HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

athlete w/ crohn's

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/21/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
a quick question: i posted earlier about my son having crohn's and got some great reply's but i do have a question about his ability to continue his extreme sports. he is in college and studies hard and plays hard. if he is feeling good there is nothing he won't do, if he is feeling ok he will still try and do everything he is use to doing and even with flares he will try and still do what he loves to do and that is compete in sports even if this means getting off the field and then feeling worse. should he continue to do what he wants or should he take it easy and let his body catch up and heal? any suggestions?
Posted 8/21/2011 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Tough question. Speaking only for myself. When I was younger (now 51) I don't think exercise bothered me much but as I got older and my CD got worse I seemed to find a correlation between pushing myself too hard and flares a few days later.

I think he should do what ever he wants to but pay attention to see if over activity coincides with flares. Being careful what he eats and to take his meds is probably more important. He should pay attention to the signals his gut sends him and speak to his doctor if things get "wrong".

He is young and he should not limit himself unless absolutely necessary. Just my opinion.
Posted 8/21/2011 7:48 AM (GMT 0)
good on your son for not letting his crohns stop his active lifestyle - when I was younger I did the same and with hindsight I don't think it has been detrimental, in fact just the opposite.

he is lucky to have such a supportive mum :)
Posted 8/21/2011 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Good for your son for continuing his life!! It's extremely hard to do when you're young and sick. It can sometimes drag you down. I'm not an athlete, but I have the same mindset as your son and finished a rigorous professional school about a year ago. My advice is to tell your son to he live his life and not let the disease take over it. But also, make sure that he knows to listen to his body and if he's not feeling well, that he should not push himself really hard and overdo it. I had a little flare last year of school and I kept pushing myself through stressful times and trying to keep with with normality (class, gym/gym classes, drinks with friends, parties, etc). I didn't listen to the little clues my body gave me and I had a nasty year long flare that I wasn't able to get under control without surgery. But best of luck to you and your son...he's got a good head on his shoulders... :-)
Posted 8/21/2011 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter earns her living as an athlete and in teaching her sport. After years of dealing with the pain, she says she would have given up years ago if she didn't have this passion for her sport in her life. She says when she is participating or teaching, she can almost forget her health problems, she just gets so caught up in what she loves to do. So I think it's really important that your son should continue for his mental well being. He'll know when he has had enough and needs to rest.
Posted 8/22/2011 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
The more I exercise, the better I feel. Exercise is good for my body and my mind. All of us need to pay attention if things feel like they are going off track, but IMHO, he should go for it and enjoy life.
You said he does extreme sports. If this includes burning tons of calories, he may need to remember to watch what he eats. There are times when I take too many carbs after a long workout and this may upset my gut for a few hours.

I am happy he is living large
Dave
Posted 8/22/2011 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Wow I believe I see quite a consensus here!
Posted 8/24/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
there is a consensus and i am glad there is! i would was dreading the possibility of trying to get him to slow down, to have to ask him to slow down would be terrible and he probably wouldn't listen anyway so i hope he can keep doing what he loves.
dfdavedf: i am glad you added the burning of calories because he does and i will remind him to watch what he eats afterwards. thank you all! each and everyone has given me something. :)
Posted 8/24/2011 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was horse jockey for all of my 18 years in the sport, I had cd all of it. exercise is huge with this disease, GO FOR IT !!!

AG
Posted 8/25/2011 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
As long as your son can physically play what he wants, he should. I'm halfway through p90x, have to work outside due to the job, and jog when its less then 90 out... I do it all when I feel up to it, only work when I don't...

He'll only feel worse if he quits because he's afraid it'll make him worse. Stopping because he can't do it is different...
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply