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Natural Healing and Sensitivity to Drugs

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/9/2008 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there, I'm new to this forum. Are any of you also allergenic and really sensitive to drugs? And if so, what drug has caused you the least amount of side effects? Have any of you gone the natural route (natural supps/meditation/special diet/etc), even when things were serious, and found yourself in spontaneous remission? Have any of you tried the natural route, when things were serious, and ended up worse off because you didn't take medications??? I have a severe reaction to almost any med I have taken in my life (I'm 31), and have stuck to the natural method despite what conventional doctors recommended at times, and have actually been okay for the last 11 years! The natural route seemed to work for me, and I was happy to give up foods for my health, but now I seem to have a bad flare-up and a drug might be warranted, and I'm not sure what to do? Any answers, advice, personal stories would be much appreciated!!! Thanks!
For more specifics about my situation, read on:

I was diagnosed with Crohn's 11 years ago. I didn't have a lot of symptoms, but over the course of six months I started to feel pain when eating most foods, and then I started to have a lot of pain in my appendix area and bladder that got increasingly worse. Eventually I started losing weight, was bleeding a little, and could actually feel the pain by slight touch of the area. They discovered a mass, and knew I had an infection (from cat scans), so they put me on flagyl, and later IV drugs to decrease the mass. I had severe reactions to all the medications/drugs they put me on. I have always had bad allergies, and drugs have never gotten along well with my system.

At first they dx with appendicitis, but while I was in surgery for this, they discovered it was Crohn's, and took out the ileum secal valve along with part of the upper and lower intestine. There were many fistulas and it was pretty bad, according to the surgeons.

Well, the GI doc wanted to put me on Pentasa after the surgery, but I didn't want to take any more meds, since I had such severe reactions. I did a lot of research and went on a very special diet of organic vegetable soup, rice, and fish. That's pretty much all I ate for a year (I couldn't tolerate other foods), and somehow I healed. Eventually I began adding other foods on (but never dairy or gluten! And eating at restaurants tended to make me ill). I also took vitamins of course, and used a couple other natural supplements (I saw a Naturopath, who had worked a lot with Crohn's patients). So, I stayed in remission for the most part (although always tired, and unable to eat many foods without getting ill) for the last 11 years. Well, the past six months of my life have been incredibly stressful, and all of the sudden I'm having some of that pain come back (it's constant), that was my main symptom when I was first sick. Of course, I will see a GI doc, but I know they will probably recommend going on medicine, and I'm really frightened to take anything since almost all drugs I have taken in my life have caused severe reactions! (But of course, I would try it, if it was essential). I'm concerned the drugs might not help, and might make things worse...
Posted 5/10/2008 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ginger, Welcome to the forum. I'm new to Crohn's myself (dx'd 3 weeks ago). But through looking back over old posts and asking questions, I've gathered from the other members here that you can't always tell if your Crohn's is in remission w/o testing. It can perk away w/o your knowledge. Mine has done that so well that w/my first visit to the GI and one colonoscopy, I was dx'd with Crohn's. AHHHHHHHH!!! So . . . while you were 'feeling' better . . . your gut may have been being attacked w/o your knowledge. I think its good to look at any disease from all angles and do all we can naturally . . . but it sounds like you've had some pretty severe problems and you may just need the meds to keep things quiet. I hope some of the others with more experience will be able to help. Blessings!
Posted 5/13/2008 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Ginger,
I have been on many treatments over the years that have not been much help until now. I am taking Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). It is currently in clinical trials with impressive results! Please research it and find out more. This drug is inexpensive, 1 pill at bedtime, has minimal to NO side effects, and it WORKS! (See www.lowdosenaltrexone.org). LDN has helped many people with multiple illnesses and is well worth a try!

Best of luck to you! Please let me know if you have any questions that I can help you with! (I had to persuade my GI to let me give it a try…and I am SO GLAD that I did! He wanted to put me on Remicade or Humira, which I refused because I feared the extreme side effects.)

Some websites of interest:

www.lowdosenaltrexone.org (This is the "main" website).

http://gazorpa.com (Helpful info).

http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/blog.cfm/crohns_disease (Clinical trial results - 89% experienced improved symptoms - 67% achieved REMISSION)!

http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/print_article.cfm/benefits_of_low_dose_naltrexone (General info).


Kindest regards,
Patti

__________
I edited out your reference to the other forum - Ivy.

Post Edited By Moderator (ivy6) : 6/2/2008 1:19:10 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/23/2008 8:21 AM (GMT 0)
The LDN sounds like a good drug to try if you're sensitive to meds! I've been reading the postings on this site about LDN - It seems that some people get quick relief from it, and for others, it has no effect, but at least side effects are minimal if any.

I'm also researching ketotifen. Have any of you heard of it/tried it/known anyone else who has? It's sold in Canada, and I think Europe; in the States you have to get it compounded at a pharmacy. I found a couple of articles on it recently. Like LDN, more research is needed, but it does show some promise...
Very few side effects, besides drowsiness (since it's an anti-histimine), and possibly weight gain. I'm going to start a new post, and see if anyone else can say more about this drug!

Thank you so much for your replies and the info! AlwaysRosie, if you have any questions, let me know... I do know much about the natural approach to treating crohn's, which HAS really helped for many years. Diet change is probably one of the MOST important factors, and you have to be careful not to always do what the GI doc says without researching it yourself first. BE very active in your treatment process, because the doctors don't really understand the disease at this point, and they are not always right! Have confidence in your body's ability to heal, there IS a large psych aspect to this condition - even though there is still dispute over this concept, much research supports it (and certainly that stress plays a factor). Try not to get scared by what you read here or elsewhere, everyone's experience with this disease seems to be unique, and many many people achieve remission for long periods (sometimes for life). Stay positive and heal well! :-)
Posted 5/23/2008 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
If you want to try the natural way, pb4 is a go to girl for that type of stuff.
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