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For how long should food be restricted?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/21/2011 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I was just wondering how long should one restrict food? For ever???? More than 6 months ago, I decided to restrict my food intake: only a limited number of things. I eat only: chicken, sometimes fish and in other times minced meat without any fats, white bread, cheese (gouda - ok for me), rice, sometimes peas (I peel it) and of course potatoes (mashed or baked). I drink tea and processed juices (no fresh ones - I can't tolerate fibers)Nothing more. I do take a multivitamin, and Ensure to make up for vitamin deficiencies. My blood work is hardly within the normal ranges. I feel that after I have taken my first oral methotrexate dose, things have become worse. I can hardly raise my head and feel horrible fatigue and lips sores (immediately after taking methotrexate - weird, right?). What about you? Should one restrict food forever?

Thank you

_____________________________________

Active proctitis, incurable enteritis, GERD, gastritis, duodenitis and a small intestinal diverticulum

Current meds: Nexuim 80, Pentasa Enema (before bedtime), Pentasa 2 g, Cipro, a mutivitamin.

Posted 8/22/2011 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
Minnie...unfortunately, that is one question that is so different for everyone. I have to say I went a whole 2 years after my initial diagnoses of eating extremely bland. I think that helped me, but others go back to old diets sooner. It is an experiement every day in what works. I eat a much wider diet now (20+ years of initial dx). For me, my symptoms are much milder than many others so I can get away with some foods...however, I have a list of foods I will never eat again too. Try adding something new by itself and see how you deal with it. One thing at a time. Also, I have a list of foods that are good always, bad always and some that are good when i am feeling good. I try not to make it so black and white.

I can't speak to the metho as I have not been on it.
Posted 8/22/2011 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, HabsHockeyFan!
Thank you very much for your piece of advice. I'll try to do this but I'm afraid I might relapse. Who knows! Take care!
Posted 8/23/2011 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
i think white bread is actually pretty bad for you. You may want to look that one up.

I'm beginning to remove starches from my diet which is horrible because it doesn't leave me with much else to eat. :(

I am confident that I'll find a acceptable medium in dealing with Crohn's through my diet. Not necessarily a cure but a happy place for both me and Mr. Crohn's. ;)
Posted 8/24/2011 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Torranceboy,
Why do you say that white bread is bad? I can't tolerate brown bread. I'm following now a trial and error policy and see what works. Take care.
Posted 8/24/2011 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Minnietoty, diet with each of us is very individual. So while torranceboy might say white bread is bad, that might just be for him. I, like you, cannot eat wheat bread, but do just fine with white bread. So you have to find what works best for "you". Thats what I do, find what works best for "me". Hugs!
Posted 8/24/2011 8:00 PM (GMT 0)

minnietoty said...
Hi Torranceboy,
Why do you say that white bread is bad? I can't tolerate brown bread. I'm following now a trial and error policy and see what works. Take care.

I believe it's mainly because of the refined sugars they use in white bread.
Posted 8/25/2011 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
I really believe in the SCD and the idea that complex carbs are the issue. Therefore I'd avoide the bread and potatoes and see if you see any improvement. if yes I'd commit to scd...
Posted 8/25/2011 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Nanners, torranceboy and ryan_jordan,
Thank you all very much.
Ryan_jordan, Could you kindly explain what it is meant by scd. I can guess s for small intestines and cd for crohn's disease or is it something else. I haven't heard about it before. Thanx
Posted 8/25/2011 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
SCD= Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
Google SCD diet, and you will get a ton of hits. It is a very restrictive diet that some folks have found helpful.

I can handle white bread fine, but some folks restrict the refined white sugars completely.

HHF's advice was similar to what my doctor told me following surgery. I was on a strict low residue diet for 4-5 weeks, then I was told to start slowly introducing things that were a little rougher.

Don't go crazy on a full meal of fresh fruits and veggies, and whatever you eat, chew it thoroughly.

With your comments on your bloodwork, are you currently flaring?
Posted 8/27/2011 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Clonehead, thank you very much for the information. Well, my flare up subsides only if I'm on high doses of pred. Now, I'm tapering it off (7.5 mg) and had my second oral methotrexate yesterday (things became horrible and this nausea stuff is unbearable). I doubt I can eat any veggies or fruits at the time being. Take care!
Posted 8/27/2011 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Ohh dear. I'm so sad to hear that your diet is so limited but I can relate with you. I had food allergy/sensitivity testing done and found out that I have 26 different food allergies so of which are very hard to avoid such as gluten, cows milk, corn, yeast.. I've taken the alternative medicine route for the past year and one thing I found to be extremely helpful was the BORN Clinic's Spectravite Multivitamins. The BORN Clinic is in Grand Rapids, Michigan but they have a website where you can order them offline. You have to take 8 of them a day but they have wayyy more vitamins and minerals that the ones you find in the store. My whole family even started taking them. My mom is a social worker and gives them to her patients that can't afford prescriptions. Since starting them we've all had less colds, our blood work comes back normal (even mine does with my limited diet!!), and we all feel just generally better. I really hope you'll at least give them a try! I think they will really help you feel a lot better even when you can't eat a wide variety of foods. Please check them out!
Posted 8/27/2011 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
At my worst, I was on baby food and meal replacement shakes. Any fiber, heavy protein, or spice was absolutely painful..I began to rely on simple sugars and grain..I am now worrying about gluten..I changed my diet yesterday and will see how things go..CD and diet is so individualized..
Posted 8/28/2011 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Steak&potatoes,
When I read your post, I felt that the writer must be an old lady. I'm 34 myself but when I looked at your age, it's me who wanted to say "Oh, dear". Really, thank you very much for your care. Hope these vitamins and minerals let you enter the remission phase and you become better soon :)
Cindywcrohnes, thank you very much for the information. Hope the gluten free diet works. Please keep us informed about your experience. Take care!
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