Those dealing with Chrons disease and ulcerative colitis will have a space to discuss challenges, share helpful ideas and seek emotional support during a new Chrons and Colitis Support Group meeting Dec. 3, organized by Dawn Duncan and Darcey Schultz. The meeting, which coincidentally falls during Crohns and Colitis Awareness Week, will be at 7 p.m. in the Jackson library meeting room. Chrons and colitis are chronic autoimmune diseases in which the bodys immune system mistakenly tries to fend off an infection thats not really there. Both are types of inflammatory bowel diseases, which affect an estimated 1.4 million Americans. Duncan has ulcerative colitis, which affects only the colon. Schultz has Chrons disease, which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Both cause similar symptoms, including diarrhea, bleeding, abdominal cramps, weight loss and fatigue. Remission is possible, with short or long periods of no symptoms. When Duncan and Schultz first met at Duncans hair studio, it didnt take long for the two to discover they were dealing with many of the same issues. It can be a tricky subject, which is why they wanted to organize the support group. Its one of those things that its not real common, … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The number of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in the U.S. has now increased to an estimated 1.6 million, according to information presented at the 2014 American College of Gastroenterology Scientific Meeting.* In an effort to raise awareness for patients and families dealing with IBD, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) launched a new social media campaign called "Someone You Know" asking patients to share their story using #IBDselfie on their social networks in time for Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week 2014. "Awareness Week 2014 gives us the opportunity to shed even more light on what it's like to be an IBD patient," said Richard J. Geswell, President and CEO of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. "With the help of social media, we are creating a platform for our constituents to share their unique stories that can increase awareness and support for research initiatives that lead to better treatments and ultimately cures." Due to the enactment of Senate Resolution 199, the week of December 1-7 is reserved to encourage all Americans to help find cures for inflammatory bowel diseases and raise support for the now 1.6 million Americans battling … Continue reading →

For more than half a million people living with inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and colitis, is a fact of life. More than 96,000 of them are Floridians, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. The disease runs in families and is more common among those of Jewish descent. Men and women are equally affected, and most people are diagnosed in their mid-30s. The disease can occur at any age and older men are more likely to be diagnosed than older women. Amy Krostich, 38, a pediatric nurse practitioner from Boynton Beach, knows this firsthand. "Four of my five siblings have one or another form of the disease and my husband, Seth, a web developer also suffers from the disease," she said. She is busy training for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation's Team Challenge Half Marathon on Sunday in West Palm Beach. She plans to run the race with her sister, Rachel Fetterman, 32, of Coconut Creek, who suffers from ulcerative colitis. "I am running right now not to just cross that 13.1-mile finish line," Krostich said on her Team Challenge page, "I am running for so much more." "I am running to remind myself that I … Continue reading →