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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/27/2010 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
What digestive enzymes or supplements do you use? How affordable are they? What made you pick that brand/type? Is your doctor on board?

Along with trying the SCD I'd like to try some digestive enzymes or supplements people feel are useful. Extra points for affordability, any research supporting its use, and doctor recommendations. Basically, I'd like to try something but want to avoid the quacks and snake oil sellers out there, and I'm hoping you guys have some specific brands or types I should look into.
Posted 6/27/2010 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I don't do well with digestive enzymes or at least I haven't found one that works for "me". But if you like Papaya, it is a natural digestive enzyme. As for supplements I would think every one needs Vitamin D3 and a good calcium supplement. These will help your bones alot, and we need to take care of our bones, especially because of the disease we have and the meds we use. I am sure others will be along with more suggestions. Hugs!
Posted 6/27/2010 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Haven't put son on digestive enzymes(yet!) Read a bit about people taking probiotics and on the whole seem to go ok on them so added them to son's regime (albeit he is only on 5 billion live probiotic cultures-and I believe the recc quantity is 10 billion)
In addition I have added (like nanners has said) calcium(for bones) and D3 (must be ok cause more Gi's are prescribing it!!) Magnesium(because it facilitates calcium absorption),selenium(plays a role in immune sytem function) zinc(deficiencies include growth retardation, loss of appetite, impaired immune function)chromium(enhances insulin(critical to metabolism and storage of carbs, fat and protein)and vits C, E and B. Alot of these are combined with each other eg calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D3 all in one tablet(cost for all approx £25=2 months supply for all but the probiotics(1 months supply))
I am also going to be adding various combinations of tissue salts too, am in two minds whether they work(have seen people have really good results and others have no change what so ever(not Crohns I hasten to add)
I would really like to add in vit A too but as son on Azathioprine which can have negative affect on liver(as can too much vit A) I am not going to chance it.
Is the GI on board lol. haven't told him yet(next appt Aug) Watch this space ;)
Posted 6/27/2010 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
wow, I've never actually tried papaya but maybe I can pick some up tonight at the store. I really do need to get back in the multivitamin/calcium routine too. I've never heard of tissue salts though, I'll have to check those out!
Posted 6/27/2010 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Last year, I stopped all supplements -- I have a terrible time swallowing and just the smell of the vitamins was making me ill. Now that I've been sick again I'm feeling I have to get back on the bandwagon...not super enthusiastic though.

I've tried various probiotics off and on but nothing seemed to make a difference...not sure how long you have to stick with it. I've never tried VSL 3 which I know some people on the forum like.

Every time there's a TV ad for Philips Colon Health, my kids tease me about it.. "mom, you're in style" LOL
Posted 6/28/2010 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
Must add that a lot of people think tissue salts are a lot of hocus pocus(to put it mildly :) ) especially as they are 'diluted' to a massive degree. One of the theories behind them is that when a body has been cremated and the remaining deposits analysed the trace elements that remain are those that have now become the basic tissue salts and the 'building blocks' so to speak.
I know it sounds really bizzare(sp) and I am not saying they will work but they can not do any harm. If they do some good for son, great, if not I can swear to mil that we have tried them and no they didn't work(and hopefully shut her up once and for all-she is a firm believer)
Posted 6/28/2010 8:48 AM (GMT 0)
If your worried about papya being too much fiber you can get it as a juice. The papya and pear is fantastic. I found it in Safeway.
Posted 6/28/2010 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
hey!!!!!!I'm the papaya king, it really is very easy on our stomachs, it made my families life alot friendlier, my gas would kill anybody. I'll put it this way when i cut the cheese our cat's would bail out of the room.  I've been eating papayas for 3 years now, my cd is not good but my poop and farts don't stink. let me tell you it is really nice when you're at the movie or anywhere in public for that matter and when I would get gas pain and have to release gas, to not release it is the worst EVER. but now i know it won't stink so that alone is a relief for me. with cd for so many of us being in public is so hard, for years i wouldn't go to the bathroom in public because of the odor was so offensive, i guess people need to walk a mile in our moccasins to know what a emotional and physical disease this is. before i went on disability I was a dealer in a casino, the worst job to have with symptomatic cd issue's. seriously, papayas are cheap to buy. usually a buck a pound. don't get hawaiian papayas, get mexican, their big, 1-4 lb's. i spend around $60 a month. I put it in my oatmeal every morning unless d is bad that day, then I pass a day.

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