Post surgery Crohn's Disease and Colon cancer?

[twointahoe]

Hi,

My wife and I have been on the plant based Diet since FEB. 2015.

We have recently had to relocate to the San Diego, CA area to assist my wife's mother after the death of my father in law in March 2017.

We needed to get work here, and Took advantage of the benefits we could have until then through the Care 1st program in San Diego county which includes Medical services. We didn't have a family physician here. Our purpose was to get our blood work and check our progress with cholestoral, etc.

Our tests were excellent. My wife was encouraged to have stool check for blood because her doctor said since she is over 50 she should be screened for Cancer. Blood was found in her stool on the first test. Dr. Mcdougall stated in a brief email to us that it could be a false positive, and perhaps get re tested. The Doctor on the other hand is referring my wife to the same GI doctor I met with noted next.

In my case (at 56 yrs old) I have crohn's disease and had port of my intestine (incluiding cecal valve, appendix) removed in October 2007 (10 years ago this month AND symptom free).

My doctor referred me to a GI specialist. He wasn't exactly encouraging, but tolerated my comments that I have stopped my medication 3 years ago and chose to treat my disease through nutrition plant/starch based diet. He said that he is happy that I am doing well now, and that the disease is "sleeping" but it will wake up. He said it has been ten years, you should be checked with a Colonoscopy to see if there is any reoccurrence of the disease going on. I asked if he is willing to do a sigmoidoscopy. No was the bottom line answer to my question. He felt it was not as effective. He could see that I wasn't keen about this so relented and said he could order a CT scan to be sure and they would contact me if the insurance will cover it.
Also he ordered an occult stool blood test and CRP for inflammation blood work and SED rate.

What concerns me is that my wife's situation. What is the next step? Naturally they will push for the Colonoscopy= Your over 50 routine. We wish we could find a plant based doctor here. Not so easy to find.

Any advice?
We remain dedicated to the plant based diet. We will not turn back. We press on making improvements in exercise...we occasionally...perhaps once in 6mos...fallen to a cheese veggie pizza when out with friends but that is becoming rarer....I still drink coffee black with raw sugar but will wean myself off that soon.

[twointahoe]

Would like to ask: Surgery on the intestine in time, my doctor said at the time, could in 10,15 years result in a blockage from scar tissue in the surgery area
Has anyone out there experienced this?
Any advice?

[Willijan]

Here is a link to the story of a Star McDougaller who had Crohn's disease and solved his problems with this diet. He gives quite a few details of how he made it work for him.

https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/educ ... n-schultz/

There are probably other places on this website with information related to your questions. Use the GREEN search button at the top of this page to search for them.

[Willijan]

Would like to ask: Surgery on the intestine in time, my doctor said at the time, could in 10,15 years result in a blockage from scar tissue in the surgery area
Has anyone out there experienced this?
Any advice?

I had an extended left colectomy in 1993, which is removal of more than 1/3 of my large intestine. I have had no development of scar tissue since then. I have only been on this diet for 5 years.

[Willijan]

quote from twointahoe : "What concerns me is that my wife's situation. What is the next step? Naturally they will push for the Colonoscopy= Your over 50 routine. We wish we could find a plant based doctor here. Not so easy to find."

I don't know what the next step is after finding blood in the stool. Or, what I should say is, I don't know what Dr. McDougall would recommend. But here is what I did when I recently had a problem and no local doctor could help me. Dr. McDougall's office referred me to Dr. Anthony Lim, at True North Health Center, for a phone consultation.

I spoke to Dr. Lim on the phone, and although he couldn't advise me as he would an actual patient, he gave me general advice that helped me. You could ask him what the next step would be. There is of course a charge for the phone consultation, but I can't remember how much. You can call True North to find out the charge and the steps for setting up a phone appointment.

My extensive experience with gastroenterologists is that they all recommend unnecessary screenings. My recommendation is to be very cautious and find out if their advice is appropriate for you.

[viv]

Your wife has blood in the stool. If it were me, I would get the colonoscopy because I would want a diagnosis. I would want to know if I have cancer or anything serious or it could just be a small harmless polyp. In my book, knowledge is power and the not knowing is very stressful.

Once you get a diagnosis doesn't mean you have to spring into action, you can take your time and decide on the next step. Meanwhile congratulations for being on the McDougall Diet, you are doing the very best you possible can for your health.

Viv