Supplement / vitamins for crohn's?

I noticed a lot of people take supplements for crohn's, my father, son have crohn's and I have been recently diagnosed but no-one here in Ireland has advised supplements, can you please tell me which supplements / vitamins are advised and why?

Thanks for your help!

I'll share what I take, but also that all of my things have been taken at either the advice of or with prior knowledge/consent from my physician.

I've also discussed fish oil and probiotics with my physician. She would prefer that I not take those via supplement but only through dietary changes.

Here is what I take today:
-Monthly B12 injection (not an oral supplement, but I'm including it because it is related to Crohn's. My disease is in my terminal ileum, which affects B12 absorbtion. There was a blood test for this, and a script needed in the US to get the vial of liquid vitamin and the syringes.)

-Daily calcium 600 + Vitamin D (I was diagnosed with osteopenia last year - cause is a mix of malabsorbtion and frequent steriod use.)

-Daily multivitamin w/iron (because Crohn's messes with absorbtion and/or frequently needing to have a bland or unbalanced diet.)

I have in the past had to take iron supplements when I've been anemic, but these typically are not gentle on my stomach.

Ha

Clone,

that is exactly what my Gi told me when I mentioned probiotics and pretty much all things alternative, his whole face scrunched up like he was disgusted, and of course I made the mistake of saying I read it on the internet, which your GI will tell you is total garbage, everything on the internet is garbage ecept what he says, haha.

Specialists ego's are so freaking huge...

Anyway, he put me on the same stuff

Calcium, D, Iron, Multi, pretty generic stuff, that he never prescribes, jsut tellls me to buy over the counter....

What do I look like, a cash macheine, sthat stuff adds up, ever try buying all that stuff on disability.

I gotta keep reminding him every time he reccomends something in the Doctors office, he can not tell me to purchase it over the counter, if he is going to reccomend it please prescribe it just like they would the 500000 unit D, etc

He is cool about it now, I just have to actually remind him every time, or he will forget.

Nothing feels better then standing in line at the pharmacy sick waiting for 20 or 30 mins sometimes to get there and be told ther eis no prescription, when you were sure your Doc wrote it, then you get to choose, days of emails back and forth over stupid calcium tablets, or pay the money :)

Anyway, sorry, rant over

Point was, Docs seem agaisnt all these alternatives, but they sure seem to work for alot of people

Thanks

Jon

Post Edited (Blue Velvyt) : 12/9/2011 3:09:41 PM (GMT-7)

@ Bluevelvyt: My GI is a specialist/internist who has his own practice, and works at the top hospital in my state & a Children's Hospital and he is the one who recognized my defficiency symptoms and got me on track. Not all Specialists are bad!

   Anyways, chubbycheeks, my Gi put me on supplements a few weeks ago because my body hasn't been doing its job absorbing neccesary vitamins and minerals and I don't eat much so I was a disaster. Since taking probiotics/Zinc/Vitamin B-12/Folic Acid I've noticed I've been less moody, my nails/lips aren't cracking as bad, I've had more energy and my BM's were lessening some but some is better than none! I said 'were' because my flare's gotten bad again). My GI said that everyone should be on a probiotic. Whether they have digestive problems or not.

   You're Crohn's may not affect your absorption of nutrients to the point where you need a supplement and your medicine may not affect the way you absorb nutrients. That could be why your GI hasn't mentioned them. Then again your GI could be one of those people Bluevelvyt was talking about. The ones that don't like to combine vitamin/mineral therapy along with the traditional Crohn's medicine route. Those are the ones you need to look out for! If I were you I'd mention it to your GI again. I'm not a doctor though.

I take a multi v aswell as a vit D and calcium supplement however I found that it may not cover all your body needs. My doctor recommanded seeing a dietician which I found was fantastic. Tho multi vs are very helpful, I experience better results with liquid food supplements. Think its called an elemental diet. Hope that helps!

My gastroenterologist is on board with the use of probiotics, digestive enzymes, sublingual B12(for people without a terminal ileum), omega 3, organic food, calcium with magnesium and D3, tart cherry juice to prevent kidney stones (very common in crohn's) and avoiding all highly processed food.

He was skeptical 10 years ago, but when the research results began to be published at the major medical schools, he reversed his opinion.

As with anything you use, you need to investigate the source. Who makes it? Where? What are the sources for the ingredients? Does it contain additives you don't need or want?

It sounds like alot of work, but I find whenever I am being proactive, I no longer have the helpless feeling. Print off the info you gather and take it along on your next medical visit.