Ulcerative Colitis related to Epilepsy

[RanMan]

I was diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis and Epilepsy back in 1979.
My Neurologist and my Gastrologist say that both conditions go hand in hand as they are both stress related. (as well as most IBS)

As you all probably know, stress effects everybody different.

The stress causes an increase of the secretion of adrenelin (wich is an acid) and it eats away at the bowel lining causing open sores (ulcers) and since there are so many nerves in yor brain that affect your digestive tract, this is what triggers the Epileptic seizures.

Now that I have reduced SOME of the stress in my life (I was an Administrative Manager for the Government of Canada) I now only have flare ups about every 2 years and they last about 2 weeks.

Flare ups consist of blood in the stools, diareaha, massive bloating, loss of apitite, stomach pain, nausia to name a few.

Now I'm on medication for the UC and the EP.
These two conditions together are very tricky to manage.
For example: if I have a flare up I'm supposed to double up on my meds BUT they paint a protective coating on the bowel wall and this makes it more difficult for the Epilepsy meds to metabilize into the blood stream and then I have to double up on the Epilepsy meds and they go toxic in my system.

Randy

[Sheryl88]

I knew stress caused IBS/spastic colon but had always read it didn't cause IBD (Crohn's or ulcerative colitis). I knew it could contribute to flares.

I also had never heard of epilepsy being tied with IBD. I'd heard MS, arthritis, skin conditions, colon cancer, etc. Never heard of adrenalin eating at the gut either. I know alot of the immune system is in the digestive system. I don't know much about epilepsy other than it involving seizures. Is it an autoimmune condition?

I'm curious what med you are on. I'm on an ulcer med at times that coats the gut but the IBD meds I know of work on the inflammation and/or bacteria in the bowels, not coat them.

I found your post interesting cuz I've had, known people, and read alot on IBD in the past but there were so many things I hadn't heard of in your post. Guess it's time to read up on new developments!

Good luck to you and I hope you get the medications worked out to where they aren't fighting each other!

[RanMan]

Sheryl88,

As per your question ~ my current meds are:

275mg dilantin/day for the epilepsy
120mg pheonobarb/day also for the epilepsy
3,000mg Mesasol/day for the UC (only available in Canada)

Also, I didn't say that my stress caused these probs. but that they triggered the flare ups (at least that's what I meant).

As far as IBS and Epilepsy going hand in hand ~ doesn't mean that if you have one then you'll automatically have the other ~ What was meant was that it is not uncommon to have IBS and Epilepsy.

You are right that ulcerative Colitis triples your chance of getting Bowel cancer (so I'm told by my Gastrologist).

The adrenelin doesn't eat through the gut, it eats through the BOWEL LINING after long term use.

30 years of experience with these two conditions has proven this theory. Not the stuff on the internet.

Randy

[Sheryl88]

Yes, I believe that stress triggers flares and even the initial symptoms. Kind of activates something one has a tendency for. I had my first symptoms after the birth of my first child in '83 and I believe that stress on my body is what 'activated' the Crohn's. I wasn't diagnosed until '97 though.

I did see something online about seizures/epilepsy being related to ulcerative colitis. You taught me something new today!

Did it take awhile after symptoms started for you to be diagnosed with the UC? It seems like most people live with it for years before being diagnosed.

[RanMan]

Sheryl88

It started as "Mucous Colitis" back in '79, not much known about it then.
I had my first epileptic seizure around the same time.
I forget which I had first.

I would get gassy and always feel like I had to have a bowel movement but then all that would come out was a lot of gas and mucous, and always have mucous in my stools.

I had that for about a year and then I started getting blood in my stools.
After tons of tests, It was determined that I had Ulcerative Colitis.

Randy

[Sheryl88]

It's amazing the progress with meds and identifying genes involved etc that has been made over the years!

If I wouldn't have had bleeding, I'd hate to think how long it would have been for a diagnosis! I think that's a symptom that makes them look a little harder.

[bevjen]

I found it a bit odd that I would find this post right now. I doubt that the two are related, as she had her first seizure at just 10 months old. She is now 12 yrs. old and just diagnosed with UC (possibly Crohn's).
Right away, I wondered if the seizure meds could have anything to do with the UC, but I just don't know, and I don't think I want to know anyway.
Taking it one day at a time...
I feel like her life is doomed with now the diagnosis of UC. I know I have to snap out of that because it won't do her any good. I need to remain positive and be thankful for each new day and quit worrying about tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow.

[mrsdoubtfyre]

and seizures should be evaluated for gluten intolerance.

Over the years we have had several people with seizures that abated when
gluten was removed from the diet. Another culprit is glutamate. (Avoid MSG)

Our gluten board has links in the stickies for you to see the research done around the world about neurological effects of gluten (gliadin)

The GI symptoms are also problematic.

You can start here:
http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1062

Jcc who has done much generous work with this subject, was motivated by
her daughter's seizures.

This forum is where jcc can be found most commonly:
http://www.glutenfreeandbeyond.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=81242b07974d1b5cfd0c9722056a66d0

I suggest readers of this thread check it out. I've watched for years people
turn their illnesses around and heal because of reactions to gluten!
It requires some homework on your part, but the payoff is enormous for you.