I've had Crohn's for 14 years and as far as diet goes, I listen to my gastroenterologist who told me to eat what I want. That includes chocolate, fried foods, coffee, high fibre foods, low fibre foods, beer and anything else that makes me happy. I haven't had a flare up for 10 years and I believe my happy diet has contributed to this. Hope this helps and good luck

I was diagnosed with Crohn's almost 2 years ago. But, I think I have had this disease for at least 10 years prior. The diarrhea is what I just couldn't deal with. Since my Dr. put me on medication, I can deal with it better. There are a lot of foods that I just can't eat as they give me terrible diarrhea. Some of these foods are: nuts, peanut butter, chocolate, whole wheat bread, corn, fried foods, ice cream, spicy foods, processed cheese, etc. I drink soy milk and I avoid coffee, I cannot eat oat or wheat cereals. But, rice cereal is OK. Whenever I have to leave my house for a few hours, I always take anti-diarrheals before I leave. I am glad that I don't have to go to work anymore. The main reason is because I never know when I will have to race to the bathroom.

I'm 45 and have had Crohn's for decades, but only recently was diagnosed. Over this past year I have been keeping a food diary. I noticed, I feel better when I eat burgers and fries, fish sticks, chili and stuff you wouldn't think would help it. Then when I start adding fruits and veggies, grilled meats without fat, milk products and my Crohn's flairs back up again. It gets so bad, I can't even leave home for days. It's the worst pain in the world. I think it really depends on the person as far as what foods you can tolerate. Find out by tracking everything you eat and how you feel for a few months. You will figure out what works best for you. Good luck.

Initially, I was instructed to avoid high-fiber foods; however, over the years, I noted that each remission left me with irregular bowel function (alternating between constipation and diarrhea), which I found was helped by a moderate increase in fiber intake. This diet change appeared to help rectify both problems. At the onset of each exacerbation, I would revert to a low-fiber diet to help my Crohn's disease.

Crohn's Disease is very difficult for me since I have not had many of the pain symptoms that others seem to have. As far as my diet goes, I never eat head lettuce, ever, because it's difficult to digest and has no nutritional value and gives me diarrhea. Also, chocolate is something I can eat only a small piece but many small pieces are hard on me. I always wear a pad since I never know when it will strike. This is one nasty ailment but now it is being controlled by Asacol but I still must be careful.

I was in Mexico and had several salads. I came home and a week later I was having pain on the right lower abdomen that radiated to the back. Long story short, I ended up vomiting one night for hours and went to the emergency room where they did a CT that showed the thickening in the wall of the intestine saying it may be associated with Crohn's disease, and they put me on antibiotics for anthrax and one for killing parasites.

I have had Crohns all my life. I am now 60, was diagnosed when I was 38. I have discovered that if a food smells bad to me, or I don't feel like eating it- and do anyway, I'll get sick. So I go with what smells good, and what I want to eat. I have craved salads, eaten a big one, and been fine, but if I eat salad greens when I 'don't feel like it' I get sick. If everything looks and smells bad, I go back to green Jello for a day or two, then add rice, then back to eating what I want. I've given birth, and Crohns cramps are much worse than childbirth.