Inflammatory Bowel Disease Expert Todd Eisner shares Inflammatory Bowel Disease management news and commentary at MyIBDCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082 http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082 http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/34835/questions-antibiotics Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:13:00 -0400 Todd Eisner I have been taking Pentasa for my Crohn's disease and had been doing well until recently. My doctor wants to now change me to a steroid, Entocort. I am nervous about steroids, but he says it is safe. What do you think?   Entocort is a nonsystemic steroid used to treat Crohn's disease. Because only about 10% of the ingested drug gets into the bloodstream, it causes much less side effects than other steroids such as Prednisone.... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/34835/questions-antibiotics http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/34061/bacterial-infections Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:25:00 -0400 Todd Eisner My Crohn's Disease has been acting up of late. I had been on a trip in upstate NY and a few other people I was with were diagnosed with Giardia. Could I have it too, and what should I do?   Giardiasis is a parasite infection caused by Giardia lamblia, the most common intestinal parasite in the United States. Most infections result from fecal-oral transmission or ingestion of contaminated water. Contaminated food is a less common etiology.... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/34061/bacterial-infections http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/31950/crohn-disease Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:50:00 -0400 Todd Eisner I am a 23 year old female and I have been having abdominal pain and intermittent diarrhea for 3 years. I've undergone colonoscopy, upper endoscopy and even a small bowel series, and they have all been normal. Two of my cousins have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Is it possible that I have it despite the negative studies?   There is certainly an increased incidence of Crohn's disease in patients with a family history of Crohn's... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/31950/crohn-disease http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/29170/ulcerative-questions Wed, 28 May 2008 14:42:00 -0400 Todd Eisner I have had ulcerative colitis for years, and it began when I stopped smoking. I have read that there may be an association. I obviously don't want to smoke again. Can you tell me a little about this? There most definitely is an association between tobacco smoking and inflammatory bowel disease. Interestingly, the effect on Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis are opposite. It appears that smoking... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/29170/ulcerative-questions http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/27756/conditions-ibd-flares Thu, 15 May 2008 16:49:00 -0400 Todd Eisner I have Crohn's Disease and have been doing fairly well of late. My only significant symptom is increased gas and bloating associated with mild diarrhea. My doctor feels that I might have bacterial overgrowth. What is this and what is the treatment? The gastrointestinal tract is not sterile. There are large amounts of bacteria present normally. This is known as the bacterial flora. There is both good and bad bacteria present in the... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/27756/conditions-ibd-flares http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/26261/3-fatty-acids-disease Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:52:00 -0400 Todd Eisner Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease, especially Crohn's disease, due to the chronic nature of the disease, as well as the inconvenience, cost and side effects of treatment seek alternative options with supplements. One such supplement is Omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 free fatty acids are anti-inflammatory substances found in oily cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines. They are one of the essential fatty... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/26261/3-fatty-acids-disease http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/25653/inflammatory-treatment Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:28:57 -0400 Todd Eisner I have to take many pills each day. I have heard that there is an extended release version that I may be able to take instead. Is this true?   Asacol is composed of mesalamine, an anti-inflammatory specific for the gastrointestinal tract. It is also the major component of other medications used to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, Pentasa, ...show all 9 brand names. Rowasa enema and Canasa suppositories. Lialda is a... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/25653/inflammatory-treatment http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/21833/gi-tract-bowel Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:02:00 -0400 Todd Eisner Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease have significant symptoms outside of the gastrointestinal tract. These extra-intestinal symptoms can at times be even more significant than the intestinal symptoms. Arthritis, skin conditions, inflammation of the eye and liver are the most common. While the cause is unknown, it is believed that all of these complications represent an abnormal response of the immune system. Activation of the... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/21833/gi-tract-bowel http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/21202/study-shows-crohns Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:05:00 -0500 Todd Eisner Crohn's and Biologics--- At What Point Should They Be Used?  For years, the treatment of Crohn's disease has been based on a "step-up" approach in which therapies with the least toxicity are used early, and subsequent therapies are then added due to lack of response or toxicity. Unfortunately, agents with low efficacy such as the aminosalicylates, Asacol and Pentasa, are used for prolonged periods of time while... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/21202/study-shows-crohns http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/20825/understanding-stool Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:12:00 -0500 Todd Eisner Changes in bowel movements can be concerning, but how do you know when and if you need to seek help?   A change in bowel movements can be a difficult problem to figure out. Everybody's gastrointestinal tract functions differently. While most people move their bowels one to two times a day, some people go three to four times a day, while others only once or twice a week. A change in the number or consistency of stool should alert... http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/50082/20825/understanding-stool