Patient Comments: Crohn's Disease - Diet
What diet changes did you have to make, or continue to make to control the symptoms of your Crohn's disease?
Comment from: Chalet84, 45-54 Female (Patient)
Published: April 25
I find that stress can bring on an attack. I have to limit drinking. Margaritas and Kahlua will bother me if I drink more than once a week. Moderation is key. Diet and exercise are also key. Spicy food will also cause trouble. I also have to avoid fried foods. I had my gallbladder removed, too. I have had Crohn's disease for 25 years. I have had constipation, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, aching joints, stomach aches, and sore eyes. I have a deficiency of vitamins D, B12, and B6. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Golfer, 13-18 Female (Patient)
Published: March 13
I am 16 and I've been diagnosed with Crohn's since November of last year. Because of my disease I've had very severe weight loss. My GI told me to eat every couple hours and eat food that was high in protein and fiber but while low in fat. I avoid a high amount of fried food and spicy food too. I can handle very minor amounts of milk and dairy. I find that veggies and fruit always sit with me well, along with most cereals. Turkey and chicken are my main meats now but I occasionally eat beef and pork. It all just depends on how touchy my stomach is that day. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Kendra, 13-18 Female (Patient)
Published: December 19
Today I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease during my colonoscopy. I am 15 and I have been having diarrhea, stomach cramps, trouble eating, slight loss of weight, waking up in the middle of the night to "go", and a decreased appetite for the past year. We went in to get it checked out last December at my check-up and they drew blood and got stool samples. All of the tests didn't show anything. They told me to try a certain medication for a while and see if it works. The medication didn't work so we came back and I was referred to a GI doctor. I had to wait 3 months until the doctor had an open clinic. When I went to the clinic the GI doctor observed me and said that everything seemed mostly normal, other than diarrhea of course. He gave us a plan to try. He told me to try a lactose free diet, which didn't work. Then he had me try a medication to relax my bowels before eating , this didn't help either . The next option was to have a colonoscopy. In the hopes of getting more answers we scheduled a colonoscopy. After finding out I had Crohn's disease, I didn't know what to think. I worry a lot about what could happen when I get older. I am very active in volleyball and I play year round. It has affected me in the past volleyball season because I always had to go. I really hope it doesn't get worse. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Gramma2nine, 65-74 Female (Patient)
Published: December 07
After being hospitilized for very low iron, I received 4 units of blood, an endascope and a colonascopy. I also had a pill cam. I was told I had Crohn's Disease and small ulcers at the bottom of my small intestine. I have explosive bowel movements or sometimes just soft bowel movements. It is nothing for me to go 5-6 times a day. I cannot remember when I have had a solid bowel movement. I do not have any pain and I have not lost any weight (if anything I am about 50 lbs. overweight.) I am also a diabetic. I have been taking Budesonide and Balsalazide since August. I see no change in my condition. I have no idea what to eat because one day after eating an apple I wonn't have as many bowel movements and then another day I will eat an apple and it is back to the explosive bowel movements. I am very confused. Was this comment helpful?Yes
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Crohn's Disease - Treatment
Question: Describe the various kinds of treatment you've had for Crohn's disease.
Crohn's Disease - Medications
Question: What medications have you taken for Crohn's disease? Have any of them helped with symptoms?
Crohn's Disease - Symptoms
Question: The symptoms of Crohn's disease can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
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After a year in consistent pain that had resulted in bed rest due to the lack of nutrients in my body and blinding attacks for no reason, my fiancée tracked down a specialist in Germany who I owe my functioning life to now. No normal crohn diets worked and no matter what I ate or didn't eat, I was always in pain. This doctor however told me for 3 weeks just eat anything that's nutrients are absorbed in the stomach and avoid any that get absorbed in the small intestine and colon, drink 12 glasses of water (tea was included) every day and never have an empty stomach. I had to be consistently eating every hour and a half. Most of the foods I could eat were high protein foods (the protein was absorbed in my stomach and therefore bypassed my small intestine, allowing it to calm) I ate Greek yogurt, protein shakes, meal replacements, lean cut thin sliced chicken and turkey, I could eat vegetables with no skin, cooked or raw. What I couldn't eat was grains, most fruits and nuts, which after the year I was having, I would have given up anything. It has been a month now and I have slowly added other foods to my diet, now being able to determine what actually causes the pain and what was just because the inflammation was so horrible it hurt for everything. It started to improve after only three days and everyone could tell.