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Cant eat anything, need some advice.

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/28/2010 10:01 PM (GMT 0)

So, the past month I have not been able to eat hardly anything, as of the last couple of days I have been just drinking ensures and eating yogurt (no fruit).  Doc. thinks its my stricture to blame, after i eat i get lots of pain and bloating for a couple of hours then it passes, I have an appt. for a small bowel x-ray monday and a follow up with a surgen on the results.. I have been on prednisone for about 3 1/2 weeks, doesn't seem to be helping, that is what is leading my doc. to believe my stricture has gotten to the point that it may have to be surgicially removed..Ahhhhh scary... I am ready though, sick of this pain and just want to eat... Anyone have advise on what else i could drink or something that is easy digestable, I feel like I am melting away..  Last time I had an x-ray 2 years ago it showed a 6cm stricture in my termial ilium, I may have more now or it has just closed up more.. Does anyone know how major of a surgery it is, I have three small children 7,3,1 years old..So the thought of having a surgery and being gone from them makes me scared and sad.... Thanks for listening and any advise or anything I would sure appreciate... Thank you!!!! cry

Posted 9/29/2010 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. It's painful and being a mommy on top of it - you have your hands full. I have 3 little ones myself almost the same ages as yours so I know how it goes. I don't know anything about the stricture surgery. I'm sure someone here knows something about it. Maybe if you post a separate post titled "stricture surgery" you'll get more responses. As far as eating goes... I don't know what could help. I wonder if the sugar in the ensures is making you bloat. When I'm feeling horrible I eliminate all obvious sugars or food with a lot of sugars. It helps with the bloating/gas/cramping etc. I know your options are limited. Does chicken noodle soup make you sick? What about crackers? White rice? Hang in there. I'm keeping you in my thoughts!
Posted 9/29/2010 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Plain broth or stock might help. Barley water (not the barley!!!). Clear juices. Maybe some soft boiled or poached eggs? Baked custards?

Are you certain that you don't have an allergy or sensitivity to lactose / dairy products? Because if you do, all that yoghurt could be making you feel worse...
Posted 9/29/2010 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
ps. Jars of pureed baby food might be good for you too. Low in fibre; low in quantity; hopefully less likely to put pressure on your stricture? I'd just try a small amount first, though, until you know how it affects you.

Sorry you're in so much strife.

Ivy.
Posted 9/30/2010 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry you are feeling so poorly. What about SCD yogurt. At least you will know there is not lactose. Also, perhaps chicken stock but use the Nourishing Traditions recipe (written by Sally Fallon). This simmers for at least 24 hours. It tastes great and you can make it clear and it is still super good for you. Take care David
Posted 9/30/2010 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Sorry U feel so Bad, But I know just how u feel.

I am looking at my 2nd Bowel Resection next Thursday on 10/7..I'm not looking forward to it one bit. I also have trouble finding something to eat. I can count on one hand the things that I get to eat. It's tough, I know. I have found that crackers, chicken (not fried), potatoes , and peanut butter are somethings that I can handle. Any food causes pain though..It's just one of the things we deal with when this kind of thing is happening to our bodies.

I had a colonsospy last week which showed that the area that they reconnected in 2006 has already clogged up again.. It's only been 4 years, and I have suffered all 4 years. I so sorry that u are looking at a resection. Hopefully you will get some relief , I've read several post on here that after surgery they get years of remission. It's just not been my luck. I'm thinking positive anyway and hoping for the best. U should too.

My advice to you is to get on maintenance drugs (remicade or Humira) as soon as possible after surgery. I didn't the first time because of infections, and never got into remission. This time I'm now on Remicade and hope to get right back on it after surgery, if no infections.

If you ever need someone to talk to, my email address is [email protected], I'm here is you have any questions..

Good Luck
Posted 9/30/2010 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Mashed potatoes - white or yams/sweet potatoes the later being more nutritious
pureed almost anything
cream of wheat/malt o meal - good sources of iron
pudding and custard - instant ones can be made with ensure/boost
baby food isn't a bad idea if you can afford it
well-beaten egg added to broth may be digestible without much pain
cream soups

I sure hope you will have help with the kids after surgery for 6-8 weeks. You won't be allowed to lift anything (like that 1 year old) for several weeks.
Posted 10/1/2010 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
As some have already mentioned, stock, broth, and baby food are my 'go-to' foods for severe flare-ups.
Posted 10/1/2010 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Plenty of chicken broth, I also heat the ensure for 20 seconds.

I have lived with strictures for years, always that the belief dissolve obstructed food in the area. Had my bowel resection surgery last Fiday 9/24/10. First they took a 24 inch stricture that the surgeon could not understand how even broth could pass through there, then ten feet down another stricture 24 inches long, he also resected 12 inches of ascending colon.

Was in the hospital for six days, today is my first day at home.

Eventually you will have to take care of this, it took 15 years to get to the second surgery, now there are better drugs to slow down this disease.

Good luck
Posted 10/1/2010 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Make soup, blend it to smoothness. Buy a protein powder / meal replacement piwder, add things like frozen fruit (no rassberries with those wooden seeds!) , blend it to smoothness. If you need to add liquid to make it more watery do it. Make your baked potato a potato soup, blend it with milk or water add butter or chicken broth. toss in a couple well cooked carrots. I survived pretty easily (as much as it sucked) on protein meal replacement powders mixed with yogurt or fruit juice for 2 years. I made friends at my local healthfood store b/c I went for carrot parsley juice (no pulp).
And Ice cream!!
In my experience I had to not eat anything that tended to clump - like rice, oatmeal, wheat, etc. Not even in moderation. I called it "gloopen" as opposed to gluten. I'm on my way to another adhesion surgery and am currently on a "gloopen" free diet myself. ;) WOO HOO!

Your blender is your best friend. Hugs,
-janicea

Post Edited (janicea) : 10/1/2010 5:15:59 PM (GMT-6)

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