Ok, so I get this newsletter from a woman's medical site with various articles about diseases and illnesses and stuff for women...usually they just stimulate my hypocondria and make me start counting symptoms but this title intrigued me... I've had a leaky gut, one way or another all of my life, loose sphincter, leaky pouch etc...but I didn't know that it was an offical disease! Anyway..I read on and apparently there is such a thing but it has more to do with over-permiablility of the stomach/intestinal lining than anything else and it can cause all kinds of food allergy reactions (check!), pain in joints (check!), fatigue (check!), and a number of other symptoms that make me feel either very silly or even more hypocondriac..has anyone ever heard of this and is it real???? What can be done about it if it is and do any of you (all of you?) have these symptoms??? They say that it is very prevalent in chrons patients and patients with IBD...
Sharon

Known about this for years but if you bring up the subject to most in the medical field they generally think you're a loon. Sorry, but it's true.
You'll only get anywhere if you contact a natural practitioner, in my experience.
Someone posted this article recently > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8358863.stm
but if you do a search online of "leaky gut" you can find a lot more information. There are ways to help yourself, and the biggest is with your diet.

From what I have read, there is some truth in it, but not as much as they would like you to believe. Crohn's and UC patients in particular are most at risk because of the constant inflammation in the gut that erodes the protective mucosal layer inside the intestines. Just like having a cut or rash on your skin that lets bacteria through, having breaks in the mucosal layer also allow bacteria into your body.

If your antibodies and white blood cells are not up to the task of taking care of these invaders, then you wind up with these extraintestinal manifestations, like arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, liver inflammation, etc.. At least that is how the theory goes, and it does make a lot of sense.

However, I doubt that there are vast numbers of the population running around with this problem. Still, who knows? It was not until fairly recently that they found out that most stomach ulcers are caused by bacteria and that half the world's population carries it (H. pylori).

What to do about it? Well, I'd say you need to take maintenance medication to keep your IBD in remission, probiotics to keep bad acting bacteria in check, and do all the other things everyone should do for a healthy lifestyle (sleep, exercise, balanced diet, etc.).

Jan

Its been 10 years since i got my J pouch not much trouble except recently started to loose my hair, bruising, very tired finally doctor check my vitamin levels and iron should be between 60 to 100 and mine was 13 started on heavy doses of liquid iron because of regular vitamins going right through me. Now the problem is the liquid iron they think has given me a ulcer there is talk about hemotologist and IV iron treatments. No since started taking all the iron i have been having double the stools a day and leakage. My iron is now at 34 and going to my gastrologist next week dont even know where to start with. So scared to get sick like i used to be i have been doing so great for 10 years now just feeling bad. Any suggestions.

Oral iron supplements commonly cause GI symptoms, especially in large doses. But, if you can put up with it, it is safer than the IV iron infusions. Rarely, there are allergic reactions that can be risky. But, it is done in the setting where they can deal with that. Still safer than transfusions. But, the real question is why has your iron level been dropping over the years? That is the reason for the hematologist referral. There are basically two reasons, one is chronic bleeding (either GI or excessive menstruation), the second is reduced dietary iron absorption (either inadequate intake or inability to absorb). For general anemia there is a third potential cause and that is interference with blood production, such as bone marrow suppression (chronic illness can cause this even without bleeding).

The good news is that you can absorb iron, since your levels came up in response. But, they still need to troubleshoot.

Jan

So nice to hear from someone i just joined and have never talked about my j pouch with anyone but family and doctors. Taking the 6 table spoons of iron i think has given me a ulcer. I have had one before and have all the signs. It strange my leaking problem has stopped when i stopped taking the iron because of my stomach. My regular doctor said iron would not cause the leaking it would be just the oppisite but since i started the liquid iron my bowel movements have allmost doubled. I need to find out more about the IV iron and what is involved. I lost over 40 pounds and stopped eating all red meat also. Trying to get healthy eat better excersize and lost the weight i have been trying to for years. I lost the weight doing weight watchers. Very nervous about going to see my gastronologist on tues. I had ulcerated colitus for over 5 years and spent alot of time in and out of hospital and he really helped me through it and hope he can help me. My worst fear is that something is wrong with my j pouch.Thanks for listening.
Lynne

My iron and ferritin levels were and are low. I am taking 324 mg of ferrous gluconate, 1 twice a day. It is very easy on my digestive system so I don't have the diarrhea etc iron can cause. it has taken about five months to get my levels up. Red meat is a good source of iron so I continue to eat it. Jan explained it in another post. I hope you feel better soon.