I missed all of you and you too John!!!!  I had both
kids Back to School Night (of course) on the same day
as the meeting!  I am surrounded by boxes now that we
are in our new house and in a bit of a flare, but
hanging in there!  I hope all of you are in good
health and good spirits. I hope to see you next month!

Hugs and Blessings to all!

Casey

--- John Alexander <john@...> wrote:

> Hi all, I and Powell missed seeing everyone last
> night and look
> forward to coming in October.  My second surgery for
> the J-pouch
> procedure is on  October 3rd and I should be only in
> for a couple of
> days, everything has gone great so far and I feel
> great.  It was nice
> seeing you all at my BBQ, everyone enjoyed your
> company and I look
> forward to doing it again.
>
> Cheers!
> John
>
>
>
>
>


Love, and Blessings,
Casey Smith


"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" 
Isaiah 40:31

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Last night we had a brief discussion on the effects of smoking on UC &
Crohn's.  I came across the following information that I found to be
interesting:

"Smokers have a lower risk of UC for unknown reasons. The nicotine
patch has actually been used to create remissions in people with UC but
it has not been found to help maintain remissions. This is hard to
understand, especially because the disease most similar to UC—Crohn's
disease—is made worse by smoking. Despite the possible protective
effect of smoking, people with UC should not smoke, because the health
consequences of smoking are so severe. Even the use of nicotine patches
remains experimental and carries its own side effects."

This information was extracted from the following site:
http://www.vitaminevi.com/Concern/Ulcerative_Colitis.htm

Wishing you all good health,

--john

Hi all, I and Powell missed seeing everyone last night and look
forward to coming in October.  My second surgery for the J-pouch
procedure is on  October 3rd and I should be only in for a couple of
days, everything has gone great so far and I feel great.  It was nice
seeing you all at my BBQ, everyone enjoyed your company and I look
forward to doing it again.

Cheers!
John

Hi All,

Can't be there tonight, but will be there in spirit :)

Does anyone have any nifty tricks for getting a kid to drink barium contrast? 
Yesterday at Cedars-Sinai was horrific and we ended up having to reschedule my
son's upper GI w/small bowel follow-through.  This was to be his third one since
May and he just HATES drinking that cr@p.

He doesn't seem to think adding a Koolaide packet or chocolate syrup would help
-- so short of an NG tube, any other suggestions?

Thanks!

Enjoy the meeting...

Jean
(Gregory, 12; CD)

---- oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com wrote:

=============

Reminder from the Calendar of oc_ccfa
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oc_ccfa/cal

Support/Information Group Meeting
Wednesday September 20, 2006
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(This event repeats  on the third Wednesday of every month, until Thursday
December 28, 2006.)
Location: 3rd Floor - Hoag Health Center, Irvine
Street: 4870 Barranca Pkwy Irvine
City State Zip: Irvine, CA 92604
Phone: (949) 923-5444

Notes:
This is our regular monthly meeting, every third wednesday of the month at 7pm

PLease join us!


Set up birthday reminders
 
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/cal_us/rem/?http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oc_ccfa/cal?v=9\
&evt_type=13

Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved
  www.yahoo.com

Privacy Policy:
  http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us

Terms of Service:
  http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Hello everyone,

Reminder…..   CCFA Forum/Support Group Meeting Tomorrow Night

Date: 9/20/06

Time: 7:00 PM

Where:  Hoag Health Center, Irvine

            Barranca Parkway and Creek Road

            3rd floor – Community Room

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=250&addtohistory=&address=4870+Barranca+Parkway&city=Irvine&state=CA&zipcode=&submit=Get+Map

See you there!

Reminder:  we meet on the 3^rd Wednesday of every month.

Jon and Matt  

Jean,
Meningitis, was negative. while the blood cultures were positive, so
i do have a septic/blood infection again. I would LOVE to have
visitors! I'll probably be here at least another week or so. I would
very much appreciate the company, it can get quite lonely being
stuck in the hospital for weeks at a time.
The phone number for my room is 562 933 5511, and i'm in room 551A.
if by some chance you call and i don't answer, please wait a few min
and try again, more than likely i'm in the bathroom when i hear the
phone ring. (go figure).
I look forward to meeting you!
THANKS!!
Leah




--- In oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com, "Jean" <jaj_taber@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Leah,
>
> I am SOOOO sorry to hear you're in the hospital!  I read both your
> posts, and forgive me if I didn't catch the official dx, but did
you
> say that meningitis was confirmed?  That's really lousy if it's
true.
> I hope your meds do the trick fast for you and don't cause the
side
> effects they usually do :(
>
> Although we've never met, I have free time in the mornings and
early
> afternoon after I drop my kids at school and would be happy to
come by
> to visit for a few minutes if you're up for company.  I know how
> boring and monotonous it can be when you're stuck in the
hospital.
> Let me know if that's something you'd like.  You can share Crohn's
> notes with me :)
>
> Jean
> (Gregory, 12; CD)
>

Hi Leah,

I am SOOOO sorry to hear you're in the hospital!  I read both your
posts, and forgive me if I didn't catch the official dx, but did you
say that meningitis was confirmed?  That's really lousy if it's true.
I hope your meds do the trick fast for you and don't cause the side
effects they usually do :(

Although we've never met, I have free time in the mornings and early
afternoon after I drop my kids at school and would be happy to come by
to visit for a few minutes if you're up for company.  I know how
boring and monotonous it can be when you're stuck in the hospital.
Let me know if that's something you'd like.  You can share Crohn's
notes with me :)

Jean
(Gregory, 12; CD)

i've now been in the hospital for 10 days. on the one hand it seems
like forever, but on the other, the time has passed pretty quickly!
i stood up for myself and asked for a new ID (infectious diseases)
doctor, bc i did NOT like the one that was given to me. this new ID
doc is really nice and (unlike the first one) he ACTUALLY talks to
me, the first one would walk in and out in less than 5 seconds. :-P
and he wouldn't talk to ME, and i'd tell him that ALL antibiotics
cause me to have many more trips to the bathroom and in turn cause a
LOT more stomach and abdominal pain! and he'd just ARGUE with me
saying that this antibiotic doesn't cause diaherra, which is stupid
to argue with me about it day in and day out, bc I AM THE ONE WHO
knows, i see it, feel it, and deal with it, so i would be the one to
know if there's an increase or not. *rolls eyes* every other one of
my doctors agreed that, the antibiotic is the cause of my increase
in trips to the bathroom! so i finally had enough of it, but wasn't
sure how to ask for a new doctor, bc i didn't know who to ask for!
felt pretty helpless, and then on monday my home health nurse called
to check in to see how i was doing, i told her about what was going
on with the ID doctor and how i couldn't stand him and she said that
i should ask for dr. straer (sp?), and that he's the one the doctors
go to. i also remembered that my first (and most favorite) home
health nurse had mentioned his name before. so with two nurses i
like suggesting that i ask for another doctor, dr. straer to come
by. when the gi doctor, dr. sela-herman, (covering for my doc, dr.
mathis) i told her what was going on and what the home health nurse
had said and she said that she also wasn't comfortable with this ID
doctor (the first one) and that she didn't think he was providing
good care for me, and then she proceeded to tell me about the phone
conversation that they had, had that morning and what she said was
that he was VERY defensive and was like "well, then, why don't u
just go ahead and take the case?" (in a negative and accusatory way)
and she was like "i'm just a gi doc" and he was like oh, and was
still defensive. so between talking to the home health nurse and dr.
sela-herman, it was like a push in the behind to do something, so i
asked dr. sela-herman to put a note in my chart for the attending
doctor that i wanted to switch doctors. once the attending, dr.
nguyen (pronnounced "Win") came by and i told him what was going on
(for the third time) and told him that i wanted dr. staer called and
that i didn't want to use the first ID doc ever again. so at about 9
o' clock that night dr. staer came up and i gave him a quick history
of what's going on and he ACTUALLY TALKED to me!!! (WOW, what a
concept, said sarcastically). anyways, so dr. staer wants to do an
antibiotic lock on my port, which is where they inject the highly
concentrated antibiotic into my port, and ONLY my port, and leave it
there for 10+ or so hours and then aspirate (or DRAW out the
solution). also the new ID doctor, dr. staer wants me to have
(another) transesphogeal eco-cardio-gram, which i had done last
october.
oo, thank goodness it's FINALLY 11pm and chift change for the 8 hr
nurses, and today i've got the 8 hr. nurses. :-P (ewww, icky!) i
hate having shift change THREE times a day! it means that there are
THREE hours a day (instead of two) in which one can NOT reach a
NURSE! it's soo awful!! i think they should go ENTIRELY on the 12
hour shifts! and if someone needs to only work 8 hours, that, like
they do in peds, that either the nigtht nurse comes in 4 hours early
OR someone else just "covers" for 4 hours until night shift kicks
in. i think that system is sooo MUCH better than this stupid 8 hour
shifts! grrrr....i mean, i really liked the morning nurse, but
thought the afternoon one was just horrible, and now i will have yet
ANOTHER nurse in just one 24 hour period.  *rolls eyes* just another
way that the adult system should be more like the peds one.
Anyways, it looks like i'll be guest of the hospital for at least
another week to 10 days or so...*shrugs* i'd rather be here longer
now and get completely RID of this infection, than go home earlier
and have it come back! so i do, actualy hope that they keep me
closer to another 10 days or so, that way they have more time to
allow the antibiotic lock to work! *crosses fingers* apparently the
peds central line nurse (who i absolutely love, she's just amazing)
hasn't actually done an antibiotic lock before, or not many before,
so she wants them to keep a better record of who gets it so that
they can keep track of how well it works (or not).
anyways, sorry to post such a long response...i'm going to TRY to
get some sleep/rest...
Leah





--- In oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com, "Star4ever16" <star4ever16@...>
wrote:
>
> I'm in the hospital, again. I came in last sunday (sept. 4th) with
a
> very high fever and horrible headache. After going to my doctor's
> urgent care center, we were sent to the ER (ick!) because the
doctor
> was concerned that i might have meningitis! (not a good thing to
> have, would mean a one way trip into isolation and probably up to
> the ICU, which is one place in the hospital, I have NOT been,
> thankfully!!) When we arrived in the ER, because the doctor had
> called ahead AND bc the ER wasn't crowded, we (dad and i) were
taken
> right back. as soon as i was put in a cubicle, on a gurney, the
> hurried activity started. the ER doctor wanted to do a lumbar
> puncture (spinal tap) IMMEDIATELY! well, i insisted that i be
given
> pain meds FIRST, even though he didn't want to wait for my central
> line to be re-accessed. for those who do not know what a LP is,
it's
> when the doc sticks a huge needle into the lower spine in between
> vertabrea to collect some cerbreal spinal fluid to check for any
> organisms that might be there, unlike drawing blood where it's
> pulled out, the spinal fluid drips out (like a maple tree) and so
it
> takes several minutes for enough fluid to be collected. it took
TWO
> doctors, THREE rounds of lidocane (which is injected by an 18
guage
> [for those that know about needle guage, the smaller the number
the
> larger the needle, so an 18 guage is huge. while a 30 guage is
very
> fine, i'd choose the 30 guage if give the choice] which hurts
sooooo
> badly when injected, AND you can NOT move at all, no flinching or
> squriming (which i tried SOOO hard NOT to do, but it's really
> difficult not to instinctively NOT to move!!! Plus, the doctor
(the
> 2nd one) said to try to "give/lean into" it, oh, ya, right, that's
> really easy to do! :-P) let's put it this way, having an LP is
just
> a HORRIBLY PAINFUL experience, AND then once it's FINALLY over,
you
> have to lay still for 6-8 hours, can't get up at all, not to go to
> the bathroom or strech ones legs. not 5 minutes after they FINALLY
> finished the LP, i was taken to have a CT scan of my head!!
> (IDIOTS!) they should have done the scan FIRST, bc the LAST thing
i
> wanted to do was lay on my BACK after the LP!!!!!!!! AHHH!!!
(stupid
> idiots!!!) i had to lay on my sore back for 5 whole min, which
felt
> like an hour. i was crying the entire time! then when i was
returned
> to the cubicle, i had to go to the bathroom, but wasn't allowed to
> get up, (and they wanted a urine sample, again stupid for not
> collecting it BEFORE the LP!!!!) so i had to use a BEDPAN!! (I
HATE
> THOSE THINGS!!!!!!!) they HURT SOO MUCH!! it's REALLY HARD, SHARP,
> plastic!! (i think that at the VERY LEAST the edges should be
> ROUNDED, instead of SOO SHARP!!! and that they should have foam on
> the edges!!! that way when one, unfortunate person, had to sit on
> one, that it wouldn't dig in! :-P And it is VERY hard to "go" when
> one is laying horizontal!!!! (i do NOT recommend trying it) *rolls
> eyes* then when i was FINALLY taken to a room upstairs, i was put
in
> a room with FOUR beds!! AHHHH!! (actually that room 501 used to be
> the convomania playroom when i was 13-15) i think rooms with more
> than 2 ppl in it should be outlawed!! and then to add even more
> insult to injury, there was only ONE bathroom for FOUR ppl!!!!
there
> was NO way i could share a bathroom with 3 others (i use it a LOT
> and can't be kept waiting!!!) not too mention no privacy!! And the
> TV was SOOO far away, i could hardly see the TV! and if there was
a
> person across from me and she wanted privacy and closed the
curtain
> i wouldn't be able to see the tv at all! (not that i could hardly
> see it as it was!) at least the two other women in the room were
> very quiet. the following morning, we were ALL moved to other
rooms.
> i was moved from 501a (in 5 east) to 551a (in 5 west). when i was
13
> and first started coming to the hospital, 5 east was the hall i
was
> on, it was a pediatric hall at the time, it was called, the
> Pediatric (or Peds) Annex. The main Miller children's hospital (at
> that time) was being re-done. Anyways, I can still (quite clearly)
> see (in my mind) exactly how the hall (and floor) used to look
like.
> So, I'm now stuck in the hospital, today (sat. sept. 9th is day 7)
> the ID (infectous disease) doctor said that i'd need to be on IV
> antibiotics for another 5-10 days (or so) [i hope for the 10 days,
> not that i want to stay here longer, but bc i want the longer
course
> of antibiotics bc i want to make sure that this infection is GONE
> for good and does NOT come back! so i hope for another 10 days,
> which would make my stay around 17 days or so, which is right
around
> my "typical" length of stay :-P. Anyways, for those of you that
live
> nearby i LOVE having visitors! I'm at Long Beach Memorial Medical
> Center. And for those who live far away, I also LOVE having phone
> calls. It can get quite lonely being stuck in the hospital so
much!
> The general number for the hospital is (562) 933-2000 and then
just
> ask for me.
>

I'm in the hospital, again. I came in last sunday (sept. 4th) with a
very high fever and horrible headache. After going to my doctor's
urgent care center, we were sent to the ER (ick!) because the doctor
was concerned that i might have meningitis! (not a good thing to
have, would mean a one way trip into isolation and probably up to
the ICU, which is one place in the hospital, I have NOT been,
thankfully!!) When we arrived in the ER, because the doctor had
called ahead AND bc the ER wasn't crowded, we (dad and i) were taken
right back. as soon as i was put in a cubicle, on a gurney, the
hurried activity started. the ER doctor wanted to do a lumbar
puncture (spinal tap) IMMEDIATELY! well, i insisted that i be given
pain meds FIRST, even though he didn't want to wait for my central
line to be re-accessed. for those who do not know what a LP is, it's
when the doc sticks a huge needle into the lower spine in between
vertabrea to collect some cerbreal spinal fluid to check for any
organisms that might be there, unlike drawing blood where it's
pulled out, the spinal fluid drips out (like a maple tree) and so it
takes several minutes for enough fluid to be collected. it took TWO
doctors, THREE rounds of lidocane (which is injected by an 18 guage
[for those that know about needle guage, the smaller the number the
larger the needle, so an 18 guage is huge. while a 30 guage is very
fine, i'd choose the 30 guage if give the choice] which hurts sooooo
badly when injected, AND you can NOT move at all, no flinching or
squriming (which i tried SOOO hard NOT to do, but it's really
difficult not to instinctively NOT to move!!! Plus, the doctor (the
2nd one) said to try to "give/lean into" it, oh, ya, right, that's
really easy to do! :-P) let's put it this way, having an LP is just
a HORRIBLY PAINFUL experience, AND then once it's FINALLY over, you
have to lay still for 6-8 hours, can't get up at all, not to go to
the bathroom or strech ones legs. not 5 minutes after they FINALLY
finished the LP, i was taken to have a CT scan of my head!!
(IDIOTS!) they should have done the scan FIRST, bc the LAST thing i
wanted to do was lay on my BACK after the LP!!!!!!!! AHHH!!! (stupid
idiots!!!) i had to lay on my sore back for 5 whole min, which felt
like an hour. i was crying the entire time! then when i was returned
to the cubicle, i had to go to the bathroom, but wasn't allowed to
get up, (and they wanted a urine sample, again stupid for not
collecting it BEFORE the LP!!!!) so i had to use a BEDPAN!! (I HATE
THOSE THINGS!!!!!!!) they HURT SOO MUCH!! it's REALLY HARD, SHARP,
plastic!! (i think that at the VERY LEAST the edges should be
ROUNDED, instead of SOO SHARP!!! and that they should have foam on
the edges!!! that way when one, unfortunate person, had to sit on
one, that it wouldn't dig in! :-P And it is VERY hard to "go" when
one is laying horizontal!!!! (i do NOT recommend trying it) *rolls
eyes* then when i was FINALLY taken to a room upstairs, i was put in
a room with FOUR beds!! AHHHH!! (actually that room 501 used to be
the convomania playroom when i was 13-15) i think rooms with more
than 2 ppl in it should be outlawed!! and then to add even more
insult to injury, there was only ONE bathroom for FOUR ppl!!!! there
was NO way i could share a bathroom with 3 others (i use it a LOT
and can't be kept waiting!!!) not too mention no privacy!! And the
TV was SOOO far away, i could hardly see the TV! and if there was a
person across from me and she wanted privacy and closed the curtain
i wouldn't be able to see the tv at all! (not that i could hardly
see it as it was!) at least the two other women in the room were
very quiet. the following morning, we were ALL moved to other rooms.
i was moved from 501a (in 5 east) to 551a (in 5 west). when i was 13
and first started coming to the hospital, 5 east was the hall i was
on, it was a pediatric hall at the time, it was called, the
Pediatric (or Peds) Annex. The main Miller children's hospital (at
that time) was being re-done. Anyways, I can still (quite clearly)
see (in my mind) exactly how the hall (and floor) used to look like.
So, I'm now stuck in the hospital, today (sat. sept. 9th is day 7)
the ID (infectous disease) doctor said that i'd need to be on IV
antibiotics for another 5-10 days (or so) [i hope for the 10 days,
not that i want to stay here longer, but bc i want the longer course
of antibiotics bc i want to make sure that this infection is GONE
for good and does NOT come back! so i hope for another 10 days,
which would make my stay around 17 days or so, which is right around
my "typical" length of stay :-P. Anyways, for those of you that live
nearby i LOVE having visitors! I'm at Long Beach Memorial Medical
Center. And for those who live far away, I also LOVE having phone
calls. It can get quite lonely being stuck in the hospital so much!
The general number for the hospital is (562) 933-2000 and then just
ask for me.

i'm sorry i haven't been there for the past several months... a lot
has been going on and i'm on new meds, which i have several questions
for those of you that are on or have taken methotrexate... i do plan
on coming to this coming up meeting.. looking forward to seeing you
all again...

Thursday, September 28, 2006
7 PM
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles
The Crohn's and Me Fall Tour, brought to you by UCB, Inc., is coming
to your neighborhood.

At this event, you will learn about Crohn's disease and meet new
people who understand what you're going through.

Together with the experts, you'll discuss:

Ways to deal with the emotional aspects of living with Crohn's
Minimizing the impact the disease often has on important relationships
and jobs
Communication techniques that can make it easier to talk about this
sometimes embarrassing condition
You'll also get to hear the comedy of Ben Morrison and learn
stress-reduction techniques from a yoga specialist.


Register now
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2006
Time: 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. (check-in and refreshments start at 6:30
P.M.)
Locations: In person at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 228-1234
Directions: From Los Angeles International Airport: Take Century
Boulevard East to the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405) North. Take
the Santa Monica Boulevard exit. Turn right onto Santa Monica
Boulevard and proceed 2 miles. Turn right onto Avenue of the Stars.
The hotel is located 2 blocks ahead, on the right.
From East: Take Interstate 10 West past downtown Los Angeles. Take the
Overland Avenue exit and turn right. Proceed 1 mile and turn right
onto Pico. Proceed 1 mile and turn left onto Avenue of the Stars.

From North: Take Highway 101 South to I-405 South. Take the Santa
Monica Boulevard exit and turn left. Turn right onto Avenue of the
Stars. The hotel is located 2 blocks ahead, on the right.

From South: Take Interstate 5 North to I-405. Follow I-405 North to
Santa Monica Boulevard and turn right. Proceed 2 miles to Avenue of
the Stars and turn right. The hotel is located 2 blocks ahead, on the
right.

Parking: Free parking will be provided.




Print out this e-mail to help remind you of this event.
How to participate:
It's okay if you haven't registered prior to the event – we'd still
love for you to attend. Feel free to bring along a friend or relative
who might benefit from a better understanding of your condition. If
you know someone in the Los Angeles area who might be interested in
this important educational program, please forward this invitation.

We wish you and your family the best of health,

The Crohn's Disease Education Network Team

When you're growing up with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you
may feel isolated and misunderstood. There may not be many people with
whom you feel comfortable talking about your illness. You may feel
like you are the only one in the world who is facing these problems.
But for teens suffering from these digestive diseases, the world just
became a little friendlier. Starlight Starbright and the Crohn's &
Colitis Foundation of America have launched www.ucandcrohns.org - a
site that connects teens with IBD in an online community, and provides
them with educational games and tools to help them learn to better
manage their illness.

"For a sick child, the quickest way to recovery is understanding that
you are not alone and that someone else can relate to your struggles.
It helps relieve the pain of any disease," says Michele, a Starlight
Starbright teen and regular ucandcrohns.org user. "When I go to the
site, I can smile because I know I'm not alone. I have met lifelong
friends who will always be by my side."

Recent estimates tell us that in the U.S. alone, as many as 140,000
people under the age of 18 suffer from Crohn's or colitis. Now there's
a place where they can meet and share their experiences. For more
information, visit www.ucandcrohns.org . or
http://www.ucandcrohns.org/#active

I think I can speak for everyone who went to the UCLA walk yesterday
in saying that we had fun and enjoyed meeting all the O.C. folks who
were there :)  Although my kids had no idea who the "Bruce Jenner guy"
was that gave the green light for both the run and walk segments of
the event, I can say that I was excited to see a gold medalist up
close!

If anyone is interested in seeing photos from the event, they are now
available on the photographer's website.  You can also order pictures
(although they are pricey -- a portion of the proceeds will be donated
to CCFA).  Go to:

www.gr8shots.com

Click on the Guts & Glory event.  The password is "HOPE".

A BIG thank you is deserved for John Sicklick for bringing his helium
tank and orange balloons and group flyers to the walk, and especially
for all the work he did to get our great team t-shirts made!  We
looked AWESOME in them!  I know he has more available, so let him know
if you want to get one for yourself.

As of yesterday, our team "The O.C." had raised over $2,000, and
John's "Team Slick and the Ultra Colliders" had raised over $1,000!!!
If you haven't yet made a donation and would like to, CCFA is
accepting donations for the L.A. event through September 30th.

See you all soon!

Jean
(Gregory, 11; CD)

Greetings All,

At the most recent meeting I mentioned I took a non-prescription
supplement called PomGT.  I first learned about the product through
an article (not an advertisement) in Runner's World, where it was
touted as a good product for reducing inflammation.  I have now been
taking this product for three months.  It is hard to directly
associate my reduction in inflammation with this product since I was
a on short course of prednisone, but I am hopeful that it will help
keep the inflammation under control.

According to their web site, one capsule is the equivalent of 8 cups
of Green Tea and two glasses of pomegranate juice.  Considering the
cost of pomegranate juice it may be worthwhile to try this product
if you are already drinking the juice on a regular basis.  The cost
is $16.95 for a one month supply, as far as I know you can only
purchase it online.

The web address is pomgt.com.

WIshing you all good health!

--john sicklick
a.k.a. uc_runner44

Hi Robin,

As I always say...better late than never!  :)  Thanks for the 2 cents.  We are
now working with Dr. D and I expect to have a decision from her next week about
how to proceed here.

Regards,

Jean
(Gregory, 11; CD)


---- D/RPLOTNIK <plotnik@...> wrote:

=============
Dear Jean,

Hope Gregory is doing better.  I know my reply is about a month after your
post.
I always say, when in doubt, go to CEDARS!!
As a Mom, I think you are right for not wanting your child to be the first!
Robin

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean" <jaj_taber@...>
To: <oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 1:21 PM
Subject: [oc_ccfa] 2nd Opinion for TTS Balloon Catheter Dialation of
Stricture?


> Gregory had his follow-up today at CHOC.  He's been feeling good
> overall with only occasional mild cramping.
>
> He's staying on 5mg prednisone for now, mainly because of the
> remaining TI stricture that has not responded to meds and also
> because his sed rate has increased.
>
> I brought up the subject of treating his stricture with the balloon
> catheter procedure (used to stretch it open) -- which kind of
> shocked the doctor because he said he's usually having to explain it
> to people, not the other way around (can you picture me rolling my
> eyes here?)
>
> Anyway...he pointed out the risk of rupture, quoting a stat in the
> neighborhood of 8% (not sure where he got his numbers but I do plan
> to research that further).  He agreed that Gregory might be a
> candidate for this.  He said he wouldn't know for sure until he
> looked again with the scope.  If it's still badly inflamed and the
> IC valve is still narrowed, then he'd likely need surgery instead
> (which is what I'm trying to AVOID and/or POSTPONE by going the
> dilation route).
>
> I asked him point blank how many of these procedures he's done
> personally.  He said he's done many in the esophagus, a few in the
> colon, NONE IN THE ILEUM, and he's never performed a dilation at
> CHOC, only at Long Beach Memorial.  So now I'm a little nervous.
>
> And now I'm asking myself:  Should I call Dr. Dubinsky at Cedars-
> Sinai and get her opinion, find out how many SHE'S performed and
> maybe consider taking him there for the procedure?  I've got nothing
> against our current GI, except his lack of experience in this part
> of the body for this specific procedure.  And I'm just not sure if
> I'm comfortable letting my son be his "first".
>
> He said that this would take some preparation on his part because
> it's not a routine procedure, so we're not rushing to get anything
> done.
>
> Your collective pearls of wisdom are needed here!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jean
> (Gregory, 11; CD, ADHD, asthma; prednisone (holding at 5mg), 6mp
> 75mg, supplements (Forvia, calcium, magnesium, Seacure,
> Multidophilus), Concerta)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

I remember getting these type of eye infections when I was taking
prendisone, they have gone away since I stopped taking it.  Also other
drugs that supress the immune system may have this as a side effect.

John


--- In oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com, "sillyyakgal" <SillyYak@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>   My 17 year old son, Josh, has IBD.  Recently, he developed a very
> blood shot eye.  We took him to an opthamologist after a few weeks,
> because a doctor friend had worried us that it might be iritis.  It
> isn't.  The opthamologist diagnosed it as noncontagious
> conjunctivitis.  The only symptoms were redness, mild sensitivity to
> light, and discomfort.  It has ended up spreading to his other eye.
>    My questions are:  Are there any eye disorders that are more
> prevalent in people with IBD?  Does this sound like one?  I feel like
> we're treating the symptom, but not the cause.  And also, does anyone
> have an opthamologist they love?
> Thank you,
> Barbara Wasbin
>

Dear Amy,

I am so sorry to hear Daniel has been having more D.
When I was in Dr. Beth Moore's office before she did my resection in January
2005, as I waited to have the surgery booked, I kept over hearing the four
girls in her office tell one patient after the next....if they were going to
do a prep for a test, procedure, etc.....they should put Vaseline on their
tush.
I know you should not put Vaseline on a burn but maybe if you could get it
on before it reddens...
Also, what about A & D ointment?  Perhaps a prescription remedy???
How is the new flooring??  Enjoy!
I have missed several meetings, too.  Hope to see you soon!
XO
Rob
----- Original Message -----
From: "Amy Dechene" <amydechene@...>
To: <oc_ccfa@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 1:25 PM
Subject: [oc_ccfa] Missed the Meeting


> So bummed to have missed the meeting. I had carpet installed on
> Thursday along with some other flooring and I was up past midnight
> moving out furniture. Would have much rather been with all of you!!!
>
> Hope everyone is well. I started Imuran. Woo hoo! So far, not much
> to report.  I have been pretty ill but that is just becoming the
> norm for daily life here.
>
> Daniel's doctor wants him to see yet another GI as she really
> believes he may already have IBD that was undetectable in the
> spring. So, we are about to jump on that roller coaster again and I
> am not looking forward to it.  His "D" is so bad that even after
> changing him immediately time and time again, he developed second
> degree burns on his bottom. We have been applying burn cream and it
> seems to be on the mend.
>
> Does this ever get easier? Dumb question I know.
>
> See you all next month!
>
> Blessings,
> Amy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>