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I know this might be totally out of your realm but I'd appreciate your views anyways.
My latest grandchild was born 6 weeks early and with rotational volvulus (twisted bowel).
Emergency surgery was done and about a foot of his ileum was removed (leaving about 2 feet). Thank the good Lord
we were at Mayo and everything went well and he's doing great. My question is that the surgeon
anticipated the only problem he may have is the absorption of B12 and folate. He said if there's any
issue with that it probably won't happen for at least a year. DD is nursing and supplementing B vitamins and
B12. I guess I'm wondering, as his intestines grow (I've read that area eventually reaches 13 feet) what would be
your guess as to what happens next? Will his always be 1/3 shorter than normal. I KNOW, I should have gone to the
latest appointment. :)
Paging Tex, Ileum Wizard
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Deb,
I'm sorry to hear that he had to go through that surgery at such a young age, but it's great that he got the help he needed.
That's a good question, and all I can do is guess - I doubt that anyone can do much more than that, because those are uncharted waters. I only lost 3 or 4 inches of my terminal ileum, during my colectomy, but it trimmed my cholesterol level significantly, (since the terminal ileum is also where bile salts are recovered and recycled).
Since I take a B-12, B-9, and B-6 supplement, (to treat peripheral neuropathy), my level's stay high, so I don't worry about those vitamins, but if I weren't taking that prescription vitamin mix, (it's called Metanx), I would be taking a supplement, just to be sure, and so if I were in his parents position, I would make sure that after he gets a little older, he either receives a supplement, or his B-12 and folate levels are checked, occasionally.
The reason why his doctor says that it won't matter for at least a year, is because the body tends to store a lot of B-12, and it can take years to develop a deficiency, in most cases. I would assume that a baby would arrive pre-loaded with B12, and he's bound to receive plenty as long as he's being beast fed, so he should have clear sailing for a long time, and there's certainly a possibility that he may never notice any significant difference.
I doubt that the lost length of intestine, (in general), would make any difference at all, in the long term, (as far as digestion and health are concerned), but the fact that it involves the loss of the terminal ileum is much more significant than the loss of any other portion of the ileum would be.
The chances of developing a compensation ability would surely be much better at such a young age, but I'm not sure that the body is even capable of compensating more than slightly, for the loss of that particular segment of the small intestine. But who knows? Time will tell, I suppose, and as the doctor says, probably nothing remarkable will happen for a year or so, which will allow plenty of time to monitor the situation, in case any deficiencies should develop, somewhere down the line.
All in all, I'm sure that he well develop normally, and if any vitamin deficiencies should develop later, they should be easy to correct with sublingual lozenges of a combination of metylcobalamine and folate.
I have a hunch that intestinal length may be as unique as fingerprints, and the length is probably irrelevant. After my surgery, the surgeons told me that my intestines were a third longer than normal, but I had never noticed, until they pointed it out.
Tex
I'm sorry to hear that he had to go through that surgery at such a young age, but it's great that he got the help he needed.
That's a good question, and all I can do is guess - I doubt that anyone can do much more than that, because those are uncharted waters. I only lost 3 or 4 inches of my terminal ileum, during my colectomy, but it trimmed my cholesterol level significantly, (since the terminal ileum is also where bile salts are recovered and recycled).
Since I take a B-12, B-9, and B-6 supplement, (to treat peripheral neuropathy), my level's stay high, so I don't worry about those vitamins, but if I weren't taking that prescription vitamin mix, (it's called Metanx), I would be taking a supplement, just to be sure, and so if I were in his parents position, I would make sure that after he gets a little older, he either receives a supplement, or his B-12 and folate levels are checked, occasionally.
The reason why his doctor says that it won't matter for at least a year, is because the body tends to store a lot of B-12, and it can take years to develop a deficiency, in most cases. I would assume that a baby would arrive pre-loaded with B12, and he's bound to receive plenty as long as he's being beast fed, so he should have clear sailing for a long time, and there's certainly a possibility that he may never notice any significant difference.
I doubt that the lost length of intestine, (in general), would make any difference at all, in the long term, (as far as digestion and health are concerned), but the fact that it involves the loss of the terminal ileum is much more significant than the loss of any other portion of the ileum would be.
The chances of developing a compensation ability would surely be much better at such a young age, but I'm not sure that the body is even capable of compensating more than slightly, for the loss of that particular segment of the small intestine. But who knows? Time will tell, I suppose, and as the doctor says, probably nothing remarkable will happen for a year or so, which will allow plenty of time to monitor the situation, in case any deficiencies should develop, somewhere down the line.
All in all, I'm sure that he well develop normally, and if any vitamin deficiencies should develop later, they should be easy to correct with sublingual lozenges of a combination of metylcobalamine and folate.
I have a hunch that intestinal length may be as unique as fingerprints, and the length is probably irrelevant. After my surgery, the surgeons told me that my intestines were a third longer than normal, but I had never noticed, until they pointed it out.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1523
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
A girl in my church who was born just a few days ago had emergency surgery today for Hirschprung's disease. About half the colon is diseased and perforated. The surgeon bypassed it (my understanding is she has a colostomy) and when she's 4-6 months old she will have a second surgery to remove the diseased part and hook everything back up.
Much as we complain, medicine today really does save lives and make lives better. This little girl would have died of the infection she had (has) in a few days. Instead, she is recovering in the NICU and doing well. And Deb's grandchild the same.
Much as we complain, medicine today really does save lives and make lives better. This little girl would have died of the infection she had (has) in a few days. Instead, she is recovering in the NICU and doing well. And Deb's grandchild the same.
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011