Volume 1, Issue 2

The Tube
Volume 1, Issue 2
July-December 2013
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
NACCTT Mission
1
President’s Letter
2
Patient Story
3
Articles of Interest
4
Cooking with IBD
6
Upcoming Events
7
The mission of the NACCTT is to improve the
lives of persons diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease
(CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). We are also
designed to establish greater awareness about
CD and UC in Trinidad and Tobago.
NACCTT MISSON
2
The Tube
Volume 1, Issue 2
July-December 2013
President’s Letter
Hello Supporters,
Welcome to the NACCTT‘s July to
December issue of ‗The Tube.‘ Since
our last issue we were officially
launched as an Association. We have
had two newspaper articles published
highlighting our cause, we attended
many awareness events. We were even
on the radio! All exciting stuff, right?
In this issue we have introduced a new
section called ‗Cooking with IBD.‘ It
gives recipes that have been tried and
tested by fellow IBDers. So go on and
give them a try!
We just passed Crohn‘s and Colitis
Awareness Week (December 1st – 7th).
It is our hope that you did and are doing
your part, in whatever way you can, to
help raise awareness in your corner of
T&T.
Look out for lots of awareness events
and fund raisers from the NACCTT.
We wish you the best health in 2014
and hope that you continue to be a part
of our cause. Until next issue stay
healthy!
Kelly-Ann Bahadur
President
Interview on ‘The Lady’s Room’ with host Marsha
Marchan on Wack Radio 90.1 Fm
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The Tube
Volume 1, Issue 2
July-December 2013
Crohn’s and Colitis Patient Story
Here I was, nearing the end of my vacation in
Miami and out of the blue I got food poisoning…
or what I thought was food poisoning. This time
seemed different, very different from what I
remembered it to be. I did not realize that this
was something way more than I could have ever
imagined. I remember my brother telling me
jokingly, ―Aye how you getting on so, it‘s only
diarrhea!‖ and I‘m sitting there, exhausted and
weak thinking, ―Like hell it is.‖
Upon returning to Trinidad, I was still just as sick
and getting worse. Slowly but surely I began to
think this wasn‘t going away soon. I was
confused, tired, in pain and nearing the end of
the little bit of patience I had back then. Every
day that passed, the number of times I went to
the bathroom increased. I saw the concern and
frustration setting in daily on my family‘s faces. I
was taken to about five doctors in Trinidad and
two in Miami but I still had not one clue as to
what was going on with my belly and why I
couldn‘t stop going to the toilet! My family and I
were still trying to rule out all the possible causes
before thinking it was anything serious.
I had been back from my vacation a little over a
month when I was taken to the hospital. I had
lost some blood and weight and I was very
dehydrated. Those ten days in the hospital
passed with a lot of poking and prodding and I
couldn‘t help but feel like they were only
experimenting on me without any real results.
Finally I was diagnosed with UC and knowing
what the problem was I felt completely relieved, a
whole load lifted off my shoulders. Now the next
step was treating it.
I remember the doctors telling me my treatment
options and them warning me about the side
effects of the steroids, ―This is going to make
your cheeks a little rounder ok?‖
I just remember thinking, ―Hell that‘s a small price to
pay to feel better, I'm in 100%!‖ (Not knowing that,
that was just one of the MANY side effects I would
come to experience).
I was on and off the steroids and my other
medications just weren‘t working for me anymore.
My doctor recommended that I try something more
potent. My family and I did not like the side effects
and decided to seek another alternative, herbal
medication. I was very reluctant in the beginning but
as I felt like I had no other choice at this point, I
gave it a shot. I was completely surprised as to how
quickly I saw results without the horrible side effects
as the steroids.
It‘s been 3 years since I‘ve been diagnosed and I‘m
no longer on any other pharmaceutical medications
but continuing with my alternative treatments. I‘m
doing much better than I have been in the past and I
thank God every chance I get for helping me be a
more appreciative, positive and patient person. This
disease, as horrid as it can be, has taught me things
about myself and has helped me become someone
better. It has helped me recognize my potential and
help me in aligning my perspectives.
My tips in dealing with UC: pray, keep
positive and watch your diet!
-Safiyya’s Story
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The Tube
Volume 1, Issue 2
July-December 2013
Articles of Interest
“Manufacturing a New Gut to Treat GI Diseases”
Press Release by Brigham and Women's Hospital (Dec 3, 2013)
Boston, MA - For those living with
gastrointestinal disorders, such as ulcers or
Crohn's disease, treatment often means
quelling uncomfortable symptoms through
medications or dietary changes. But what if one
day treatment meant doing away with the old
gut for a new gut free of inflamed or diseased
tissues?
That is where scientists at Brigham and
Women's Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) are hoping their
new study findings will lead. In their work, the
researchers were able to grow extensive
numbers of intestinal stem cells, then coax
them to develop into different types of mature
intestinal cells.
The study is published online in this month's
Nature Methods.
"Being able to produce a large inventory of
intestinal stem cells could be incredibly useful
for stem cell therapy, where the cells could be
delivered to patients to treat diseases such as
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis," said
Jeffrey Karp, PhD, Division of Biomedical
Engineering, BWH Department of Medicine, cosenior study author.
These cells could also be useful for
pharmaceutical companies to screen and
identify new drugs that could regulate diseases
from inflammatory bowel disease, to diabetes,
to obesity. However, to date there hasn't been
a way to expand intestinal stem cell numbers."
In the "crypts" of the human gut are immature
adult stem cells that live alongside specialized
cells called Paneth cells.
The stem cells remain immature as long as they
remain in contact with Paneth cells. But the
researchers found that when Paneth cells are
removed and replaced with two small molecules
involved in cell signaling, these molecules could
direct the stem cells to develop into pure
populations of proliferating stem cells. By
introducing other molecules to the mix, the pure
cells could further develop into specialized mature
intestinal cells.
"This is an opportunity to generate a large
number of relevant mature gastrointestinal cell
types that was not possible before and enable
high-throughput screening using these cell
types,"said Xiaolei Yin, PhD, Center for
Regenerative Therapeutics, BWH Department of
Medicine, lead study author.
Moreover, the researchers note that their findings
could be potentially applied for in vivo use of
small molecule drugs to help regenerate cells to
replace damaged gut tissue caused by disease.
"This opens the door to doing all kinds of things,
ranging from someday engineering a new gut for
patients with intestinal diseases to doing drug
screening for safety and efficacy," said Robert
Langer, ScD, MIT, co-senior study author.
This research was supported by the National
Institutes of Health (DE013023) and a Harvard
Institute
of
Translational
Immunology/HelmsleyTrust Pilot Grant in Crohn's
Disease.
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The Tube
Volume 1, Issue 2
July-December 2013
Eating Out in Public with Crohn’s
Written by Dale Kiefer | Medically Reviewed by George Krucik, MD for Healthline:
Connect to Better Health.
For some Crohn‘s sufferers, eating out in public
may seem like a daunting proposition. With a little
planning, however, it needn‘t be a minefield.
Nutrition is an issue of special concern for people
with Crohn‘s disease. Because it affects the
digestive system, Crohn‘s may interfere with
appetite. Even if a sufferer is able to eat a
balanced diet, some forms of Crohn‘s can
interfere with the digestive tract‘s ability to absorb
nutrients, putting them at risk for malnourishment.
What’s on the Menu?
Every Crohn‘s sufferer is different. Generally, any
food that can be tolerated is probably OK to eat,
whether it‘s at home or out in public. Of course,
choosing healthful foods is always a good idea.
If you‘re prone to cramping and diarrhea, you may
want to avoid high-fiber foods, such as fresh fruits
and raw vegetables. Instead, eat bananas or
applesauce, refined carbohydrates (such as white
bread, white rice, or pasta), skinless potatoes, fish
(avoid fried fish), and olive or canola oils.
Cold water fish—such as tuna, salmon, or
swordfish—are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and
could be an excellent menu selection, especially
when broiled, poached, or steamed. Omega-3
fatty acids are essential nutrients that exert antiinflammatory effects in the body, possibly
discouraging further digestive tract inflammation.
It may be helpful to avoid spicy foods, or foods
high in sugar or fat. Likewise, Crohn‘s sufferers
are advised to avoid whole grains, seeds, nuts,
and popcorn. Based on these general
recommendations, some restaurants, are likely to
be better choices than others.
It‘s also advisable to consume smaller portions
than some restaurants tend to serve. Rather than
being tempted to overeat, consider asking to have
leftovers wrapped up for later.
The non-profit Crohn‘s and Colitis Foundation of
America recommend the following tips for
enjoying yourself while dining out:
Avoid eating out if you’re famished.
If you show up to a restaurant starving, you may be
tempted to overeat, which could trigger symptoms. Eat
a small snack that you‘re likely to tolerate well before
going out, to avoid overindulging at the restaurant.
Call before you go.
If you have concerns about the menu, call ahead.
Many restaurants are happy to accommodate special
requests, or to answer any questions that you may
have about ingredients or cooking methods.
Don’t be shy—ask for help.
Feel free to ask for special considerations. Dining out
should be a pleasant experience. At sit-down
restaurants, ask your waiter for assistance in meeting
your special needs. Call ahead to inquire if the chef is
willing to alter the dishes to accommodate you.
Don’t overdo it—watch your portions.
Many restaurants offer appetizers or even child-size
portions. Consider ordering these items to reduce the
likelihood that you‘ll overeat.
Indulge your cravings—sparingly.
While attention to good nutrition is crucial, everyone
deserves to live a little occasionally. So-called ―junk
food,‖ which is high in calories or fat but low in
nutritional value, can be consumed in small amounts
as a special treat from time to time. Just avoid
overdoing it—and enjoy!
6
The Tube
Volume 1, Issue 2
July-December 2013
Cooking with IBD
Pumpkin Soup
Servings: 2
Ingredients



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

2 cups Pumpkin
1 cup Vegetable Or Chicken Stock Or Water
1/4 cup Plain Yogurt
1/8 cup Brown Sugar
Dash Of Nutmeg Or Your Favorite Spice
Salt To Taste
Preparation Instructions
In a pot cook pumpkin in a small amount of oil until tender. Add the stock and sugar until simmering. Mash out
the big chunks, the transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor (or use an immersion blender) and
puree until velvety smooth. Add yogurt and spice, and then blend again. Serve while warm. Enjoy!
Lemon Grass/ Fever Grass Tea
Serves 2
Ingredients
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2 stalks of lemon grass / fever grass
½ liter of water
Peeled ginger (optional)
Sugar or honey to taste (optional)
Preparation instructions
On a chopping board, crush or finely chop lemongrass to release the flavor. Do the same for the ginger if
used.
Bring the water to a simmer over medium to low heat.
Add crushed lemongrass and ginger. Simmer for 5 to 8 minutes. Keeping the pot slightly covered to allow
steam to escape. Remove from heat.
Add your choice of sweetener to your desired taste and stir. Let sit for a further 2 minutes
Pour into teacups and serve.
Note: This tea can be served cold as well. Simply let the tea cool, chill or add ice, and serve.
Disclaimer: While these two recipes have been proven soothing and gentle on the stomach for some of
our members, we at NACCTT wish to caution that not all foods are proven effective for everyone. Each
person is different. What might work for some, might not work for others. Please proceed gently.
7
The Tube
Volume 1, Issue 2
July-December 2013
Upcoming Events

Member‘s meeting Saturday 11th January, 2014

Member‘s Day Out to La Vega Estate January, 2014

Gastroenterology Seminar April, 2014
Members of the NACCTT at a Health Fair hosted by the
Hillcrest Gardens Home Owners Association
Editorial Team: Steffi Kowlessar, Richard Dhalai, Challey Ann Maharaj
Contacts Us:
[email protected]
www.crohnsandcolitistt.com
www.facebook.com/crohnsandcolitistt
482-0736 / 361-6617
@nacctt