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dietician and crohn's

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Posted 9/16/2007 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
hi

have you ever gone to the dietician for your crohn's?

if so, did it work?

Posted 9/16/2007 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
I was sent to one by one of my old RA docs since my joints have always been a major issue with me. The RA doc flat out told me I dont want you getting fat....I was on paxil at the time which made me go to 130 pounds, I am 4'9.5" and typically weigh around 100 - 105. They basically went over portioin sizes with me...like shoot when I feel good I am going to eat darn it. When I flare I can lose so much weight in such a short time. I did go to one back in the 80s after my diagnosis but cant remember that far back. I have just learned what foods bother me and what ones I can tolerate only so much of in a certain period of time without gut issues
Posted 9/16/2007 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
No, she was next to useless. Actually told me to eat meat for Protein , despite the fact I've been vegetarian for over 20 years.
What I've learned has been by trial and error and pain and ER visits.
Tess
Posted 9/17/2007 2:44 AM (GMT 0)

I went when I was first diagnosed and have to agree with gemini kiwi as to them being useless unless you get lucky to have one that specializes in IBD.  Unless you are trying to learn portion control or for diabetes. 

I originally requested a dietician specializing with crohn's patients and was told this one knew what she was talking about.  #1 she asked me if I wanted to continue to lose weight.  I told her that I had lost 20# in a month and "no I didn't want to lose weight at this time I just want to know how to eat nutritious and make what meals I DO eat count."

#2 She also told me to eat things that I was told not to eat until I called her on it. whole nuts... beef... fiber...  For example, I was told when I was in the hospital to eat a low risidual diet 2 weeks prior to the appt to give my intestines a rest and this woman wanted me to eat kashi cereal right away until I asked her: "if you went without fiber for 2-3 weeks aren't you supposed to slowly introduce fiber back into your diet?  I told her I didn't feeling like having a blockage and going from no fiber to 10g of fiber doesn't sound appealing. 

I would get your information from the internet or from books.  Basically I learned it's trial and error.  When I was first introducing foods into my diet, I would try something new with the stuff I KNEW worked for me and waited for a reaction.  I also kept a journal for about a month so I atleast had a base of some kind of food I could eat.  No reaction=add to menu.  Reaction=chalk up to it being non crohn's approved for now and wait a while and try it again to see if you get same result before you permanetly axe from diet.  ie one day I tried peanut butter and got really bad cramps.  3 weeks later, I tried it again (I LOVE peanut butter) and am fine. 

Things you might want to check out....

http://www.mypyramid.gov/  food pyramid

http://www.mypyramid.gov/related_links/index.html related food info links

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html how to read food labels

http://www.nutrition.gov/

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-savvy.html regarding making informed decisions on supplements.

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/4966_fishflyer.pdf information on fish and mercury levels.  what things are safer to eat.

hope this helps...

~malaki

Posted 9/17/2007 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
I started seeing a nutritionist before I was diagnoised to try and lose some weight. She is great, but since I have gotten this disease she pretty much goes by trial and error to see what works. I haven't lost any weight since I got out of the hospital which was almost a year ago now. I know that this is partially my fault for not doing what I am suppose to, but it is SOOOO frustrating. She really does try and help. I guess the one piece of advice I would give you from her is to add good fats in. Like olive oil, peanut oil, I guess nut oils in general are good. She says this coats the digestional tract and helps body process foods better....
Heather

ps sorry for rambling I'm feeling a little tired.
Posted 9/17/2007 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Yes I have and it helped me alot and was one of the best things I could have done for my CD .I was in the hosp. and had a blockage and she visited me and helped me with low roughage diet and now I don't have pains learned what to eat and now do not eat things that cause pain. So thank goodness she came when she did one of the big things I changed was from whole wheat to white bread and of course chew and chew some more. So hope you give one a try because telling me to eat what is soft really helped that was in Jan. and I am still on it and I am used to it and loving myself so much better. Best Wishes .lol gail
Posted 9/17/2007 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I've found 'em to be pretty useless. They're going to give you the standard "eat whatever you want unless you find something that bothers you personally" line or they'll put you on some kind of low residue diet. I haven't found one that knew that much about IBD or anything about healing diets and supplements.

I'd suggest doing your own research. There are a lot of great books out there on eating right for IBD by folks who know alot more than your garden variety nutritionist.
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