Rolando McClain reportedly has Crohns disease
 

http://www.gbnreport.com/index.htm

(4:00 PM): Tide LB discloses non-football illness… Star Alabama MLB Rolando McClain stunned the pro scouting fraternity when he disclosed after he became ill during the Tide’s pro day today that he has had Crohn's Disease, an inflammatory intestinal condition, since his freshman year in high school. McClain reportedly treats the condition with medication and obviously has been able to play with it a very high level to date, however, its certain to be a major red flag for pro teams heading into the 2010 draft at which McClain had been rated as a top 10-15 prospect. McClain also indicated that he has been dealing with a hamstring issue since October, but still ran well enough at today's on-campus workout, posting unofficial 40 times of 4.71 and 4.74. Meanwhile, DT Terrence Cody weighed in at a 'svelte' 348 pounds, down another 6 from the combine and 22 since his disastrous Senior Bowl appearance; for the record, Cody also did 32 reps pressing 225 pounds. At the same time, Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant reportedly did not take part in the Cowboys' on-campus workout because he has a hamstring injury. More when it becomes available.

That seals it: The Chiefs are taking him with the #5 overall pick.

I don't know if it will affect his draft. Sounds like he's had it for several years.

repost

cody
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is this like groat's disease?
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The only time this might ever be an issue is if it flare's up on game day. The chances are low, but it might happen. It's also treatable.

Poor guy he's really lost millions the the past month.

Crohns disease can really be a pain in the ass.


ha ha ha

LMAO

He just became a 2nd round pick, that must be nice.

I strongly doubt that.

But man that would be spectacular if he slipped to 2a.

overview Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It usually affects the intestines, but may occur anywhere from the mouth to the end of the rectum (anus).

See also: Ulcerative colitis

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on what part of the gastrointestinal tract is affected. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can come and go with periods of flare-ups.
The main symptoms of Crohn's disease are:

• Crampy abdominal (belly area) pain
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Pain with passing stool (tenesmus)
• Persistent, watery diarrhea
• Unintentional weight loss

Other symptoms may include:

• Constipation
• Eye inflammation
• Fistulas (usually around the rectal area, may cause draining of pus, mucus, or stools)
• Joint pain
• Liver inflammation
• Mouth ulcers
• Rectal bleeding and bloody stools
• Skin rash
• Swollen gums

Treatment
DIET AND NUTRITION
No specific diet has been shown to improve or worsen the bowel inflammation in Crohn's disease. However, eating a healthy amount of calories, vitamins, and protein is important to avoid malnutrition and weight loss. Specific food problems may vary from person to person.
Certain types of foods may worsen diarrhea and gas symptoms, especially during times of active disease. Suggestions for diet during periods when symptoms are present include:

• Eat small amounts of food throughout the day.
• Drink lots of water (frequent consumption of small amounts throughout the day).
• Avoid high-fiber foods (bran, beans, nuts, seeds, and popcorn).
• Avoid fatty greasy or fried foods and sauces (butter, margarine, and heavy cream).
• If your body does not digest dairy foods well, limit dairy products.
• Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine consumption.

People who have a blockage of the intestines may need to avoid raw fruits and vegetables. Those who have difficulty digesting milk sugar (lactose) may need to avoid milk products.
Ask your doctor about extra vitamins and minerals you may need:

• Iron supplements (if you are anemic)
• Calcium and vitamin D supplements to help keep your bones strong
• Vitamin B-12 to prevent anemia

MEDICATIONS
Antidiarrheal drugs can help when you have very bad diarrhea. Loperamide (Imodium) can be bought without a prescription. Always talk to your doctor or nurse before using these drugs.
Medicines that may be prescribed include:

• Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) are medicines that help control mild to moderate inflammation. Some forms of the drug are taken by mouth; others must be given rectally.
• Corticosteroids (prednisone and methylprednisolone) are used to treat moderate to severe Crohn's disease. They may be taken by mouth or inserted into the rectum.
• Immunomodulators such as azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine quiet the immune system's reaction. They help reduce the need for corticosteroids and can help heal some fistulas.
• Antibiotics may be prescribed for abscesses or fistulas.
• Biologic therapy is used to treat patients with severe Crohn's disease that does not respond to any other types of medication. Medicines in this group include Infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (Cimzia), and natalizumab (Tysabri). They belong to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies, which help block an immune system chemical that promotes inflammation.

SURGERY
If medicines do not work, a type of surgery called bowel resection may be needed to remove a damaged or diseased part of the intestine or to drain an abscess. A procedure called anastomosis is done to connect the remaining two ends of the bowel.
Most patients with Crohn's disease will need bowel surgery at some time. However, unlike ulcerative colitis, surgically removing the diseased portion of the intestine does not cure the condition.
Patients who have Crohn's disease that does not respond to medications may need surgery, especially when there are complications such as:

• Bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Fistulas (abnormal connections between the intestines and another area of the body)
• Infections (abscesses)
• Narrowing (strictures)

Some patients may need surgery to remove the entire large intestine (colon), with or without the rectum.
See also:

• Total abdominal colectomy
• Total proctolectomy with ileostomy

Causes
While the exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, the condition is linked to a problem with the body's immune system response.
Normally, the immune system helps protect the body, but with Crohn's disease the immune system can't tell the difference between normal body tissue and foreign substances. The result is an overactive immune response that leads to chronic inflammation. This is called an autoimmune disorder.
People with Crohn's disease have ongoing (chronic) inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's disease may occur in any area of the digestive tract. There can be healthy patches of tissue between diseased areas. The ongoing inflammation causes the intestinal wall to become thick.
There are five different types of Crohn's disease:

• Ileocolitis is the most common form. It affects the lowest part of the small intestine (ileum) and the large intestine (colon).
• Ileitis affects the ileum.
• Gastroduodenal Crohn's disease causes inflammation in the stomach and first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
• Jejunoileitis causes spotty patches of inflammation in the top half of the small intestine (jejunum).
• Crohn's (granulomatous) colitis only affects the large intestine.

A person's genes and environmental factors seem to play a role in the development of Crohn's disease. The body may be overreacting to normal bacteria in the intestines.
The disease may occur at any age, but it usually occurs in people between ages 15 - 35. Risk factors include:

• Family history of Crohn's disease
• Jewish ancestry
• Smoking

Tests & diagnosis
A physical examination may reveal an abdominal mass or tenderness, skin rash, swollen joints, or mouth ulcers. Tests to diagnose Crohn's disease include:

• Barium enema
• Colonoscopy
• Computed tomography (CT scan) of the abdomen
• Endoscopy, including capsule endoscopy
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Enteroscopy
• Upper GI series

A stool culture may be done to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms.
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Albumin
• C-reactive protein
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• Fecal fat
• Hemoglobin
• Liver function tests
• White blood cell count

Prognosis
There is no cure for Crohn's disease. The condition is marked by periods of improvement followed by flare-ups of symptoms.
It is very important to stay on medications long-term to try to keep the disease symptoms from returning. If you stop or change your medications for any reason, let your doctor know right away.
You have a higher risk for small bowel and colon cancer if you have Crohn's disease.

Complications

• Abscess
• Bowel obstructions
• Complications of corticosteroid therapy, such as thinning of the bones
• Erythema nodosum
• Fistulas in the following areas:
  • Bladder
  • Skin
  • Vagina
• Impaired growth and sexual development in children
• Inflammation of the joints
• Lesions in the eye
• Nutritional deficiency (particularly vitamin B12 deficiency)
• Pyoderma gangrenosum

I would not draft him at all. IT depends on his disease, but as time goes on an he gets older it will get worse and more difficult for him to compete. You might not get his first contract out of him.

Crohn's can be a debilitating illness.

It seems like a lot of people are getting Crohn's these days.

FAX

further than that. I would imagine he just dropped to 3 or lower. Crohn's is serious.

Absolutely. I would not be surprised at all if it will shorten his career by at least 5 years. That really sucks for him.

It could be significant because Erin Henderson went from a 2nd round pick to not drafted because of the issue of him not having an ACL.

i just don't see anyone draft him top 10 now. He'll be lucky if he doesn't drop into round 2. Of course it depends on where the disease is specifically located.

can't be good

damn, that sucks for him....dude is gonna drop

isnt an ACL a little more important when it comes to football than this issue

Teams aren't to keen on drafting guys that they won't get numerous years out of anymore so there is a good thought that he could fall into the mid rounds.

No because he's fine now, he fell because they thought the issue would shorten his career, and this would be the same for McClain.

ok thanks

would you spend a 1st round pick on a guy who is a game time decision EVERY week? Crohns can flare up anytime and he would miss a game.

it's not like diabetes which is fairly controllable.

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't get drafted at all. I hope he took advantage of that free education. One of the problems with Chrons is you might not be able to keep weight on....key for an NFL football player.

He'll get drafted, just probably not with a 1st rounder now.

I think the Chiefs would use a 2 or a 3 on him if he did fall that far.

Because of Crohn's? Give me a break. When it flares, you do a course of Methotrexate and back to the field. How many times has it affected his play in college? Dude is getting drafted, I have no doubts about that.

You just said the 2nd round.

how many games has he missed due to this in college?

You can't look at as just a "today". You have to look at it over atleast a 5 year period. It's not a good investment no matter which way you look at it. AS someone else put it..he could literally be a game time decsion every week.

I believe I was the one that said that. The chances are low, but it is possible he might have to miss a game. He's still getting drafted, just not in the 1st round.

Depends on the teams, I don't think 4-3 teams would have him in the 1st round to begin with.

I assume the Chiefs would put a 2nd round grade on him at this point but a team like say the Giants might have a 5 on him.

Maybe. I wouldn't draft him and if the Broncos do I'll be pissed.

Not sure what I would think about drafting him in the 2nd round.

i don't think he's missed any but apparently he just missed the combine because of it.

just saying ... it's alot of money to risk


i would not be shocked at all to see McClain fall into round 2 now

I'd be very happy.

McClain is not helping himself by saying now at the combine and his pro day this disease made him sick.

If you're willing to put up with this situation he's worth a 2nd round pick, actually he's good value there but you'll need a backup that can play just in case.

i can see where you are coming from here. well maybe that will stop us from spending MAJOR coin on an ILB:D

When has David Garrard missed a game?

Little different being a QB and a ILB.

Not when it comes to Crohn's. Crohn's is pretty much the worst abdominal pain - in some cases, to the point where you're probably passing out from the overload of the nervous system. If you have a bad flare up, I don't care if you're the kicker, you won't be playing. The thing is, bad flare ups don't happen too often in most cases.

Could you guys imagine if the tip three picks for us went like this...

Berry
McClain
Cody

A major upgrade at all three levels of the defense...if the stars could ever align...

Here's a guy talking about it and why it would probably hurt his draft stock...

I also have Crohn's, became very ill last year and was finally diagnosed late in the year. I lost 20 pounds and had so much inflammation in my joints that I went from being pretty fit to hobbling around like an 85 year old man with severe arthritis. As I'm sure you know when you get in a bad flare you can't maintain a high level of exercise; you're not supposed to exercise at all when you're having severe inflammation. It sounds like you've mostly been in remission but for many people Crohn's can become debilitating and require surgery or even multiple surgeries. McClain's medications obviously have kept the disease under control but that could change at any time. If you take a look at the forums at the Crohn's-Colitis foundation (CCFA.org) you'll see plenty of stories of people who were doing fine with a medication and then it suddenly became ineffective.

Absent a major flareup, most of us with Crohn's or UC can live relatively normal lives. But to maintain the level of workouts and fitness required to be a middle linebacker in the NFL for 10-12 years with Crohn's will be a big challenge for Rolando. It is frankly beyond his control, even if he does all the right things. There is the very real possibility that it could cut his career short and I'd be very surprised if it doesn't knock him down in the draft.

Do you know of any professional athlete in a sport that requires a very high level of conditioning (football non-kicker, basketball, soccer, etc.) who has Crohn's or ulcerative colitis? I am not aware of any, though I'm sure there are some.


When it's something he literally can not control, that is going to scare teams.

It's not like he ****ed his sister.

McClain reveals he has Crohn's Disease

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on March 10, 2010 5:32 PM ET

Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain's Pro Day got off to a fine start with an expected time in the forty.

He didn't finish his drills, however, after getting ill. After the workout, he disclosed he has fought Crohn's Disease since his freshman year in high school. It's treated through medication.

We're amazed this information wasn't out already, but it clearly hasn't prevented McClain from producing. David Garrard was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease during his career and it hasn't slowed him down.

Still, we wonder if this will cause teams to look at McClain any differently - positively or negatively. Perhaps the biggest knock on McClain is his inconsistent motor and effort.

Maybe his Crohn's plays into that, maybe it doesn't. It's just one more piece to the puzzle for teams to figure out by April's draft.

Too bad for the guy, but at least we now know for certain there won't be any 5th overall reaching for him this year.

Oh boy. That's not something that gets better usually.

Crohn's affects every sufferer differently. That's one of the biggest problems you have when you're seeking treatment.

It could have little or no impact on his ability to perform ... or, it could effectively disable him. And, the kicker is that there's no way to predict which way it will go.

It's a bitch of a disease.

FAX

David Garrard has Crohn's disease. Has it really hampered him?

But he's just one example, you could draft McClain and watch him be fine for 3 years and then see his career basically end.

It's something that he really can't control and you're taking a giant risk so that will drop his draft position.

Yup, his risk factor just went up EXPONENTIALY...

My daughter has Crohns disease.

Im not picking on you, other than to inform you that it's a very debilitating disease, incurable to date, borderline manageable in the best instances.

Flare ups don't come and go in a day. It affects the bodys ability to absorb nutrients and many can lose a fair amount of blood in a bad episode.

It's not an insignificant illness to deal with.

Damn. You too, Mr. Cosmos? It's like a damn epidemic around here. What's going on?

I need to do some research. Perhaps it's merely anecdotal, but it sure seems as though more people are being diagnosed with Crohn's than ever before.

FAX

I wonder if the dairy industry is currently checking for cows infected with M. paratuberculosis? It's one of the potential causes of Crohn's and, if milk is infected, it could possibly explain why so many people are having problems.

FAX

Please cease and desist from discussing milk in this thread. Lindsey Lohan might sue.

wow, just like David Garrard.

Rolando can overcome this.

I realize I may be a collapsing minority, but I still hope he becomes a stalwart in red and gold, even if this pushes him to a later round selection than originally hypothesized. This kid epitomizes the middle backer position from a toughness standpoint...

I just think that they can finally diagnose it.

It depends so people only get hit with one flare up and done for life others it is more often.

QUOTE=FAX;6594400]I wonder if the dairy industry is currently checking for cows infected with M. paratuberculosis? It's one of the potential causes of Crohn's and, if milk is infected, it could possibly explain why so many people are having problems.

FAX[/QUOTE]

:hmmm:

Wow, you people are blowing this way out of proportion. Crohn's isn't that debilitating if controlled with medication. I'm an RN. This disease is usually a lot easier to control than diabetes, and there are several players that play productively with diabetes. Not getting drafted at all? Funny stuff.

I knew a guy who killed himself because of this disease.

Crohns is completely unpredictable, Focker (:P). The medication has all kinds of side effects. Most of which are not condusive to an active lifestyle. He'll be playing in the NFL. It's a deal breaker.

Bottom line....he had to cut his pro day short because of it. He's a bad investment because of it. Doesn't mean he won't have a great life. Just not as an NFL football player.

The majority of Chrons patients require some kind of surgery at some point.

I don't know. All I can say is he's a very inconsistent QB.

Nothing is that debilitating if controlled by medication.......

Crohns and IBD are different in many folks and not eveyone is fortunate enough to have identified the right combination of meds to eliminate the majority of episodes. Over time some folks are bad enough to have had go thru surgery to remove the damaged areas of the intestinal/colon.

I am a parent of a child with Crohns. It's not an insignificant disease, even when managed thru meds. Flare-ups are debilitating, and she is not a football player.

Because McClain has Crohns, I wish him the best will all my heart. He sounds like a class guy.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to trivialize the disease. I realize it is serious and every case is unique. I just don't think he won't get drafted because of it. Once again, I humbly apologize.

From first to undrafted? He'd need to be dead. You guys seriously overvalue mid/late draft picks around here. Even if you average it out and say that he's out for two games per year because of this, if you think you'd have a VERY GOOD or great LB 14 games a year, that's easily worth a mid-round pick.

Heck, McGahee had his knee blown up in the worst way possible, and had some off-field issues (not too serious), and was still drafted #23 even though it was pretty much known he'd be out for his entire rookie year. I think he was drafted far too high and that the Bills screwed up, but jsut for comparison sake...

And besides that, teams these days aren't thinking "wonder if he'll be around in 8 years" when they make picks. Not outside the top 10 at least. It's kinda nonsensical.

If you get 3 years of plus play out of a 2nd round pick, you're ahead of the game.

So he may not finish up his rookie contract - so? How's that any different than 1/2 the guys drafted in the 2nd that wash out? And the financial outlay for a 2nd rounder is generally a drop in the bucket when compared with the revenues thrown around.

McClain with a 2 is an absolute no doubt pick, IMO. When you're in the position we're in, sometimes you have to gamble a little bit. This is a very acceptable gamble to take.

Wow. Just, wow! I hope McClain can play in the NFL, as he's a beast for playing at such a high level, while suffering with this illness.

Heck of a statement. Let me ask this -- let's say you're looking at the 5th round picks over a certain period of time. Let's say 10 years. Let's say that the time frame stops 4 years ago, so you can assess what they've done as pros.

What do YOU expect that analysis to show in terms of these players performance/contribution/productivity?

Clearly, your experience with the disease is limited.

Mine, however, is not. I know persons who, after multiple surgeries, have had practically all of their intestines removed by the age of 26 and 28. Do you think you can play football with no intestines? You can't absorb basic nutrients.

Although the treatments have improved, there is no cure. The disease is (as believed) essentially auto-immune by nature. Surely, as an RN, you realize that auto-immune suppression, which is one of the treatments, can lead to even more problems in the form of serious infection?

I'm sorry, but you obviously don't know what you're talking about. What's worse is that people may believe you - and that can be dangerous. Please refrain from making public statements that can be harmful to others.

FAX

That is some nasty stuff right there. My wife had an extremely bad case of psoriasis a couple of years ago (lost every inch of skin, every finger and toe nail, and most of her hair) that they treated with Methotrexate. I just know that she had to have a (I don't remember if it was kidney or liver) test every month to be sure it wasn't attacking the wrong things. After 6 months she had to come off of it to keep her systems from building it up.

Yeah, Psoriasis, much like Crohn's is an auto-immune disorder. I'm suprised they didn't treat her with Enbrel - that thing is pretty much like a nuclear strike on your immune system.

easier to control that diabetes??

this comment seems completely absurd to me, most cases of diabetes are completely and reliable controlled. It takes awareness and disclipine with your diet and shots but if you do it, you're good. Even if you don't you can "control" a bad diabetes bout pretty quickly and recover fast.

If crohn's decides to flare up there is little you can do and you can be down for awhile.

two completely different situations imo

Crohn's can be very unpredictable


i had a girlfriend with crohn's and have a relative with it