crohn’s colitis diet

Read and learn more about crohn’s colitis diet. For more, visit the Colitis website Colitis.PopularThinking.com

Q: Is it necessary to stay on a restricted diet forever following an attack of colitis?
I was recently hospitalized due to my very first severe attack with colitis. I have always suffered along with this ailment throughout my childhood and now well into my 50’s. However, it has always subsided with a common sense diet etc but no medication. This time around I could do nothing to stop the pain and even had intestinal bleeding. The doctor released me from the hospital with a very restricted diet. I am on 2 courses of antibiotics and pain killers. I have been home for 3 days and am just beginning to feel better. I have just started eating solids like baby food, jello, toast, cottage cheese etc. Can I ever try chocolate or any of the other foods I so love again? I will be going for a colonoscopy soon and have made an appointment with another doctor. My sons have Crohn’s desease. This seems to run in our family. What else can I expect from this illness?

A: No theories about the causes of ulcerative colitis have been proven. But researchers think the body’s immune system reacts to a virus or bacteria by causing ongoing inflammation in the intestinal wall. Although this is considered to be a problem with your immune system, some doctors think the immune system reaction may be a result, not the cause, of the disease. Ulcerative colitis is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to certain foods or food products, but these factors may trigger symptoms in some people.

Q: What helps the symtoms of ulcerative colitis?
Does anyone know if there is a special diet that helps ulcerative colitis? I was thinking of eliminating meat to see if that would help even though people do that for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is a little different. Any suggestions would be great!

A: eliminating meat won’t really help much.. the best things to cut out are fried foods, overly processed foods, popcorn, fake sugars, other veggies that will irritate your stomach too. The sugars to completely watch out for are any that end it -itol like sorbitol which is found in many gums. my nutritionist I had said to avoid these because they cause diarrhea which would definitely not help us with UC. I’d also watch dairy intake. I know that I became fairly lactose intolerant with my UC. Organic foods help tremendously as well since they aren’t processed and they are more natural.

Q: Crohn’s Disease / Ulcerative Colitis information sought.?
I am a 31 year old female, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis in May and am currently awaiting a test from Promethius that is supposed to distinguish between the two, I go see my G.I. specialist for the results later this month. Has anyone had this test done? Is there going to be a final answer, or will I need more tests after this? Any helpful info you can offer? I have changed my diet, lost weight and have only had one flare-up since being in the hospital….
I guess I should add that I turned down medications when I was in the hospital. The on-duty GI Specialist wanted to put me on Prednisone and I declined and signed myself out of the hospital and went home. My doctor and my personal GI Specialist both agree that I did the right thing and say my case is mild compared to most. My regular doctor doesn’t even agree with the diagnosis of Crohn’s/UC and thinks I don’t need any medication.
Also to help with nutrition and my arthritis,every day I try to take:
2 Omega 3,6,9 Complete EFA
2 Probiotics by Jarrow Formulas
1 Colostrum by Jarrow Formulas
1 Calcium Magnesium Zinc
2 Glucosamine w/ MSM
2 Wellness Formula by Source Naturals

A: Hey I had UC so I know what your going through. A good website is www.livingwithuc.com. The flare ups are unpredictable and pretty terrible. I stopped taking the medicine because it made it worse. Lately Ive been drinking Kefir probiotic and it has helped (sometimes). I recommend taking the meds, im actually about to see my gastro so I canget back on that.

Q: Does anyone on this site suffer from Crohn’s disease and/or Ulcerative Colitis?
I have crohn’s and ulcerative ileitis and I take Entocort. It is not helping and I want to know if anyone has tried entocort or not and if it worked for them. also, has anyone had a surgery for it? If so, did it help? Is there a particular diet that you follow?

A: I have Crohns and have taken entocort. prendisone does work better but the Entocort has less bad sid effects. I only use the Entocort for flare ups.Mainly I am much better in the past few years since I started on a maintainence med Imuran … I have had 3 bowel resections also. If your onlt taking Entocort thats fine to get the flai up under control but you need to be on a daily med like Imuran or 6-MP.
As to diet everyone is different as to what bothers them find the foods that for you cause problwms and avoid them usually dairy nuts ,salads, spicier foods, new studies have shown that many with crohns do not tolerate sugar very well either so avoid lot of sweet sugary foods.

Q: Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, calorie intake?
I have Crohn’s disease, and am in a severe flare-up. I’m one of the weird people who have gained weight while having Crohn’s disease, despite the malnutrition, and awful damage to my intestines. Perhaps it’s from the medications I’ve taken.

I’ve recently started the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for IBDs, in hopes it will help me, and I’ve noticed that I’m not getting very many calories, normally only 1400 at the most. As someone with Crohn’s, should I be eating more calories than that? I’d like to lose some of the weight I’ve gained since having Crohn’s, but my health is my first priority. I’d rather be a little heavy and healthy, than thin and even sicker than I already am.

A: Health is of course the first priority. If you’re a growing teenager, you ought eat more than 1400 calories – but if you’re finished growing, 1400 won’t kill you. However, it is rather meager. The simplest thing to do would be to eat more, but exercise to match.

I know it’s difficult to exercise with the lack of energy that Crohn’s and UC bring, but if you’re worried about putting on weight, it’s a decent way to combat that. You could also try asking your doctor about other meds that might not cause this problem.

Q: Info for Crohn’s patients & their family?
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America has a website that you obtain information ranging from the latest treatments, diet, surgery, women’s issues, to locating a local chapter near your town. These support chapters offer educational meetings (drug reps, dieticians, MDs)as well as regular support for pts. & their families led by healthcare professionals.

CCFA also has an online chat M-F as well as a toll free number where you can talk to a healthcare expert well versed in IBD. www.ccfa.org.

You are not alone. I’ve been a crohn’s vetran since the age of 12 & have seen firsthand how their expertise has made it possible for myself as well as countless others learn how to take control of the disease & not let it take controlof us.

Wishing all crohnies a complete remission.

A: I completely agree. I have struggled with Crohn’s disease since age 8. The CCFA (formerly NFIC) has been my best resource for information and networking with patients and physicians for about 25 years. Find a group near you and share your frustrations – AND your joys!

Q: Anyone here on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet? What results have you gotten? How long have you been on it?
It’s used for Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
I have Ulcerative Colitis and have been on the diet for 7 weeks and am looking for information regarding how your symptoms responded to being on the diet. Thanks.

A: In the past was on Akins diet which restricts carbohydrates and I lost lots of weight fast but was real shakey and nervous and had to get off. A family member has problems eating yeast products and uses substitutes and is fine as long as she does. If she slacks off she has terrible diahrea…

Q: I’ve become too involved in my research, I think it’s causing me excessive stress?
There’s a part of me that wishes I could undo reading and learning so much. There’s a considerable amount of stress involved in realizing how things work in world issues, science and medicine. Or is that just my personality getting hung-up on negative things? I’m really not sure.

It’s like I’ve entered adulthood a second time with all the additional pressure weighing heavily on me. Did I mention that there is an all-natural substance or special diet which can prevent most chronic illnesses? I’m talking about obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative colitis and other autoimmune disorders like MS? Shoot me an email if you have any questions.
Aha don’t call them ‘conspiracy theories,’ that’s very negative aha.
The people with all of the money will always have their own interests in mind when they tell you anything in society. So they will ignore all-natural and dietary approaches to mental health because they don’t make them any money, etc.

A: Sounds like you are obsessing on this. Get some therapy for balance.

Q: Having Upper GI on Tuesday, would this show one of most of these conditions?
- IBS (Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (sp?)
- Colon Cancer/Polyps
- IBS

I have a feeling this is one of those because I changed my diet slightly. More fruits and veggies, less soda (I’m a Mt. Dew addict, so it was hard). Before I did, I have a sharp stabbing pain, that turned into an on-going (for 1 month now) dull, achy pain in my right and left abdomin. After I changed my diet, it slowly disappeared, but is still there on occassions. When I move for too long or too much, it starts to hurt. It’s worse on my period. I’ve been constipated for awhile, but when I take M.O.M (milk of mag.), I get unconstipated, but it comes back (sometimes in diarrhea form). It tends to hurt under my right rib and worse when I eat foods (every food plus water). I have horrible nausea and never vomitted, but have been on the edge of it. Off and on headaches, weakness and fatigue. I don’t think I left anything out. Ultra-Sound, Urine, and X-Ray’s were fine. What do you think this is?
I’ve already been tested for Celiac Disease and I don’t have it. No Celiac problems. I process gluten just fine.

And you say you work in a Medical Field, but obviously not the right one. Upper GI meaning the Barium X-Ray.

A: No an endoscope of your upper gastrointestinal system will only go as far as the first 1/3 of your small intestines.

You will need a colonoscopy of the bowel and small intestines to see what happening at that end of the gastrointestinal system which is where those diseases you are speaking about occur.

An endoscope will show up gastric ulcers, reflux issues and emptying of stomach problems.

Could be any of those conditions you spoke about and I really think you will get no answer if you just have an upper gastro scoping, you need the lower intestines and bowel viewed as well to get a full picture.

Q: Upper GI on Tuesday, what do you think this is personally?
- IBS (Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (sp?)
- Colon Cancer/Polyps
- IBS

I have a feeling this is one of those because I changed my diet slightly. More fruits and veggies, less soda (I’m a Mt. Dew addict, so it was hard). Before I did, I have a sharp stabbing pain, that turned into an on-going (for 1 month now) dull, achy pain in my right and left abdomin. After I changed my diet, it slowly disappeared, but is still there on occassions. When I move for too long or too much, it starts to hurt. It’s worse on my period. I’ve been constipated for awhile, but when I take M.O.M (milk of mag.), I get unconstipated, but it comes back (sometimes in diarrhea form). It tends to hurt under my right rib and worse when I eat foods (every food plus water). I have horrible nausea and never vomitted, but have been on the edge of it. Off and on headaches, weakness and fatigue. I don’t think I left anything out. Ultra-Sound, Urine, and X-Ray’s were fine. What do you think this is?
No, it’s not Celiac Disease. My gluten processing works fine.

Upper GI as in the Barium X-Ray thing.

BTW, someone please share their experiences with an Upper GI. I’m kinda nervous. Do I just drink the barium stuff and stand or lay on a table for a MRI like thing? Will they do an IV?

A: An upper GI looks at the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. The conditions you are considering would affect lower in the GI tract. Perhaps a small bowel series or lower GI would be more appropriate.

By the way, q127 described the exam very well. You will be moving in different positions, both standing and laying. The radiologist will tell you when to drink, how to move, and when to hold your breath.

Q: some tips on dealing with severe bowel illnesses?
Bottom line is, I suffer from a Bowel illness. The doctors are very tentatively giving it the title of “Severe IBS”. It started 5 years ago, diagnosed with IBS, was never really a major issue besides the fact I had to watch what I ate. Fine. Over the years it’s gotten progressively worse. I’ve played doctors favourite guinea pig for two years now with no signs of slowing down. Good news is my latest Endoscopy’s (one down the throat, one through the bowels) show no signs of Crohn’s disease or colitis. Which is a bitter sweet pill to swallow because I’m happy It’s not either of those two, but would have been satisfied if we could just put a name to it.

Regardless, I’ve tried SO MANY Different diets by doctor has told me to stop for the time being, eat normal food, live normal for a while until he can see me again. Fair enough.. basically my daily routine is I wake up at about 1 PM feeling like someone beat the crap out of me while I slept, I don’t eat breakfast, Don’t eat lunch, I eat a bit of dinner, I take a tablespoon of soluable fibre twice a day, I drink a protein shake every day because My weight tends to drop during my worst times. Then I go to bed. My schedule is completely out of wack, I never know when I’ll be awake or when I’ll be sleeping. It’s bad in the mornings, it’s best late afternoon/evening and it’s bad again during the night. It’s not specific things, it’s just food in general, which is why I don’t eat a lot to begin with.

To top it all off.. I’m 16, Lost a whole semester of school to it last year, had to be homeschooled just to achieve 50’s (i’m usually an 80+ Average). I went back to school this year but again, haven’t been to school in three weeks for the simple fact that I go to school, but end up having to come home sometimes before first period is even over. It’s pathetic. I can’t even go to school. Not to mention I also had to give up my job for it.

and the best my specialist has done in recent months is sent me to a god damned shrink to “manage stress”. And all THAT Did, was stress me out. I manage stress fine, I don’t know how he managed to find a stress shrink as a solution to a bowel disorder but i did what i had to do, and guess what, big suprise here, it didn’t do anything for me.

What else can I do to keep myself up? My spirits at least..

Remember, I’m 5 years into this, unless you have a really experienced suggestion, chances are I’ve tried it, but I appreciate all tips.

People look at me and go “Don’t let it consume you, you should go to school and live a normal life” I’m dead serious when I say it’s physically impossible to attend class in the condition i’m in. I’m not letting it consume me, I really don’t have a say in what it does.

How the hell do I control it, or what can I do to help my body feel normal.

I live my life feeling like crap all the time. The physical exhaustion starts to get to you, so does the depression and many other feelings.

This isn’t just a one dimensional illness, anyone who has suffered from anything remotely close to what I am, knows what I’m talking about.

Anyways, any input is appreciated, thank you.

A: So sorry about what you are going through. I can only point you to where I finally got help after 15+ of suffering from IBS (although not as severe as you I also went to multiple specialists and got poked and scoped and put on worthless diets). www.helpforibs.com (go through the blue links in the text on the first page- read them all to get the whole picture- you probably know a lot of what is there but if you haven’t read her book, I bet there is new info there for you). It also has user forums with great support from people who have the disease as bad as you do and who have turned their lives around (people who had not left the house for years who now can). They are a very supportive group. It also has a recipe board that has helped me as well (inventive ways to make foods safer for IBS patients). Good luck- you can figure this out- but looks like it is on you and not the drs after they rule out the other diseases!!

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