Anyone with Crohn's know of the connection between this disease and Ashkenazi Jews?

I've read a number of studies on Crohn's - my younger brother passed due to complications - and many state that the Ashkenazi Jewish population seem to have a higher rate of incidence than other ethnic groups. Four to five times more likely. Not knowing a full history of my family tree and everyone gone now, I have no idea if I have a connection to the Ashkenazi population or not. Anyone heard of this? Got any info to share? Again I state that I do not have Crohn's, my brother did. His daughter and myself only have colitis; I count that as good luck.

[MrZee]

My genetics point to Ashkenazi. Being that I was raised on food from the Eastern European old country, I grew up on brisket and potatoes. Over the years that’s done a number on me.

By my 40’s my digestive system had to say hasta la vista to red meat and potatoes as well as milk. I can no longer digest those.

Now in my early 60s my digestive system is f’koktah. I have periodic bloating episodes (hurts like hell — imagine being stuffed with 5 Thanksgiving meals and more) where my intestines store excess gas. I see a Gastrologist regularly that has to give me treatments.

Oy vey, I’ll have this condition the rest of my life. It is what it is. Sometimes genetics can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

[Hidden in reply to MrZee]

Thank you for that info. As of yet (63 y.o.) I still do dairy with no problem. Never really raised on a particular diet. But as I get older I do notice that meat is becoming more difficult to digest. Potatoes are not a problem. Bloating? Oh Yes! Yesterday I spent a day in bed moaning and groaning cause I had a bowl of homemade chili for brunch. Not much but man did it bloat me and HURT. In a couple of weeks I'm going for a colonoscopy. I've had a few before and there are a few minor issues but nothing to be concerned about. That was over 20 yrs. ago. Can't wait to see what they find this time. The hydrocortisone suppositories I used to take when my bum hurt were dimes on the dollar. Now? The patent must have expired cause the price went up over %1200. Why? Who's going to pay that? How can a company stay in business with a pricing plan like that? They make it in cream form but how to get that up my butt? Oh yeah, they sent a little plastic nozzle that was not long enough, plus I was expected to clean and reuse it. Doctors offices, hospitals, they do not sterilize plastic items for reuse. Except the cafeteria. I'm going to ask the doc to make Medicare pay for the suppositories. Or continue to visit him every time it hurts and have him put a soothing cream in my butthole and charge Medicare for it.

The Ashkenazi Jews were of Eastern Europe and northern Germany if I'm not mistaken. Of course they were scattered elsewhere but my interest is that my mother's father and his parents were from Germany. Came over before the war. So I'm wondering if that might be a connection. In addition my father and his brothers all suffered from stomach issues that are similar to that of the Ashkenazi. Interesting. May be Jewish after all from both parental units. Considering a DNA test. Have you tried that? Know anyone who has?

[MrZee in reply to Hidden]

As a matter of fact, just yesterday I mailed in my 23andme kit. I’ll have the results later in January... will be interesting.

BTW, Peppermint oil works wonders for me. Has to be taken on an empty stomach. And they are very reasonably priced on Amazon:

amazon.com/Heathers-Tummy-T...

Also, ask your doctor about Xifaxan. It’s for treating IBS which I have. Expensive med and had to get a pre-auth from my doctor for my insurance to kick in.

Basically, there’s options out there for our chronic digestive systems. Oh, and my family is mostly from the Ukraine/Austria/Hungary.

[Hidden in reply to MrZee]

Thank you so much for that. I can't wait for you to get your results! If you care to share that is. Not going to push it. Currently for nausea I take generic Dramamine. That does help but I will look into the peppermint oil. I've heard of it being used just never knew if it really worked or not. Can't hurt, just might order me a bit to try. As for drugs I'm retired, disabled Social Security on Medicare. Kinda doubt they'll be willing to spend that kind of money. Kind of expensive? I just checked, OUTrageous. But if the doc says I need it they'll have to. What the heck I'll ask. Except for my mom's family I hardly know anything about my dad's family background. He didn't know where they came from...except the state of Georgia. Doesn't help much. I think a kit may tell me more. Interesting.

[MrZee in reply to Hidden]

A lot of doctors know that a lot of insurance companies turn down Xifaxan. So the doctors stock up on samples of it. That’s how my Gastro doc gave me my prescription on the house. If any drug I’ve taken for my intestinal problems Xifaxan is like a miracle... which is why big Pharma keeps it priced out the roof -and- won’t let it go generic until 2029.

Oh also, I mix cranberry juice and psyllium husk twice a day which makes for quite a “moving experience.”