and comments to the current column's topic and always remember that this column is not a substitute for your medical practitioner. ======================================================================== RESEARCH REPORT: The Role of Intestinal Yeast in Bowel Disorders ======================================================================== The following article is an overview and condensed summary from Novus Research Report No. A-66013 "Candida Albicans and Inflammatory Bowel Disease". [Full report available by mail - see Report Section -Ed] ======================================================================== I. Overview Current research indicates that Candida Albicans Syndrome, loosely described as an overgrowth or imbalance of intestinal yeast, affects one third of the total U.S. population. The syndrome is characterized by a series of chronic disorders affecting digestive, lymphatic, reproductive, urinary and endocrine systems, with lesser involvement of the cardiovascular and muscular systems. Candida Albicans is a yeast [fungus] present in and on most of the human body and is normally controlled by the human immune system and the usual bacterial flora present in and on the body. However, when a negative change takes place in the intestinal flora which impacts the growth of the suppressant bacteria, the yeast begin rapid over production especially in the colon. The yeast colonies secrete powerful toxins that are absorbed into the bloodstream causing chronic diarrhea, skin eruptions, cramps and chronic lethargy. Localized overgrowth results in vaginitis, oral thrush and skin rashes. While not a disease, the overall collection of symptoms are referred to as "candidiasis" [candi-DY-AS-is]. The syndrome, candidiasis, was recognized sixty years ago as a result of the interaction of Candida Albicans [then known as "Monilia Albicans"] with body tissues and fluids resulting in vaginal, mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal infections. Recent research has shown that Candida Albicans can affect all cells and fluids and is a complication in AIDS, a contributor to early death in cancer, and a source of male and female infertility. The Candida yeast colony normally lives as a saprophyte, that is by consuming dead tissue rather than living cells. However, the colony can become a pathogen when it is allowed to grow beyond its current food supply or when an event impacts the growth of the bacterial colonies that limit the Candida colony's expansion. Such events include the introduction of antibiotics, cortisone, birth control pills, or artificial hormones. The Candida colony is not directly effected by these drugs, and when the competing bacteria is killed, the Candida expands rapidly. The colony overgrows its normal food supply and easily makes the transition from saprophyte to pathogen and continues to thrive on living tissue. The Candida colony is therefore "opportunistic" as they will overgrow whenever the body's resistance is lowered by nutritional deficiency, infection or a debilitating agent or drug. The colony will increase its area of tissue involvement after conversion to the pathogenic form. This growing tissue involvement will ultimately result in death from blood poisoning known as Candida Septicemia. The role of Candida in blood poisoning and death has recently become more evident as physicians treat AIDS patients whose immune systems are ineffective against the pathogenic effects of Candida overgrowth. The Candida colony that exceeds it environmental food supply will readily transform from its rounded yeast form to a puncturing mycelia form and in doing so secrete numerous toxins. The interaction of Candida is complex. A minimum of 80 known toxins [antigens] are secreted by pathogenic colonies to which the body creates a specific antibody. These fungal antigens often stimulate nonspecific reactions which cannot be directly diagnosed, often resulting in a symptomatic aliment being labeled as " non causal and incurable". However, when the reaction to the antigen is specific to a body system, it can be misdiagnosed. The result of a misdiagnosis can result in a treatment that actually accelerates the growth of the Candida colony. The common misdiagnosis is often placed under a general symptomatic title like Irritable Bowel Syndrome or if specific to an anatomical area, Regional Enteritis and if a more specific site can be located, Crohn's Disease. Then, what is actually inflammation caused by Candida, is treated with the powerful anti-inflammatory cortisone. The resulting introduction of corticosteroid to the gut results in a dramatic increase in the Candida colonies. While the corticosteroid then masks the increasing inflammation, it continues to assist in the colony growth, making the symptomatic disease become both chronic and incurable. Numerous research sources report a direct fact: In every case of corticosteroid use, the patient has demonstrated a severe increase in Candida pathogenic colonization. In short, the use of cortisone for more than a few weeks, results in Candida overgrowth and pathology. II. Candida Symptoms Candida overgrowth will manifest in the following general areas ranked in order of significance: 1. gastrointestinal and urinary tract disorders 2. allergic reactions 3. mental and emotional disturbances 4. endocrine system compromise and eventual exhaustion The primary causative agent in Candida overgrowth is antibiotics. Introduced into the body to deal with specific infections, or accumulated through the consumption of meat products [primarily beef and chicken] containing antibiotics introduced in the animal feeding process, these antibiotics kill intestinal bacterial flora. It is the bacterial flora that directly restricts the growth or conversion of the Candida colony. The secondary causative agent is the use of corticosteroids, used as anti-inflammatory agents or introduced also in meat products or birth control pills. The yeast readily binds to the steroid molecule causing it to form budding hyphae, which are branching tendrils and filaments. These filaments form an enzyme known as phospholipase at their tips which allows the filament to penetrate cellular walls. The action of this enzyme produces peroxide as a byproduct which accounts for localized inflammation such as gut wall distress and skin eruptions. III. Nutrition and Candida Overgrowth The overall research literature suggests that an immune deficient state caused by malnutrition or poor nutrition is a "precursor" to candidiasis. The malnourishment appears to be a factor not in the quantity of the food consumed but in the quality. Candidiasis patients are often deficient in biotin [Vitamin B] which directly inhibits the Candida colony from forming hyphae. IV. Candida Diagnosis The following symptoms and events are ranked in order of significance: 1. Use of broad spectrum antibiotics. 2. Use of corticosteroid for inflammation. 3. Use of birth control pills. 4. Use of hormonal therapeutic drugs. 5. Chronic abdominal disorders such as cramps, diarrhea,tar-like or sticky stools, flatulence, and rectal itching. Stools have a strong, foul odor. 6. Chronic vaginitis or urinary discomfort. 7. Craving for sweets, or yeast made foods such as cheese and beer. 8. Consumption of sweets or carbohydrates produces a marked feeling of high energy followed by a severe feeling of "let down". 9. Fatigue, sudden and uncontrollable hunger, chronic lethargy. Gas and bloating after a meal. 10. Skin eruptions characterized by painful swelling, burning and redness. 11. Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel. 12. Pain and cramping from eating meals with garlic. 13. Urination difficult or with dribbling [male only]. 14. Coating on tongue which is difficult to remove. 15. Irritable or moody before meals. Stomach "growling" is frequent both before and after meals. 16. Painful joints particularly knees and fingers. 17. Strong lights are painful to the eyes. While tests are available, diagnosis is usually accomplished through a detailed review of the patient's medical history and by a direct response to a specific treatment. Since Candida Albicans is found benignly over much of the body, laboratory testing for Candida presence is of little clinical value. The important tests that are available measure the amount of antigens present in the patient's blood serum. The level of antibody corresponds to the level of yeast present. Some tests that have been used are "Chronic Fungal Disease Profile", performed on blood serum samples, the Candida Immuno Assay (CEIA) and the Candida Albicans Antibody Titer Test (CAATT), which also requires correlation to a questionnaire. A new microscopy technique for evaluating candidiasis was recently announced and is available by Advanced Bio Research of Santa Fe, New Mexico [505-982-1199]. They have priced the test at $30.00, which is relatively inexpensive and physician referral is not required. IV. Drug Treatment for Candida Overgrowth The primary drug used against Candida is Nystatin (tm) manufactured by Lederle Laboratories. The drug is a powerful antifungal that kills a wide variety of yeast and yeast-like fungi. The drug is safe, with minimal side effects and is inexpensive. However, the massive die off of the yeast colonies has its own serious side effect known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction [commonly called the Herxheimer Effect]. As the yeast bodies swell and burst from the antifungal drug, they release copious amounts of powerful toxins into the bloodstream. These toxins can cause violent diarrhea [intestinal purging], bloating, headaches, nausea and an apparent worsening of the problem being treated. Most clinicians regard the Herxheimer effect as a "positive" sign that the yeast colonies are being impacted. The severity of the Herxheimer effect can be modified by the drug dosage and by dietary preparation prior to the administration of the drug. Other, less effective drugs are also available and are noted as follows: 1. Amphotericin B: same effects on fungi as nystatin but with more serious drug contraindications including kidney damage. 2. Miconazole: effects both the yeast and mycelial form of Candida Albicans. Available as oral dosage, injectable, and as cream or ointment. 3. Ketoconazole: Broad spectrum antifungal agent known in the US as Nizoral (tm). It is more effective, in some cases than Nystatin, but has numerous possible side effects with extreme nausea being the most prevalent and possible damage to the liver. 4. Griseofulvin: A blood stream specific agent with side effects due to patient hypersensitivity and includes nausea, stomach distress and headaches. It is important to note, that while the drug treatment regimes for candidiasis are highly effective in eliminating or significantly reducing the fungal overgrowth in just a brief period of time, if the underlying causes of the overgrowth are not eliminated, the problem of candidiasis will return or persist. V. Alternative, Natural and Holistic Treatments for Candida 1. Diet: Natural medicine approaches the problem of Candida as one of diet. Food is regarded as medicine and is the single most important element of a treatment plan. The quality of the diet appears to have a direct effect not only on the incidence of the disease but on the recovery process. A number of dietary programs have been put forth, many with unorthodox philosophies of food interactions, but most with beneficial results. 2. Lactic Bacteria (Lactobacilli), Probiotics: (in favor of life, as opposed to antibiotics), are taken orally to implant and replenish friendly bacteria throughout the digestive system. As adjunct therapy it is of great importance in restoring the intestinal balance and preventing the reoccurrence of Candida overgrowth. Numerous studies report positive results. As a single or primary treatment it is ineffective due to the underlying conditions that created the original imbalance. Coordinated in a treatment plan with anti-fungal agents and a wholesome diet it can greatly enhance recovery. 3. Garlic and garlic supplements: The use of garlic as an antifungal is a proven and effective therapy against Candida having a similar effect as Nystatin. The concentrated supplements are often rated as "more effective" than Nystatin. However, the effect of the garlic is both antifungal and antimicrobial [but is primarily antifungal] and the balance of intestinal flora can be negatively impacted. One of the more effective supplements is marketed under the trade name Kyolic (tm). The primary value of aged garlic supplements is that they are "odorless" and produce less gastric distress than large doses of natural garlic. The Herxheimer effect is pronounced in the use of garlic but the duration appears to be less than that experienced by a regime of Nystatin. 4. Caprylic Acid: This short chain fatty acid does not directly kill Candida but has a powerful inhibitory effect on the yeast's growth and ability to form hyphae and filaments. The colony tends to "die out" by attrition. The most rapid effect of caprylic acid is the relief of vaginal and rectal itching. 5. Pau D'Arco Tea: Derived from the bark of the Teheebo tree [and marketed in some areas as Teheebo tea] it is a mild antifungal that can be beneficial as an adjunct to Nystatin or garlic therapy. The tea, if consumed regularly has shown synergistic effects. 6. Antifungal Tinctures: A homeopathic product known as "AquaFlora(r)" has been making news as an effective antifungal/antiyeast and appears to be equal, if not superior, to Nystatin in potency and speed of yeast elimination. VII. Conclusion The role of Candida Albicans in chronic bowel disorders is clearly determined. The role of steroids and improper diet have significant roles in the onset of candidiasis. Testing and evaluation of a patient for Candida Albicans overgrowth is required before any treatment regime for chronic bowel disorders is commenced since many treatment regimes can worsen candidiasis. ======================================================================= [The full text version of this document is available for a nominal fee to cover copying and distribution and includes detailed information on traditional and alternative treatment plans, products and their sources. See the Report Section of the "Old Crohn" for details - ED] ====================================================================== ********************************************** -----BOOK REVIEWS----- ********************************************** "The Yeast Syndrome" John Parker Trowbridge, M.D. Morton Walker, D.P.M. Bantam Books ISBN 0-553-26269-6 Both Trowbridge and Walker have impressive credentials. Dr. Trowbridge is a pioneer in nutritional medicine and Dr. Walker is a highly regarded medical journalist. Rather than list their long resumes in this field, suffice it to say that they constitute the "council of elders" when it comes to Candida therapy. The book is somewhat technical, but is probably the most complete discussion of Candida to come out of either traditional or alternative medical sources. Of great significance is a summary of "candidiasis" (yeast overgrowth) symptoms and the most detailed evaluation form we have seen for diagnostic and evaluation of Candida's role in your medical condition. The book transcends irritable bowel syndrome and connects the potential and diagnosed role of Candida Albicans in a number of previously "incurable health problems." The evaluation forms alone are well worth the price of the book. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ "The Yeast Connection" William G. Crook, M.D. First Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-74700-3 Dr. Crook was one of the first "traditional" medical doctors to recognize Candida Albicans as a direct cause of chronic irritable bowel syndrome. The book is written in a clear language with numerous, understandable charts and graphs, free of medical jargon, and contains valuable insights into this relatively unknown health problem. We came away with a more precise understanding not only of the action of Candida on human digestion and health, but a new perspective on "incurable diseases". "The Yeast Connection" was a national best seller in 1983 and the latest edition contains numerous updates and new information. _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ "The Body Ecology Diet" Donna Gates M.Ed. BED Publications ISBN 0-9638458-8-8 This is a book about Candida written by a Candida sufferer who has overcome her health problem. This appears to be the most recent book published (1993) dealing with Candida and draws on a wealth of new information coming from the research community. Granted, the diets are strict and sometimes quite severe. However Ms. Gates leaves us with the promise that "if you have the will power to follow it [the diet] for three months to a year, you will become well enough to eat [pizza, hamburgers, and deserts] again, but not to excess." We highly recommend this book to anyone that is having problems dealing with Candida. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ "The Candida Control Cookbook" Gail Burton Aslan Publishing ISBN 0-944031-49-8 The foreword to the book is written by Gail Nielsen M.S. who is the founding director of the Candida Research and Information Foundation [see the directory lists at the end of "The Olde Crohn"] and starts with: "So much of what is pleasurable in our lives revolves around food." Ms. Burton is a gourmet cook who attacked the problem of severe diets with skill and panache not normally found in medically related diets. As a consequence, the recipes are not only appetizing and delicious, they are simple to prepare. If you have Candida and you are marooned on a desert island that has a supermarket, this is the one cookbook to have with you. ====================================================================== [Read a good book lately? Is it pertinent to a discussion on bowel disease? Write it up in a competent manner, limit yourself to one page of single spaced text, and include the ISBN # and name of the publisher. Send it by regular mail to: The Olde Crohn Book Reviews 2345 Buckskin Drive Englewood, FL 34223-3987 You just might get to see your name in print and get that warm fuzzy feeling that you've contributed to the vast pool of knowledge on the human condition. And maybe not.] PLEASE, PLEASE don't send book reviews by Email ===================================================================== ********************************************************************** --|] THE MARKET PLACE [|-- ********************************************************************** Reports ** Reports ** Reports The following reports and technical documents are from the Novus Research archive and are the result of online research from various databases and sources. The reports are detailed and contain reference and bibliographical data. The reports are donated by Novus Research to "The Olde Crohn". We provide the reports as source materials for interested individuals to conduct additional research into the specific topic. Proceeds from the sale of reports are used to defray the costs of producing "The Olde Crohn". Reports can be ordered by sending a check or money order for the listed amount (prices include postage) to: Novus Research Reports and Manuals 2345 Buckskin Drive Englewood, FL USA 34223-3987 Please make checks payable to NOVUS RESEARCH. Please refer to the report number in your order. DO NOT send cash or Email orders. We do not accept credit cards. ____________________________________________________________________ A. Candida Albicans and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Report # A-66013 $12.95 A detailed analysis about the diagnosis and treatment of Candida Albicans. The report is a compilation of current information available from numerous sources. The topical outline includes: 1. Discussion on the link between 20th century diets and medical practices that aggravate and set off internal body imbalance, Candida overgrowth and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. 2. Details of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and candidiasis symptomology. 3. Review of diets that have been helpful in reducing IBS symptoms and Candida Albicans overgrowth. 4. Homeopathic remedies, herbal infusions and tinctures, effective against Candida overgrowth. 5. Nutritional supplements that help support the fight against Candida overgrowth and nourish the immune system. 6. Discussion and comparison of prescription antifungal medicine and antifungal-type over-the-counter medicine. 7. Importance of replenishing probiotic bacteria in order to restore natural balance to the digestive system. 8. Detoxification and cleansing of body systems to regain health and well being. 9. Lifestyle changes to support and maintain health once regained. 10.Resources for books, support groups, information sources, nutritional supplements, herbal and homeopathic remedies. B. Stevia: an alternative to cane sugar Report # C-3661 $5.25 Originally prepared as part of an analysis of sweeteners and their medical contraindications, the stevia portion of the report has been released for public use. Stevia is a plant based sweetener that is 10x sweeter per volume than cane sugar. It is commonly used in Japan to sweeten sodas and ice cream. It is currently undergoing consideration by the US FDA as an alternative sweetener and food additive. Alternative medicine practitioners are expressing strong interest in this plant sweetener. The report also lists sources in the US where stevia can be legally purchased by the public. [One of our staffers has tried it and speaks highly of it.] C. The Anti-Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cookbook Report # A-66006 $22.55 75 recipes that appear to have a positive effect in reducing symptoms of bowel inflammation and other disorder symptomology. The report is a compilation of recipes from numerous sources from both traditional and alternative medical disciplines. The recipes are designed to give the user samples of different types of diets ranging from vegetarian to macrobiotics as assistance in choosing an effective diet regime. Each section contains information and analysis about the specific diet type and its philosophy, and lists reference sources for continuing with the diet type that is effective for the individual. The report is designed specifically as tool to assist an individual and their medical supervisor with diet experimentation. Each recipe has been analyzed by a nutritionist for content and nutritional values. ==================================================================== Products ** Products ** Products ** Products ** Products ** Products ==================================================================== The following advertisers have paid a fee to "The Olde Crohn" to list their products for sale to our readers. While we are diligent in excluding products that are known to make marginal or fictitious claims from this list, "The Olde Crohn" does not endorse or recommend any product or supplier listed herein. DO NOT ORDER THESE PRODUCTS FROM "THE OLDE CROHN". Order them directly from the advertiser and by their published directions. ====================================================================== {OK, so we didn't get around to selling any ads this month. However, our marketing team has now hit the bricks with the first issue in hand and the word from the field is "wow!". If you have a product or service that you would like to tout in "The Olde Crohn", Email to rmalloy@squeaky.free.org and put "Advertising" in the subject header. We will send a rate sheet, specifications, and a very long disclaimer written by our legal counsel, Willy the Weasel.} ======================================================================== ====================================================================== <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>> ====================================================================== 1. Candida Research and Information Foundation Box 2719 Castro Valley, CA 94546 (415) 582-2179 2. The Body Ecology Diet Information Update List 1266 West Paces Ferry Road Suite 505 Atlanta, GA 30327 (404) 352-8048 3. Dr. David A. Kessler Director, Food and Drug Administration 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20852 4. National Institute of Health BBS 800-644-2271 5. Black Bag BBS (Medical Topics and many lists of related BBS # 610-454-7396 or ed&blackbag.com 6. Alternative Medicine Newsgroup misc.health.alternative 7. Virtual Hospital WWW > URL:http://vh.radiology.uiowa.edu/ 8. Virtual Medical Library WWW > URL:http://golgi.harvard.edu/biopages/medicine.html 9. Good Medicine Magazine WWW > URL:http://none.coolware.com/health/good_med/ 10. Nutritional Healing WWW > ftp://werple.apana.org.au/sumeria/health/50tips.txt 11. Herbal Caution (Cautions on specific herbs) Gopher: Virginia Cooperative Extension Address: gopher.ext.vt.edu Choose: VCE Subject Matter Horticulture|Consumer Horticulture Question Box & Press Releases Vegetable and Herb Growing Use Caution with Medicinal Herbs [This site is a MUST if you are going to experiment with herbal remedies for any reason] If You have any addresses, phone numbers or locations that might be of interest to our readers, please send them with a brief description by Email to rmalloy@squeaky.free.org and put YOUR INFO in the subject header. +++++++++++ COMING NEXT MONTH ++++++++++++++ More Monthly Features NOTES FROM THE NET A column of news reports, medical announcements, and surveys about inflammatory bowel disease, gathered from our newly donated clipping service. DR. QUACK'S BLACK BAG Products and claims that simply don't work. We tried to get this into the first issue, but Willy the Weasel (sorry, we meant MR. Weasel, sir), our liability attorney hadn't reviewed it at press time. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR If you don't write in, not only will this column go the way of bran flakes, but our letters editor will be quite lonely. However, in a former occupation, he used to "pen" those wonderful letters in the "Playboy Advisor (c)", so he will probably produce a column without your help, but we doubt it will have anything to do with inflammation. MED-FACTS Summary reports from NIH, JAMA, Lancet and other mainstream scholarly journals concerning state-of-the-art medical therapies and research into bowel disorders. Reports complied from donated access to Dialog(tm). If you have information that would be relevant to the any of above columns, send them by Email to rmalloy@squeaky.free.org and put the column name in the subject header. =================================================================== ===================== -] THE OLDE CROHN [- ======================== =================================================================== The Olde Crohn is published six times per year on the even numbered months by volunteers and through the donation of computer and online access time from Novus Research. The Olde Crohn is dedicated to providing information and discussion on the topic of inflammatory bowel disorders. Opinions expressed are solely the opinions of the authors. The Olde Crohn makes no endorsement or recommendation of any product or service offered for sale by advertisers in this magazine. The Olde Crohn does not provide medical advice in any form. Data and articles provided in this publication are for information and discussion purposes only. Unsolicited articles for submission become the property of The Olde Crohn. Articles accepted for publication are edited for content, grammar, and length. Articles should not exceed 2,000 words unless approved in advance by query to the Editor. Submission shall be made on 3.5" DOS formatted diskette in ascii or WP5.1 format. Hard copy is recommended but not required. The Olde Crohn does not return any article, disk, or hard copy submitted. DO NOT SEND SUBMISSIONS BY EMAIL Submissions may be made to: The Olde Crohn Magazine Submissions Editor Novus Research 2345 Buckskin Drive Englewood, Florida USA 34223-3987 DO NOT SEND SUBMISSIONS BY EMAIL Queries, questions, and letters to the editor may be sent by Email to rmalloy@squeaky.free.org or by regular mail to the above postal address. Questions to authors of any article in "The Olde Crohn" may be sent by Email. Please put the authors surname (aka last name) in the subject header of your message. The Olde Crohn welcomes comments, discussion, letters, and criticism of this publication and its content. Please do not use this publication as a replacement for your support newsgroup, as we are limited to our response time and size. For an annual (6 issues), hard copy subscription to The Olde Crohn for those without electronic access send $25.00 (US) for domestic distribution and $35.00 (US) for international distribution to: The Olde Crohn Subscriptions Novus Research 2345 Buckskin Drive Englewood, FL 34223-3987 Online access to copies of THE OLDE CROHN will soon be available by anonymous ftp. We will post the location to alt.support.crohns-colitis when it is set. The file format will be as follows Crhn***.zip *** = month/yr of publication ie 075 = July 95 This issue is Crhn085.zip ======================================================================= Permission is granted for all non-commercial copying or distribution of this publication. Permission is not granted to print out a hard copy of this publication and use it as a bird cage liner. ====================================================================== October Issue: Food Allergies - Lactose and Gluten Intolerance Gas and Bloating - Book and Product Reviews ====================================================================== The Olde Crohn (c) 1995 crhn085.doc.eof|