Crohns, immune system?

Are you on any immune surpressing drugs?

Im a newbie here and saw the topic Crohn's and immune. Just diagnosed in March 2012, been having trouble for 3 years. I also have CLL (Chronic Lymphocystic Leukemia), Fibro, and Chronic Fatigue. I am seeing a new dr next week. Still learning all about this disease and trying to figure out what I can eat.

about the immune system...do you take meds for this or try to do better by what you eat? Thanks for any info.

Thanks, will take my chances and build myself up or I'll end up falling over and that isn't good either. Perhaps because the immune system is already confused it doesn't make much difference what one eats or ingests? Now I do wonder if some cognitive therapy would work alongside, to help change the way we react to crohn's and attacks. Could it calm down the disease and perhaps change the chemistry in the body, so the immune system wouldn't react against itself so harshly?

I have found that what I eat is the most important thing to not making myself worse and also to building my immune system up. Many people with chronic illness find they have foods that they are intolerant to that aggravate symptoms so sometimes doing an elimination diet is helpful to be able to find these things. Some common intolerances are gluten, dairy, corn, soy and nightshades. But there can be other things - I can't eat beets for one. Otherwise just eat as many whole foods as you can tolerate such as fresh veggies ( especially non starchy veggies), fresh fruits, whole grains and beans and get away from processed foods as much as possible. If fiber is a problem go really slowly in introducing more to your diet so you can make sure you don't upset things. I find juicing veggies and doing blended soups ( where you blend the ingredients to a thick liquid) make digestion of veggies easier. Good luck to you!

Truff said...
Im a newbie here and saw the topic Crohn's and immune. Just diagnosed in March 2012, been having trouble for 3 years. I also have CLL (Chronic Lymphocystic Leukemia), Fibro, and Chronic Fatigue. I am seeing a new dr next week. Still learning all about this disease and trying to figure out what I can eat.


about the immune system...do you take meds for this or try to do better by what you eat? Thanks for any info.

There's a ton to learn about your new fun disease! (sarcasm on the fun part) However there is no black and white clear cut answers about anything related to Crohn's. I am 31, started getting horribly ill at 14, but wasn't diagnosed until almost 17. Needless to say, my teen years were less then fun. As far as food, it's hit and miss as to what will work for you or not. The number one thing I always recommend is a food journal. Keep track of what you are eating and you will see a pattern of what foods make you ill, give you pain, etc. Personally I can't eat red meat, fried foods, nuts, pork, ham, bacon, white icing (odd i know), corn, and many more. In the last year or so just to add to my fun, I've become lactose intolerant. Then I have my "sometimes" foods such as salad. Sometimes it makes me sick, sometimes I'm fine. However, I handle fruits and veggies (green beans, peas, carrots, cucumbers) rather well. I've met other Crohn's patients who can't do fruits and veggies, but they can eat the meats I can't. You also may have to try different medications, or combinations of medications before you find what works for you. As far as my immune system, it sucks. I recommend getting yearly flu shots. A few years ago, I didn't get one, and the flu hit me hard. The bug that lasted 2 days in everyone else, had me down and out for over a week. It actually ended up triggering a flare up, which lasted weeks. I also am very good about washing my hands, using hand sanitzer after sneezing, etc. I started taking vitamin C supplements about 18 months ago. I take one with my AM pills and one with my PM pills. I have noticed a decline in colds, sinus issues, etc. I do my best to eat healthy things that I can tolerate. I wish you the best of luck, and feel free to ask as many questions as you need to!

Thanks for the info. Will try keeping a food diary. I already have switched to decaf coffee and use Silk instead of milk. Now I need to stop drinking cola. So hard to give it up!

Fluids are so important, so water, diluted juices are good if you need to get in a lot of fluids. Soft drinks are very high in phosphoric acid and sugar and is highly acidic, Your body pulls out calcium out of your bones to buffer the phosphoric acid so it's like a triple whammy if you already have crohn's and have problems digesting nutritious foods and are on prednisone, which all may contribute to early osteoporosis. PoP may make it all happen sooner. That's not to say that we can't enjoy a soft drink now and then but choose another healthier fluid on a day to day basis.
If you're hooked on pop, then try weaning. Say if you normally have a can of pop, then try having only half. Soft drinks have caffeine in them and one may be hooked to the caffeine. Keep doing that until you are off completely or can control how much of it you drink.

Went today and bought alot of vita mineral water with lemon. I love the taste. Will be slacking off the pop and will be talking to the dr about a gluten-free, dairy free diet. Also will be cutting out red meat. Thanks again for all the helpful information. I really dont want to take pills.

Truff, if you cut it all out at once with the wheat, gluten and meat etc...and not introduce it one by one, then how will you know what causes reactions in you? Do you plan on reintroducing these foods one at a time once you are off.

Thank you for the Harvard article on immune system. It makes sense that what the body wants is balance, but don't we need that extra nutrient at times because it's missing or deficient? There is so much gray area here because crohn's can cause faulty absorption, so it becomes a viscious circle because the nutrients we need aren't always absorbed so the immune system must be affected.
My body rejects most supplements I try to help it with for whatever reasons and causes the diarrhea to be severe, hmmm...wonder if that is the body's way of telling me not to take those things???
The articles I pulled up on innate immune deficiency are not clear to me regarding crohn's disease? The ones I read refer to colitis and don't mention crohn's. That's not to say the information isn't there, think I need to do more searching..