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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 10/12/2015 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
After 7 months off work following severe perianal abscess and fistula with 5 surgeries I returned today. Had diarrhea x 5 today, and also have indigestion/burning with hot drinks. Not a good return to work, not sure if it is stress, but really think I have IBD. Seeing Doctor tomorrow I want tests to start.
Posted 10/12/2015 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Good plan to see the doctor. Yeah, hot drinks aren't the best. Are you drinking coffee? That is a big no-no for lot's of people with Crohn's. Hot chocolate can also be rough on our systems. Stress can also wreak some havoc. I would ask the GI if he could prescribe prednisone while you wait for results; that might help. Also, Imodium (which is OTC) might help ease the D a bit.
Posted 10/13/2015 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
did pathology examine any of your tissue from the surgeries?
I would not take prednisone unless absolutely necessary because steroids have terrible side effects and are very bad for your health, unless necessary dont take prednisone!
avoiding caffeine may help reduce the number of bowel movements
make sure to see a gastroenterology who practices out of a big university hospital as those are usually much better and have more peer review than those who practice independent of teaching hospitals.

i dont know your location so I cannot advise you on a good doctor
I hope you feel better soon
Posted 10/13/2015 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
I would not take prednisone unless absolutely necessary because steroids have terrible side effects and are very bad for your health, unless necessary dont take prednisone!

I'm afraid I have to agree with this.

There's another reason why it's better to take steroids as infrequently as possible, and that is steroids become less effective the more times you take them. Some people become steroid-resistant after only one course; with other people it may take several courses. But it will happen eventually if you take steroids often enough. The resistance takes a couple of forms. The steroids may just stop working altogether or - worse in a way - your body becomes dependent on them. If you try to taper off them, the symptoms of the original disease returns, plus you have steroid withdrawal symptoms to contend with (extreme fatigue, lack of appetite, joint pain etc.).

Steroids are an easy quick fix, but if you can manage without them it's better to. Imodium taken half an hour before breakfast will hopefully get you through the work day without diarrhoea. Avoiding too much fibre and following a bland sort of diet should also reduce the number of BMs. 5x a day isn't that much to be honest, but if it's accompanied by urgency or pain, then it's definitely not fun.
Posted 10/13/2015 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Had a good day in work over here in Ireland. Saw Doctor today who took bloods and is writing to my Surgeon. He could get me a Colonoscopy next week, but prefers if my Surgeon dealt with it because of all my surgeries and where they were. No tissue samples were taken previously.

Had 1 piece of toast, 3 crackers, and tonight rice and a quorn Fillet. 1 hour later terrible diarrhea. So not sure what to do as simple basic food causing trouble. Also started 1 probiotic tablet at bedtime, I hope this will help.

I cannot take meds until I get a diagnosis. But if Chron's Disease/Collitis gets worse if left untreated, this is what I have been experiencing over the past few months. Getting worse by the day.

I am allergic to Imodium.

Post Edited (MOUSE) : 10/13/2015 2:16:51 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/13/2015 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
I recommend doing a low residue diet to help reduce stools
This is temporary and only do it until you have a scope and figure out a plan with a competent GI
Posted 10/14/2015 9:21 AM (GMT 0)
Ok, what is a low residue diet?
Posted 10/14/2015 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Low fiber.
Posted 10/14/2015 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Many thanks for this tip. I looked it up and tried it out. Not the healthiest diet, but working wonders. English Muffins, White Bread, White Rice, Turkey, Crackers today and my stomach feels back to normal. Only blip was when I tried yoghurt - ill after this. Feeling a bit more optimistic now.
Posted 10/15/2015 5:49 AM (GMT 0)
It's more than low fiber it's also eliminating things that don't digest well or can be rough on your system. Basically anything that you would see in your stool, avoid ( corn, peels of fruit...)
So seeds and nuts as well as tough meats.

And I know it's a tough diet. Pre-ibd I ate pretty much fruits veggies and whole grains
And than bam I was eating white pasta and white bread and crackers and pretzels. I felt so yucky.
Thankfully my GI let me back on a normal diet but I still have to be careful.
And it does not cure you it will only reduce stools and reduce discomfort. It won't reduce inflammation so make sure you Talk to your GI about it.

Have you ever heard of bone broth? It is very healing. Google
it for a recipe.
Posted 10/18/2015 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Just to update you, low residue going well, everything settled down. Also lost 4.5lbs in the process.
Posted 10/18/2015 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mouse,

Glad to hear you're doing well. Just remember take your time and don't rush. When I came home from the hospital I lost 8lbs. From the beginning of being sick I lost a total of 30lbs. Right now I am at 108. It's hard to gain for me and alot of us with crohn's. Good luck at work.
Posted 10/19/2015 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mouse - I felt the same way about the low residue diet. Not very healthy, but it made me feel a little better. One of my GIs recommended the FOD MAP diet, and I had a lot more success with that. Here's a link to a site I found helpful. She had easy to read charts and seemed well connected to the monash group, who pioneered this reasearch.

http://www.katescarlata.com/lowfodmapdietchecklists/

I think just cutting out the gluten and dairy were huge! I probably had leaky gut syndrome since I'd had Crohn's for 25 years, which may be why this diet helped. I gave up coffee as well since it's a natural laxative. Certainly didn't need that!

Hope you're feeling better and that your doc will be able to give you some more direction about your case and treatment. Best to you. :-)
Posted 10/19/2015 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the helpful advice.

At the moment just sticking with low residue as it is working, but long term it isn't a healthy diet.

At this stage I have no diagnosis, but my Surgeon (who said I don't have Chron's) is organising a Colonoscopy to see what is going on.

Now the pre-operative appointment for the fistula has been cancelled, I am not sure what the plan is now.

Post Edited (MOUSE) : 10/19/2015 8:37:30 AM (GMT-6)

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