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Small Intestine Resection - natural healing (Aloe Vera, Bee Propolis)

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/1/2008 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,

This whole chat thing is new to me but after reading through some of the stories I thought it could be quite useful to chat with people that are suffering the same things as I am.

I was diagnosed with Chrons disease in theatre just before christmas 2007 so its only been a few months. I went into hospital with abdominal pains and constipation. The strange thing is the only thing I had ever suffered with before the op was constipation so it came as a real surprise. The doctors said i must of been in pain for a while but i couldn't really remember being in any pain other then the week before the op. I had about 3-4 inches of my small intestine removed and would really like to keep the rest of it.

Any way. The op went really well apart from heavy bleeding afterwards which was apparently from where the staples that were used to hold my intestine back together were coming away but nothing to worry about it just took a little time to heal.

Since the op I have been suffering with bloating and my stomach seems very noisy, this can also feel a little uncomfortable at times and my stomach feels really hard.

I also have problems going to the toilet in the fact that it can be quite painful and i do feel a little constipated most of the time.

I had some blood tests taken recently that showed a CRP of 11 and should be no more then 4 which means i have a slight infection somewhere. So i will be going back for blood tests in 2 weeks time to see if anything has changed.

I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same kind of problems as I am and if so whether you might have any ideas on how i could feel a little better.

I do feel lucky that I am not suffering from D but i am concerned with the constipation as this can damage the lining of your intestines.

I have tried drinking Aloe vera which is supposed to help with inner healing and I actually found that this did help me to go to the toilet. My main concern is that I might have some inflammation/infection that is causing the bloating so I'm actually going to try some Bee Propolis witch is a natural antibiotic for getting rid of bad bacteria, peppermint oil is also supposed to be quite good for this and if you take the capsules then they are more likely to reach your small intestine.

Has anyone tried any of these things?

Look forward to hearing from you x

 

Posted 3/1/2008 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry you're still not well after your surgery. There are a couple of things that are concerning to me:

When you are "constipated", does your stool comes out soft or watery or a solid regular or hard poop?

Secondly, are your doctors doing something to find this infection?

Also, I am curious to know why did they do surgery?
Usually surgery is done for people with CD who have intestinal obstruction, or sometimes when meds aren't working and the disease is completely out of control.

You can try a detox diet (if you're well enough and your intestines can handle it). The Maker's Diet is pretty good, but speak to your doctor first.


Best wishes.

Post Edited (Roni) : 3/1/2008 11:58:52 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/1/2008 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Roni,

Thanks for your message.

In response to your question, my stools seem to be a little all over the place. They are generally quite soft and sometimes yellow, but recently I have been taking iron supplements so there black and sometimes float. However something upset my stomach today and now I have D. Its hard to tell really, but a lot of the time it is quite painful to go so I guess they must be quite hard.

I saw my surgeon yesterday and he was concerned about the bloating and the inflammation showing on my CRP, so he has asked me to go for blood tests again in 2 weeks and he wants to see me again in 1 month. I guess if the blood results haven't got any better then they will want to do some scans to see whats going on.

The reason they operated was because I had a really high CRP at 73 and the lower right side of my abdomen was really tender. They thought I had appendicitis and took me down to theatre to remove my appendix. However, they found that I had a blockage where the small intestine meets the large, an absess and a small whole in my intestine which was caused by crohns so they removed the effected part which was about 3 inches and my appendix.

Do you suffer with Chron's disease?

Look forward to hearing from you again.
Posted 3/1/2008 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I take bee propolis, infact it's been almost 5 yrs of taking it daily..I started with the liquid form which tasted just awful but it absorbs faster, then when I quickly noticed improvement from it, after I finished the bottle of liquid I bought cap form (the best is from puritans pride online)....after one whole day of taking it (the liquid) 3 times, the next day it stopped all my bleeding and terrible lower back pain (which I would get during all of my 30 BM's/day and I'd be in tears from the pain), cut back on my 30+ BM's/day to around 15/day....bee propolis is a natural anti-inflammatory and my GI strongly encourages me to take it every day for the rest of my life, he says it's non-toxic and it's a great nutritional supplement on top of how well it's helped my symptoms, after all, no more bleeding, pain, cut back on mucus and frequency and so quickly with no side effects, you can't lose...but if you're allergic to bees you're suppose to avoid all bee products.

Then I added fibre supplements as ordered by my GI, also to take every day for the rest of my life and that just helped even more, cutting back on frequency again (so then I started going 10X/day, no more mucus at all and completely formed BM's, sometimes when I wipe the TP is clean because they come out so formed.

I added omegas 3-6-9 daily too, my skin is better and my mood improved greatly, it's also anti-inflammatory so I'm sure it's a benefit as well, but when I added the last thing, probiotics one called primadophilus reuteri made by natures day (one/day) that's when I finally got down to going 5 or less times a day.

I also take vitamin B12, A, C-Calcium ascorbate.

So you see, the natural route can be a huge benefit, often it takes more than one thing to get good results, but I AM NOT on any oral RX used for crohns, just the natural things I mentioned above and I have NO SIDE EFFECTS, and pay alot less money a month than if I was taking oral RX.

I've also altered my diet, no junk of any kind, especially sugar, no processed crap either....I drink water and chamomile tea (also a natural anti-inflammatory) everyday and nothing eles...I exercise regularly with cardio and weights, as exercise is crucial for normal functioning bowels.

I have crohns-colitis, so my CD is affecting my colon (going on 17 yrs now), when I first got sick it was also in my small intestines, colon, rectom and anus (still in my anus with perianal crohns skin tags which had surgery on them because they were mistaken for hemmies, that's where my CD first started, not internally but externally with my perianal crohns skin tags.

:)
Posted 3/1/2008 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
yes I have crohns. I had surgery a few years ago. they took about 1 foot of intestine in the TI (same place as you) and the crohn's came back immediately. It's been nonstop for more than 10 years for me.

I have tried to change my diet numerous times over the years, but the diet that works the best for me is the Maker's Diet. I don't follow it to a tee, but I still see a significant difference. I almost had to have a second surgery because of constant partial blockage, but that has gotten a little better because of my diet and natural remedies.

Anyway, unpasturized honey is another natural antibiotic, I put it in tea and coffee, on toast sometimes, in veggies, etc.
Also, maybe you could look into a good probiotic blend. One with several different good bacteria in it is best.
Posted 3/2/2008 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I had surgery last November to remove a few inches of terminal ileum, cecum, appendix and the valve. Before my incisions had even healed I was having terrible pain in my lower right side and the C was back and getting worse. My main problem before surgery was C and pain. I was just so blocked up they had to remove it. Anyhow, they did a CT to see if something was wrong with the surgical site, but no abscess or anything. I wasn't put on any maintenance meds after surgery right away. The doctors insisted that the Crohn's couldn't come back so fast. Sure enough, blood test showed CRP of 21 and SED rate of 42. Had an MRI and colonoscopy and they found a large mass around the surgical site on my colon side. So now i am looking at surgery again. I see the surgeon on Monday. The biopsies showed no cancer, but terribly inflammed. So basically my point is, if you really feel like something is wrong have it checked out.
Posted 3/2/2008 10:28 AM (GMT 0)
WOW,

Thanks for your messages guys, I must say I am really impressed with the natural things that you have been using to controll the CD. I have heard quite a few good reports now on Bee Propolis and Probiotics. Has either of you tried Aloe Vera drinks?

PB4, you metioned that you take calcium, is that for your joints? I was just wondering because I get aches in my shoulders a lot of the time and when I'm lieing in bed it almost feels like my shoulder might give way, plus i can feel my shoulder joints crunching a lot of the time. I also suffer from skin tags, do you know what causes this? I am very interested in your diet, it does seem like you are quite strict on what you can and cant eat. I was wondering if you could give me an idea of the kinds of things you do eat, especially for breakfast? I am struggling for ideas as I almost feel like I cant eat anything based on the things I have read.

Roni,
I was just wondering about the problems that you have had since surgery, it does sound a little like we have similar CD. I am concerned that I am feeling a little constipated most the time and so I was wondering what I should really look out for. When you almost had to have surgery, were you not going to the toilet at all and were you in any pain or vomiting. I have also been prescribed iron tablets cause my blood count was 11 which is only a little low, but i think iron tablets can add to the constipation also? I will have a look at the Makers diet.

Hi Munchkin81, I am really sorry to hear that you might have to have surgery again, but atleast you are being looked after and they are doing something to make you better. Thank you for your advice, I will be back at the hospital for tests again in 2 weeks so It will all depend on what my results are like then really. Have you tried any of the natural things that have been discussed in this topic? It might be worth chatting to your doctor about them cause some of the natural remedies can be really good for inflammation and I have found Aloe vera is quite good at making me go to the toilet it does seem to kick your digestive system into action a little, it is also goo for inner healing. Plus I think I need to get a bit more exercise in as this is really improtant for your system.

Thanks again for your messages guys.

x
Posted 3/2/2008 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Rachel :)

I take vitamin C-Calcium Ascorbate because it's suppose to benefit inflammation, luckily I don't have any joint or bone issues for living with CD as long as I have so I want to make sure I take steps to avoid it as well, that's why I do weight bearing exercises on a regular basis.

I've never tried aloe vera.

I could eat anything I wanted but I choose not to eat junk as it exacerbates symptoms and fast-foods are linked to IBD likely because of the MSG's it's full of, which is also why I avoid processed foods, after all you are what you eat and if you're gonna eat junk you'll become junk...I know many people who say eating junk food in moderation is okay, maybe for them but not for me because I know how hard it is for the body to digest all that junk and it takes a long time...alot of those foods are inflammatory so it doesn't make sence if I'm spending the time and money to take anti-inflammatory products to feel better to go ahead and eat inflammatory junk.

I have such energy since giving up junk and exercising regularly, so even with still having inflammation (in my colon and anus) that my body is trying to fight I'm not near as drained as most are even when they're in total remission.

:)
Posted 3/2/2008 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Oh ya, breakfast is typically a yogurt smoothy made with plain yogurt, a banana and some 100% pure juice of choice, usually pineapple.

I don't really eat a meal until supper which is mostly chicken, veggies or salmon, veggies, brown rice on occassion as well as beef on occassion.

snacks are always fruit but I'll eat eggs (usually soft-boiled) and oatmeal for snacks.

I eat small meals, never large ones, too hard on the digestive tract and with the things I eat I'm satisfied so I don't have to eat alot...whenever I crave sweets, I only eat fruit.

I use Stevia (google it) as a sweetner when needed or honey, and I only drink chamomile tea and water (with the exception of the fruit smoothies).

Once in a while (since I used to be a sugar-addict and chocoholic) I'll indulge in dark chocolate but it has to be 80% or higher cocoa (the higher the content the better for you, less sugar).

With so many variations of fruits and veggies, I don't get bored with my diet.

I forgot to add a few things as well, I use extra virgine olive oil only, never butter (animal fat), and I use fresh herbs to season my foods, rosemarry, thyme, basil, lemon, ect.

 

:)

Posted 3/2/2008 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
When I have a severe partial obstruction (this just happened the other day after I ate a really big meal for me anyway), the bowel movements will eventually stop after the other end of my intestines are empty, my tummy will look like I am 5 months pregnant, I have to be very careful how I move because it seems to make it worse (and it hurts). I stop eating and drinking and lay on my side or prop my butt up on a pillow to help ease the intense pressure and pain I feel as the stool is stuck at the narrow part of the bowel.

I also sometimes get quite upset because I am worried if I'm going to need emergency surgery this time, and sometimes I call a nurses hotline to see if I should go in. I've been through this many times so I figure that if I just stick it out and don't eat and take it easy, it will eventually pass. I might drink chamomile tea which sometimes helps. Eventually when the stool passes, it's complete diarrhea still, and I may have to go like 20 times.

I used to have this happen ALL THE TIME!!! (agh), but now I find it happens more if I move around alot (like jumping, running, too much walking after I eat, too much abdominal activitity, eating too much at once, etc.)  Unfortunately, I won't be signing up for belly dancing any time soon. LOL.

So far, I haven't been completely obstructed, and it seems to happen alot less since I've changed my diet.

Posted 12/8/2010 6:31 PM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
I added omegas 3-6-9 daily too, my skin is better and my mood improved greatly, it's also anti-inflammatory so I'm sure it's a benefit as well

 

 

 

pb4 - do you buy your omega 3-6-9 at Puritan's Pride as well? If so, which ones do you purchase? There's the max strength one and then another one w/ evening promise oil added. The dosing is the same on both, so I was just wondering which one would be sufficient.

Thanks

Posted 12/8/2010 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Gosh, I can't believe almost three years later, and I'm going through these obstructions again!
Still waiting for surgery, anytime between now and Feb.
Posted 12/8/2010 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Recovering after surgery has to take a multi-pronged approach to healing, it is not just diet:

Had close to 4 feet removed of the small bowel on September 24, 2010, its been a long road back (lost 40% of my blood, 25% of my body weight because of ongoing obstructions).

Diet: started with lots of broth, that did wonders to the perilstalsis and keeping the intestines moist, graduated to boil chicken and soups, now I am on full diet.

Supplements:

Because of the massive blood loss, taking iron and ferrite (be very careful with these, you can easily overdose). Taking Hemaplex, B-12 sublingual and a shot of B-12 every other week, folic acid

Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil twice a day. Digestive enzymes 4 times a day, the chewing of food is extremely important.

Taking probiotics to recover friendly bacteria: VSL #3, Jarrows, Primal Defense. All of these on a rotating basis, one per day + yogurt three times a day.

Taking Potassium after every meal, I was close to heart attack because of dangerously low Potassium levels.

Most important: Ensure Plus drink (3 times a day) with powdered vitamins and powdered protein, rotating.

Butt ! that is not the end of the story:

I walk about 1 mile a day (8 weeks after surgery) and exercise in stationary bike 15 minutes. This is a very important aid to the recovery, gets the bowels moving. (Did the same thing on my previous resection with excellent results).

Eat light meals 5 times a day, chew throroughly, keeps the intestines moving.

As of December 8, I regained 24 pounds (I was pretty skinny to begin with), the blood is within 10% of normal), some diarreah every other day (but that has been the case for the last 30 years.) Was never constipated.

Have another 8 pounds to go, but I am in no hurry.
Posted 12/8/2010 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Why did you have so much blood loss?
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