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Do you have to take meds for crohns?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/23/2008 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
Is it bad if you aren't on meds for crohns?

can you live without taking them?

 

Posted 12/23/2008 6:18 AM (GMT 0)
It depends on the person. I know some people on the web who control their crohn's through diet alone. However if you aren't careful with what you eat and/or you're under a lot of stress, it's probably not a great idea. I've started the Specific Carbohydrate Diet in hopes of at least reducing my meds. It would be great if I could go med free someday, but I'll take just getting them reduced to a single maintenance med.
Posted 12/23/2008 6:36 AM (GMT 0)
I cannot take oral Rx used for crohn's as I'm either allergic or non-responsive (kinda a blessing in disguise really), but I have been taking natural anti-inflammatories for the last 5 yrs (including probiotics daily and fibre supplements) all of which have helped my symptoms a lot more than taking nothing at all which is what I basically did for my first 12 yrs of having CD. I should add, I also altered my diet (no junk, refined sugar, fast-foods, processed foods/beverages, animal fats or caffeine as these are all known to exacerbate IBD symptoms) and I exercise regularly too which have all helped with my symptoms.

:)
Posted 12/23/2008 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Well I am going to speak from my experiences. I once enjoyed a 20 year remission med free. While I was busy getting on with my life and forgetting about the Crohns, my Crohns was still in there doing its damage. My remission ended with a emergency resection due to complete obstruction. Would I do it again, HECK NO!!!

My personal belief is that everyone should be on maintainence meds all the time (except in the case of PB4 who is allergic). Even if you are watching your diet (i.e. SCD/Makers Diet) inflammation can still occur at microscopic levels. As this inflammation heals it creates scar tissue which in turn slowly narrows the intestine. So its best to take some type of maintainence med to keep the inflammation down. I take Asacol daily to maintain my Crohns and I live on a low residue diet all the time. JMHO
Posted 12/23/2008 3:09 PM (GMT 0)

Crohns is a disease characterized by inflammation in the digestive tract.Inflammation in the digestive tract causes a wide range of symptoms -- D, ulcers, malabsoprption, bleeding, structures, fistulas, etc. All of the commonly prescribed medications for |Crohns are designed, through one mechanism or another, to reduce or eliminate that inflammation, thus reducing or eliminating the symptoms and damage. So of course it is possible to avoid meds -- you will simply have more and more continuous inflammation, of only at the microscopic level. That's like asking if you can avoid aspirin or tylenol for a headache. Sure you can, but you will still hjave a headache.

You won't die of the headache, and you probbly won't die from the unmedicated Crohns, but th chances are very strong that you will suffer a lot more discomfort from either withoutmeds.

Posted 12/23/2008 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Tinka and Forum,
In the past I have used Asacol to control inflamation. My Doctor and I decided the inflamation had subsided enough to discontinue that med. I do make sure to monitor the inflamation with my Doctors help. I am not able to use the other meds typicaly used for Crohn's, but would use anything that were to become available in the future.
Posted 12/26/2008 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
I have had Crohns disease since 1987. I had a small bowel resection in 1993. I had been taking many medicines up until my surgery. After my surgery, my doctor and I talked about restarting medicine. I opted not to take it because my symptoms were not active and he told me that there was no guarantee that the medicine will stop the disease from flaring back up. I have not been on medicine since nor have had any major problems (sans an internal bleeding incident from too much ibuprofen). Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to be both medicine and symptom free.
Posted 12/26/2008 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I had a resection in Jan. and have been med free except for a 5 day course of pred. which I finished Tuesday. I have not been too bad. Just didn't want to go the Hum. right now and didn't want to stay on pred. for maintenance.I do follow low residue as I beleave that what I eat plays a part in my CD. I went off the meds after discussing it with my GI .I know I might need some later but for now things aren't too bad.lol gail
Posted 12/27/2008 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
I dont have health insurance so i control my crohns through diet. It can be done but the meds are better. The pain can not be controlled by diet and so the added stress can make everything flare up. Your best bet is to use diet to try and reduce your med intake to as little as possible. And stay away from prednisone and other corticosteroids they do more harm then good.

Posted 12/27/2008 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have to respectfully disagree with Shelly24 on the Pred. Yes it does have side effects, but it is also the most effective med to get your flares under control quickly. I believe if you do things right, they can be of more benefit than harmful. JMHO
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