50-50 Chance of becoming a Chronic EN Patient?

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

Just about all the websites that discuss EN say that EN typically runs

its course in 4-6 weeks. However, we know that approximately half of EN

patients are idiopathic and that means no triggering cause can be

found, even after medical investigation.

Without knowledge of our trigger we are more likely to become chronic cases.

We know of about 100 different EN triggers, and doctors test for maybe

10 if we are lucky. That leaves us to figure out what is causing our

EN--a difficult situation.

We often wind up knowing as much, or even much more, than our doctors.

It's easy to become an expert when you are only studying a small area.

I would like to see more EN research using "idiopathic" EN patients. It seems to me that we "idiopaths" have been abandoned.

I would not be surprised if when we are thoroughly examined--not just

the typical and obvious tests, but the more complex genetic and less

well understood nanobacteria and viruses---more triggers will be found

and fewer of us will be thrown into the idiopath heap.

Wishing Everyone a Happy and Painfree Night!

Love,

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

I was thinking over what I wrote last night, and I may have

underestimated the number of chronic EN cases because even among

those of us who know our trigger [be it bacterial, fungal, paracitic,

viral, or underlying disorder] chronic EN seems to be the rule rather

than the exception---at least from the experiences of our

membership.

Just knowing why you get EN doesn't make it easy to treat or eliminate

[unless it is due to an allergic response to a certain medication that

can be discontinued].

And the fact remains that we may have multiple triggers, just as we

hear that a person may develop new allergies at any stage of life.

This is not to say treating or even curing EN is hopeless. It is to

emphasis the seriousness of the disorder, and need to put research and

attention on the problem.

Love,