What should someone know about Crohn's that is new to them!

Hey everyone I have been newly told that i have Crohn's by my Doctor for about a year now. What kind of things should i do or stay away from? I guess i can say that the first symptoms i had was in December of 06 and i went to the hospitals ER with lower abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, cold chills. once i got in there they did a CT scan and gave me some anti vomit meds oh and cant forget the blood work. I was then told by the doctor that that i had colitis and was and was given Cipro and metronitazole to take at home and then was given instructions to go see a specialist and when i did he did an endoscopy and found that i had stomach ulcers. told me to stop taking the antibiotics and gave me something for the ulcers. and after in moved back home in march of 07 where i was with my family. I then had the same symptoms and then some added ones like knee pain. quarter size red painful to the touch welt looking things all over my lower legs, and my calfs swelled to twice there normal size in June of 07. At that point i had been into the ER 3 different times with in a month because they all cam on at different times. after that i had a appointmet with a different specialist to where i had a colonoscopy and found out that i had crohn's. I have been on meds for it. the first med i was on was Lialda for about 3 months that was working great but i was loosing my hair and decided to stop taking it. after that i switched to Sulfasulizine (sorry i know i spelt it wrong). and after a few months that was not working because i started to get a flare up and went into the ER not i am on Asacol I hope this one works. and each time i got a flare up and sometimes no flare up i would get these painful blister like things on my anus and they hurt like Hell. Anyone with any advise please let me know.



Thanks.

Lovabul28,

There is no one thing we have not eat or only eat. Best thing to do is make a journal & record what foods hurt you. Which might have hurt, & which are safe. Trial & error I'm afraid.
BTW, Welcome to HealingWell, but I'm so sorry you must be here.

Sincerely,
Matthew

Yoga, that was a great answer, I will remember that one.

Thaks
Kitt

Hello Love- Sorry, I couldn't resist! READ UP on Healingwell, keep a food journal and be very patient. It's gonna take some time to figure out what your triggers are. Even with jumping around on meds for awhile I found that every time I started to flare I would back off the food and go to a liquid diet for the first 24 hours. Then I would slowly graduate to puree foods and then to solids. Each and every one of our cases are different but you will find what works for you. Get plenty of rest and keep those stress levels as low as you can. This site will become your lifeline and there are a whole lot of great people here...welcome to our family or (peeps) if you prefer. By the way, I must ask, what came of the whole broke out leg thing? Do you think that was CD related?

Be patient, it takes some trial and error with meds to get the right ones for you.  I immediately backed off of milk and found I was lactose intolerant.  Avoid seeded foods.  Carry a change of clothes in your vehicle and learn where all the restrooms are located.  Reduce the stress in your life.  Put yourself first if you normally don't do that.  Don't be afraid to go get a second opinion.  I travelled to the University hospital to make sure I was on the right track.  I avoid many foods, peanut butter, sugar, nuts, milk products and could go on and on.

Crohn's 7 years

Remicade, Nexium, Cymbalta