Advice for a person w. newly diagnosed Crohn's

I've just been diagnosed with early, mild Crohn's and I've been prescribed Entocort. Do people have any advice i.e. food, alternative treatment, lifestyle changes, for someone who's just been diagnosed? What do you wish you had known when you were just diagnosed?

It's good to be informed about the variety of medical treatments. Entocort is a really nice drug, but wickedly expensive and not to be used for more than 6 months, typically. You are going to need another drug once you're under remission via entocort. You might want to start talking to your GI now about the options.

I wish I'd known much earlier that I HAD Crohn's. Maybe I wouldn't now have the arthritic damage to my SI joint, or the amount of bone loss I've experienced over years of poor absorption and low vitamin D. Having had the diagnosis more or less since 2001, I appreciate having this forum to ask questions and learn from others' experiences. Stick around, there is always something new to learn here.

I want to first agree with the good advice that has already been given. Please pay attention to what Nanners wrote and never forget it because it it really common to find the correct med, stop flaring, and then think that you do not need the med anymore. This leads into what I would like to share and that is to try and come to a complete understanding that you have a chronic disease and that you will still be able to live a great life despite crohn's. The sooner that one comes to accept that they have a disease without a cure, the sooner they will be able to learning how to live with the disease and be happy again. Be your own advocate and learn everything you can about crohn's disease and your medications. You can never be too educated and this knowledge will help you if you ever have any complications or flare.
Just as a proper diet and maintenance meds are vital for your disease control, you attitude and emotional health will also help dictate how often you have flares.This is not saying that optimistic people do not flare, but stress is a huge trigger and cause of flaring with our disease and if you are able to keep your stress levels minimal, you will be cutting down the frequency of unnecessary flares. If you have not a tough skinned person, I would recommend making it one of your goals. There will be comments and things said about you by family members, friends, and work associates that may seem well intentioned but could hurt your feelings. Grow that thick emotional skin and learn not to take things personally because most of those comments come out of ignorance toward our disease. We have a disease that is not easily visible on the outside and some people will never understand how sick you really may be. The best way to combat this is to educate little by little when you are asked questions. There is no need to broadcast that you have crohn's disease but there is also no reason to try and completely hide it. Remind them that you are still the same person that they knew and loved before you got sick and the only difference is that your toilet paper budget is probably going to increase greatly.
Use all of the resources that are avaliable to you in fighting this disease. By resources I am not only referring to the financial programs but also the support resources. Use this group as a way of venting, asking questions, finding friendship, and helping those to which you may have a suggestion on their posts. For the first few years that I was sick, I did not know about this website and despite having a very loving family, I was extremely lonely and felt guilty about my life. I felt like I was not doing a good enough job in fighting this disease and that I was not progressing in life. Then one evening I came across this website and my whole life changed. I was finally able to talk to others whom were experiencing the exact same problems and symptoms that I was. It was an amazing feeling to know that I was not failing and that was actually doing a dang good job in my fight. I was not the only one that had be treated poorly at the E.R. and had to fight the stigma of looking like a hyperchondriac everytime I was in pain. My confidence was restored just by simply knowing I was not alone in my fight and that people all around the world care about how I am fighting my disease. Even stronger was the incredible feeling of knowing that I have been able to help others when they were struggling through situations that I had already overcome.
Last but not least, always think through completely each decision that you make in your treatment plan. Never make an emotional decision because you are frustrated and think that your medications are doing anything. I did that once after being on remicade for 5 years and thinking that it was not doing me a bit of good. Just like nanners, I thought that I did not need any medications and made an emotional decision to go medless against the advice of my doctor. I paid severely for it and was very fortunate that I did not end up worse. A few months after stopping, I realize really fast how much that med was helping my arthritis and holding back other problems. My disease went from moderate to severe and I am still trying to get it back to just where I was when I stopped out of frustration. Denial will get you nowhere with this disease. Think through each decision, find a doctor you can completely trust, and never give up.

p.s. Kathie, Crohn's and U.C. are IBD and not IBS. Fish oil is good for anyone that has an inflammatory process condition but should not used without first consulting your doctor. The same goes for all supplements, never use a supplement without first talking it over with your G.I. because it may interact adversely with your other meds. Supplements are not regulated and their claims are not always factually accurate. There are ton of great supplements to add to your daily regime but have a conversation first with your G.I. .