Crohn's disease + fast metabolism = HELP!

Some suggestions for the things you posted about:

Trying to put on weight: It's ok to have a fast metabolism. You're 20, so it's not unusual to still have a revved up metabolism and just be naturally thin. That said, someone with IBD needs to understand that being thin leaves you more vulnerable if you go into a flare. If you want to try to put on a few extra pounds, it really just is about taking in more calories than you burn. Good fats - olive oil, coconut oil, avocado - those are things that usually agree with people (in that they don't often cause digestive distress) and they are calorically dense. You say you forget to eat - I think that's fairly typical of a young person who isn't really on a schedule. It's just a matter of being more responsible about taking care of yourself and doing what you need to do to give yourself the fuel you need. I used to get that way when I was in the middle of school projects, and I could still have that problem if I let myself get "in the zone" for too long with creative stuff, but I don't anymore because I know I'll pay for it later. It should be pretty easy to fix this problem if you want to. Do you have a smart phone? A digital watch? I'm sure you have the means to set an alarm to remind you to eat if there's no other signal in your life (like a lunch break, or all your college classmates going to the cafeteria, or waking up and knowing it's time for breakfast.)

If it's a matter of your stomach bothering you after you eat, sometimes it's easier to eat a lot of smaller meals rather than a couple bigger meals a day. And a "meal" can be something as small & easy to grab as a handful of baby carrots, a quality granola bar, or a handful of nuts & dried fruit. A meal doesn't always have to be a full meal with meat, veggies, fruit, etc.

Ok, the constantly moving thing: I can't really tell from your post if you consider this a problem in and of itself or not. Is it an anxiety thing? A lot of people with IBD have also experienced varying degrees of anxiety & other psychological issues. I went through about a year of anxiety / panic attacks in college before I found a way through it. If it's anxiety, maybe taking to a therapist, trying meditation, or taking an anti-anxiety med would be a help to you. If you're just so energetic that you can't stop moving, maybe try focusing your energy into a long morning workout? If you have Crohns and still feel super-energetic, then that's actually wonderful - you just need to find an outlet for that energy, and develop the ability to calm yourself in the evening before bed.

A few final thoughts: People with active IBD do need more calories than "regular" people because your body needs the extra energy to cope with the disease. If you have active symptoms, getting those under control should be your first step and could help with everything else. If you are feeling anxious or like you have "bad energy" (this is the way I feel when I have taken prednisone in the past - I have a ton of energy, but I don't feel like "me", I feel like I have ingested 50 cups of coffee and it's making me jittery and like I can't stop moving or talking, even if it's 2 in the morning), I'd suggest talking about that with your doctor. You don't have to feel that way, and whether you find ways to cope with it or medications to help the situation, there are doctors & therapists out there that can help you with that.

Best of luck!

In addition to the great advice above, I'd ask why you are pacing for an hour every night and jittery when you are sitting? Have you got an exercise plan in place?

It might seem counterintuitive to add exercise, but you seem like a very motor driven person. A daily walk or jog for 30 minutes to an hour would help settle you down I think and maybe increase your appetite.

I also wonder if you have ADHD? Have you ever been evaluated?

When someone asks you what you weigh, I suggest you write 105. That's right in the middle of the range you wrote about. They don't care +/- 5 lb.

I would get a generic brand of Slim Fast at Sams Club or Walmart or something when I was pregnant. Not as great as Ensure, but still better than nothing. Plus you don't necessarily need extra nutrients as you do calories, maybe?

It is for losing weight primarily, but that's because it's used to REPLACE meals. The idea is that you drink one for breakfast, drink one for lunch, and only actually eat at dinner.

However, it is a great way to help gain weight if you use it in ADDITION to what you're already eating. So eat your normal breakfast and drink a slim fast as part of the breakfast. Then do the same a lunch, and even dinner (so up to 3 a day). Does that make sense?

I did this when I was pregnant because I was throwing up several times each day the entire pregnancy. So when I could eat, I ate, but also drank a Slim Fast as a way to get extra nutrients and calories.