Sjogrens and Crohns??? Anyone else have both?

[Kimi]

Seems the fun never ends. I just found out I have Crohn's to go along with the Sjogrens. From what I am reading on line there is most likely a connection between the two? Wondering who else here has both and what treatment are you havign for them?

I am currently on Plaqunil, Methrotrexate, (yes both) Prednisolone, for the Sjogrens and guess they will help with the Crohn's. What treatments do others use for it?

Kimi

[KellyG999]

Hi Kimi,

I don't have Crohn's but I have terrible IBS. When I am in a flare I have terrible bouts of alternating diarrhea, constipation, bloating and pain. When I eat just a little bit, like a piece of toast, I feel so over-ful and miserable!!

I only have OTC tummy meds but this is getting out of hand and I will need to involve the doc. I am sure they'll be so glad to see ME in there again. You know, 4 weeks after the last time I was there...

Good luck and I hope you get some good feedback.

KellyG

[kellyk]

I am having a colonscopy on Tuesday.. after yrs of drs just telling me I have IBS .. My SJogrens specialist felt it is important to ruleout crohns..... apparently there is a strong link between Sjogrens and Crohns...  have you had a followup about the Crohns.. I believe there is meds to treat it..

[Gonavy629]

Hi Kimi,

I just started having digestive tract problems a month ago. Went to a GI and had a colonoscopy, stool studies and biopsy. The biopsy and stool studies were negative for infection and cancer (good), however, the GI said my colon was inflamed, red and looked infected. He didn't see evidence of Crohns or ulcerative colitis which he expected based on my symptoms. He is treating me for Ulcerative Colitis which is not fun by any means. He is a little baffled. He thinks it may be related to the Sjogren's but isn't sure yet. The troubleshooting continues. He put me on Anascol HD and it helped a little but still have problems.

I feel for you. Seems like every time you turn around, there is something new.

Chris

[Scottietottie]

Hi Kimi

I don't have Crohn's but my son has. I'm so sorry you have it as well. My son keeps is under control via humira shots once a month and also being very careful not to eat 'trigger foods'. I suspect that different people have different triggers. Tea is one of his which seemed an unlikely culprit!

Take care - Scottie 

[annken]

hi, so sorry for anyone with both sjogrens and crohns, and i am feeling sorry for self on tis as i have both too!
i also am ceoliac which is also a related condition.
also have hypothryoidism.
yes, pretty messed up.
i would say if your tum is inflamed and it aint crohns, do consider a gluten free diet, it really worked wonders for me. i had lost a lot of weight when my doc suggest this diet, and lo and behold i began to enjoy food again.
now i am slightly overweight and must take it off, i have arthritis too and its not helping my back.
take care, dont forget ill health is just ill health, the birds sing on healthy and ill alike and i love the birds more than my difficulties1
ann

[YYC_ Mommy]

Well I don't have Crohn's I have been tested for it and both my brother and my sister have it. My Mom has sarcoidosis! So we have "excellent" genes

My brother has suffered tremendously with Crohn's until he started using Humira. My sister is on another medication and I beliece it is Imuran. I also have a first cousin that is on Remicade for Crohn's. 

Best of luck to you with having both Crohn's and Sjogrens.

[Nat]

If you check out the Humira website, you will see that they developed Humira to target tumor necrosis factor (TNF). TNF is just a normal necessary part of your immune system, but it becomes elevated in Crohn's. (This information is also on their website). TNF also causes the swelling of the parotid glands. (You can check out my past posts for info on this.) Elevated TNF is one thing Crohn's and Sjogrens have in common.

Some of the other posters mentioned sarcoidosis and gluten intolerance.

All of these "symptoms" are connected to one common cause which is the inability to break down dietary proteins because of a lack of pancreatic enzymes called proteases.

First, tumor necrosis factor is supposed to be degraded by these enzymes. You can check my past posts or find the study online by the title, "Neutrophil Serine Proteases Fine-Tune the Inflammatory Response."

Second, calcium in the blood is protein-bound and is dependant on these enzymes and the breakdown of dietary proteins in order to be carried. The calcium is necessary  for proper vitamin D metabolism. Both the calcium and vit D would not be metabolized properly and this would lead to arthritis and sarcoidosis.

Third, gluten is a protein. Without proteases, you would not be able to digest it. Also, B12 is responsible for repairing the damaged villi. B12 is only attached to dietary proteins and is dependant on these same enzymes to be bound and transported. You can access this study by title, "Cobalamin Malabsorption Due to Nondegradation of R Proteins in the Human Intestine."

Fourth, If you could not break down proteins, you would not be able to regulate your autonomic nervous system. One of the neurotransmitters is acetylcholine. Acetylcholine comes from choline. Choline comes from B12 and folate.
The other neurotransmitter is adrenaline. Adrenaline comes from dopamine. Dopamine comes from tyrosine and tyrosine comes from phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is found in HIGH PROTEIN FOODS. Your autonomic nervous system is what regulates the flow of saliva. The National Institues of Health is conducting studies at present to see if Sjogrens is caused by a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system.

You can see how all of these are connected. These are not really different diseases, they are just symptoms of missing enzymes. Thankfully, these enzymes can be replaced through diet.