Caring for Crohn's & UC

The ABC’s of Crohn’s & UC: “M” & “N”

December 21, 2012 at 6:02 pm Rebecca K. 2 comments

I may be posting intermittently from now until the end of the year with the influx of relatives that will be visiting and staying with us. However, I wanted to get one more ABC post in while I still had the time. So without further ado, next up in the ABC’s of Crohn’s and UC- “M” and “N.”

Malnutrition: IBD patients are particularly susceptible to malnutrition. According to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, there are several things that cause malnutrition in IBD patients including inadequate food/fluid intake caused by IBD side effects; increased losses (protein losses, losses from fistula fluids, diarrhea and bleeding); increased nutritional needs; and malabsorption. To prevent malnutrition, there are supplements, like Ensure, that patients can take to help up their consumption of calories. You should talk to your doctor before starting any of them.

Microscopic Colitis: This is another kind of IBD. Live Ulcerative Colitis, Microscopic Colitis is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the large intestine. It causes watery diarrhea and sometimes stomach pain. There are two types of Microscopic Colitis: Lymphocytic colitis and Collagenous colitis. According to the Mayo Clinic, the difference between the two types is Lymphocytic causes an increase in white blood cells and Collagenous causes an increase in white blood cells and a thick layer of protein. Treatment is similar to other forms of IBD and includes the use of budesonide (Entocort).

Mineral Oil: Mineral oil is an intestinal lubricant. It can be used to relieve constipation. It is tasteless, odorless and colorless.

MRCP: Stands for Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. It is a type of MRI that allows doctors to see images of the bile duct. It is similar to ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangeopancreatography) but is less invasive.

MRE: Stands for magnetic resonance enteroscopy. Similar to an MRI, during an MRE, patients drink barium sulfate prep beforehand and then, at the start of the procedure, are injected with dye that shows inflammation and disease in the GI tract on the scan.

MRI: Stands for magnetic resonance imaging. MRI’s are used to take images of the GI tract and the organs involved in it to look at a patient’s IBD.

Neoral: Neoral is an immunosuppressant used to treat Ulcerative Colitis. According to the Mayo Clinic,

“This potent drug is normally reserved for people who don’t respond well to other medications or who face possible surgery because of severe ulcerative colitis. In some cases, cyclosporine may be used to delay surgery until you’re strong enough to undergo the procedure. In others, it’s used to control signs and symptoms until less toxic drugs start working. Cyclosporine begins working in one to two weeks, but because it has the potential for severe side effects, including kidney damage, seizures and fatal infections, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of treatment. There’s also a small risk of cancer with these medications, so let your doctor know if you’ve previously had cancer.”

NG Tube: Stands for nasogastric tube. It is passed into the nose, down the esophagus and into the stomach. It is used for several reasons, including administering nutrients or medication; removing matter from the stomach (like in a blockage); adding contrast to the stomach for imaging; and protecting the bowel after surgery or during rest.

Entry filed under: ABC Series. Tags: abcs, crohn's, crohn's disease, Crohn's Sucks, ibd, inflammatory bowel disease, malnutrition, MRE, MRI, Treatment, uc, ulcerative colitis.