Caffeine and Crohn’s Disease

Greetings! I had my first trip to the ER last week after about 30 years with Crohn’s Disease. I thank God from the bottom of my heart for the ER and hospital staff. They gave me Morphine and anti-nausea medication through an IV. I quickly felt better. Then I received steroids and antibiotics.

I’ve been reflecting on why this happened. The main thing that was different in my diet is that I had completely cut out caffeine a week prior. I felt great without the caffeine until my trip to the ER. Was this simply coincidental, or did stopping the caffeine slow down the movement of food and potentially attribute to this crisis? Thanks for any advice and God bless!

Thanks for your response! Our church started the Daniel fast. I felt convicted to stop drinking caffeine - that’s why I stopped. I didn’t do anything else concerning the Daniel fast. I drink about two to three cups of coffee a day.

Before the enteritis, I felt Covid-like symptoms. I ate dried fruits and too much food in general. My body couldn’t tolerate all the food. I vomited it all up, but the vomiting and nausea would not stop. I was speculating that if I had had caffeine, maybe the food would have passed through.

I think it may have more to do with the coffee bean than caffeine itself. Coffee, whether or not it is decaf, has kind of laxative properties. Doctors will often tell constipated patients to drink some coffee to help move things along.

My Colorectal surgeon stated there is dabate about caffiene. In some people it can act as a laxative, it can increase the intestine contractions causing a bowel movement, it can also be dehydrating. (So be careful) How our bodies respond to food or medications..It's so individual. I can only tell you what helps me.

A partial obstruction, which usually resolves itself with careful monitoring, can cause vomiting, pain, overwhelming nausea. If you have suffered from these symptoms I always recommend calling your gastroenterologist. You need to find out why it happened. It can be because of the foods and digestion, or it could be because there is an underlying issue such as narrowing or hernias. If it is narrowing/hernias it will be an ongoing issue that you will need to monitor.

When I had a full obstruction those awful symptoms did not improve even while in the hospital. I have had 2 full obstructions due to narrowing and we have had to operate both times--thus the colostomy. I have had 4 partial obstructions that have landed me in the hospital that have cleared on their own after 5 days or so.

While you were in the hospital did they do a CT or MRI?. Did they perform a colonoscopy? Are you on any Crohn's medications? Whenever I have an obstruction my GI starts looking at why.

Clo

Well.... There's your why... I was hoping it was a one time food obstruction. I am always hopeful that someone else will escape the structure/obstruction scenario.

Since I have so many issues I am sorta careful about what I eat. Rice is one if my biggest temptations and the biggest problem food for me.

God helps everyone. My Dad used to tell us that God will not give us burdens that we can not endure. If we call upon our Lord he will share our burdens and make our load lighter. I Thank God every day.

May God Bless you, and keep you safe and healthy.

clo2014 said...
Well.... There's your why... I was hoping it was a one time food obstruction. I am always hopeful that someone else will escape the structure/obstruction scenario.

Since I have so many issues I am sorta careful about what I eat. Rice is one if my biggest temptations and the biggest problem food for me.

God helps everyone. My Dad used to tell us that God will not give us burdens that we can not endure. If we call upon our Lord he will share our burdens and make our load lighter. I Thank God every day.

May God Bless you, and keep you safe and healthy.

Clo,

Just wonder if your Dad was taking this from a quote from Billy Graham.

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you".