PHL-based gastroenterologist advises Pinoys abroad on Crohn's Disease

“Smaller studies” show that diet and lifestyle have been found out to be a factor in decreasing the chance of acquiring metabolic disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a gastroenterologist in the country revealed.

“Crohn’s Disease is a chronic primarily gastrointestinal disease—commonly chronic bloody diarrhea—with systemic symptoms and puts the patient at high risk for developing colo-rectal cancer,” Dr. Carlo Lazaro of the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center GMA News Online in an email interview.

"There are no large-scale studies that show preventive strategies [but] some smaller studies show that healthy lifestyle, proper diet, smoking cessation, and exercise may decrease severity, and more importantly decrease chances of having other metabolic diseases,” he added.

Unfortunately, a former OFW was left with no other option but to consume ready-to-eat foods at work.

“Madalas kapag overtime, mga ready-to-eat foods kinakain ko kasi bihira makapagluto sa sarili ko ng lutong bahay,” Glenn Canaria Capistrano, 40, factory worker in South Korea said in an email interview in November 19.

“Hindi naman ako manginginom and smoker pero mga katrabaho ko, halos lahat naninigarilyo. Sabi ng tito ko, sa sobrang sipag ko raw kasi kaya ako nagkasakit ng ganito. Madalas kasi kahit hindi na kaya ng katawan ko, sige pa rin ako kahit physically demanding trabaho ko. Kahit two hours lang ang tulog, sige pa rin work and overtime.”

Capistrano has often been exposed to hazardous chemicals, too.

“Sa tagal na ako ay nagtatrabaho ng pang-gabi, 16 years total na work life ko sa factory, palagi ako exposed sa mga chemicals na hazardous.”

Herbert Constantine Almirante Galletes has been smoking, drinking, and spending sleepless nights, too, before he was diagnosed with Chron's disease in Oman in May.

“May bisyo ako dati, naninigarilyo at umiinom. Madalas din akong puyat at hindi kumakain sa oras mula nung ako ay nasa college pa,” the 32-year-old emergency medical technician in Oman disclosed in an email interview in November 26.

These had led Galletes to experience abdominal pain since then.

“In April 2019, I experienced a severe right side abdominal pain. The doctor requested then an abdomen CT scan to rule out renal stones but the CT Scan Department asked for another scan but with contrast due to fistulas found in my small and large intestines (fistulas are abnormal opening or connection between organs).”

“I was then referred to Gastroenterology for further work up. I was admitted in the hospital for almost a month and colonoscopy, MRI, and biopsy were done on me. I was on NPO (nil per os) for three weeks to rest my bowel and was only on TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and antibiotic.”

Galletes was eventually diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

“More than the physical pain, the emotional stress has been very difficult for me and my family especially when we recently had a setback in our plans due to my illness. I am just thankful to my wife and daughter who listen, understand and love me unconditionally.”

So Capistrano and Galletes recommend a healthy lifestyle to their fellow OFWs.

“Alagaan ang sarili una sa lahat kasi health natin ang puhunan sa work natin. Take time to rest, eat healthy, ‘wag magbisyo ng alak at yosi, at protektahan ang sarili sa mga long-term exposure sa mga hazardous chemicals,” shared Capistrano.

“Live a healthier life, eat healthier, avoid smoking, exercise regularly and choose a simple lifestyle,” shared Galletes. —LBG, GMA News