Food : To eat or not to eat?

Can anybody give me sound advice regarding whether what you eat or dont eat makes any difference when you have perianal (rectal/perineum) type Crohns with a colostomy (stoma).  Many kind hearted people and friends keep giving me the same old story about diet, diet and more diet being so IMPORTANT.  As well as trying to sell certain products without naming them but starting with HERB.............

Does what you eat cause or increase a flare up of Crohns on the abscess/fistulae wound?  I am under the impression that since one does not suffer with cramping, diarrhoae (diarrhea US)  (what a complicated word) and the associated symptons, does it actually make a difference?

If it does - I'm all for change and adaptation (but I would like to confidently be able to say to the concerned people that one can eat as normally as the next person who does not have Crohns with this particular manifestation of Crohns disease).

Thanks and hope that today is a GOOD day for MANY on the forum.

Annie

Hi Colin

Thanks for your response.  Would you mind answering the following questions for me?  Hope I am not being too personal. - but have good reasons for asking.

Why did you not continue with either (Remicade) or (Humira) or (Prednisole)?

When you say you have a bad flare - may I ask how and what happens to you?

Is your colostomy permanent?  As a young man how do you deal with the effects of a colostomy?

What meds are you currently on?  And are they working for you?

Thanks much appreciated

ANNIE

I've been following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) for the last 4 months. You don't eat any starch, gluten, lactose, or sugar. I've found it very helpful, and have had 2 fistulas close up. It's a strict diet, but very doable. I'm eating healthier than I ever have in my life, and although "illegal" food can still make me drool, I don't have any desire to actually cheat and eat it.

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/

I think food makes some difference for me but not for everyone. Certainly having the crohn's at the end of intestine with any constipation from foods makes for lots of pain and pressure to where it all comes out. Also when I had a fissure higher up than anus it was extremely painful with any constipation. Now I try to eat as much fiber as intestine will stand, there is a limit and then I take stool softener at night (which I read about on here,thank-you,thank-you) and have been happier ever since. From what my Dr. told me the intestines can get worse without feeling awful. Hard to imagine for me.

I get the same type of friends wanting me to try the various magic elixirs. I have even tried one (not cheap in cost) but I was way too sick for that kind of gentle help.

I flared for three+ yrs. straight and when I was in between what they would do next, I got a lot better. Go figure!!?? So after that lovely reprieve I am getting sick again so the holiday is over. I'm not sure where the line is of flare or just few bad weeks. Anyone else care to enlighten me too?

Hi All

Thanks for the answers, but I am still in the dark about food intake.  My son has been diagnosed with severe perianal Crohns and although he never gets any intestinal type symptons like D, cramps etc., he gets aggresive fistulas and abscesses.  Has been diverted (colostomy - should be temporary but going on for a year now) meds 200mg Imuran, hoping to starting Remicade as soon as our Medical Aid decide if they are going to pay.  Exhorbitant costs not so? 

So there we are - does what he eats affect his Crohns or not?

Have a lovely day and be blessed

Colin,

You sound like you have really achieved much in life in spite of the disease.  My son has also coped well with what life has dished out to him.  Married to a lovely wife - just had a beautiful baby boy and got his B.Com Degree with Honours.   (Goes by the name of Trad on the forum maybe you could encourage him further since your situations sound so similar).