Does anyone suffer from Crohn's or colitis?
I got diagnosed with Chrons disease back in January I’m 56 years old got it unexpectedly from eating something that caused food poisoning and I never got better. Ended up in the ER in December and my body just shut down. I’m on the mend getting better everyday but I’m skeptical about the medication they put me on! Bad side effects!
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@rozy288 @downhillhtr49 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! You’ve come with a real problem, haven’t you? I can’t believe the doctors aren’t helping you deal with your pain!! Is it just a deaf ear when you complain? Have you tried going to a comprehensive medical center/university teaching hospital? the doctors there are more knowledgeable than local doctors. That doesn’t mean that local doctors aren’t good, they just want to have time off! I addded the link to Mayo Clinic care network. These hospitals work closely with the Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/care-network/network-members
I don’t know if any of these hospitals are near, or, at least, no worse than what you’ve been doing. they all have working relationships with Mayo Clinic and share in their research, etc.
Rozy, if you are still looking for a good gastroenterologist, call GARD. https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/. They keep a list of good autoimmune doctors
Will you let me know when/if you have luck and start feeling better!?
Yes , been another horrendous day here .
I will reach out and see about the sites you mentioned.
Thanks so much .
50 years old. Just diagnosed. It’s daunting but I’m holding on to hope that I will have some good information from my GI today.
Make a list of foods you know don’t bother you and stick with them. For me: bananas, bone broth, protein shakes, crackers, chicken soup, breads, chicken cut into small pieces and chewed thoroughly, Greek yogurt, etc. I’m learning. It’s only been a few weeks since being diagnosed. In the last few months, I’ve spent a day in the ER, a week in the hospital and used up all my sick days.
I had Crohn's for over 45 yrs and I approve of you diet. Stay away from high rufage foods. The Meditararin Diet isn't for you. The single best thing for myself that I did was seek out a Doc who would give me Low Dose Naltrexone' (usually a rheumatologist.) The GI Doc wouldn't because "It wasn't protocol." This I did in 2019 when my small intestine was loaded with small ulcers. I tried it because of another autoimmune condition tha was bothering me and not diagnosed. Anyway, over 80% of the Crohn's people who try LDN get some benefit from it. For me, it healed my small intestine and I have stayed on it all this time. Colonoscopies taken in 2021 and this year were "Normal". I still can't eat with wild abandom but through expermentation' I have extended my diet a bit. I assume that I still have Crohn's, it's just inactive. That is my tip, for what it's worth.
Your correct about you being the one to keep yourself alive and it's been my experience that it doesn't seem to make others like you, but stay alive!
Have you tried taking Budesonide? One of the few meds that I have been in that works and since it is low does steroid, you can take longer!
Best wishes, fellow survivor!
I have a good GI dr. I haven't had a flare up for about 18 yrs. I was on sulfasalazine which gave me headaches. Then a long time on mesalamine and mercaptopurine (Mp2). Only taking the Mp2 currently. When I did flare, all I could have was plain rice cakes and ginger tea. that's it. !
Hope you improve! It's a debilitating disease!!
I looked it up and Naltrexone is used to treat opioid disorders. What is the connection to Crohn’s?
Yes. I am taking it right now. I went off it for a day due to extreme itchiness and noticed blood in my stool that day. I’m back on it now, still a little itchy but I would rather deal with that instead! They prescribed prednisone and I think that budesonide is better based on what I have read
Hello, I was treated for IBS 12 years without success. 2023, flair prohibiting even leaving my home, CT indicating inflammatory colon, Crohns, IBD or cancer supported by testing. Colonoscopy repeated, pathology- Microscopic Lymphocytic Colitis. Budesonide 20 weeks due to relapse (I did well on Budesonide 3 mg/ daily however providers will not prescribe due to adverse effects). Curently taking Cholestryramine, 3 x daily. I have had 3 second opinions on treatment. All say remain on Cholestryramine. I have followed everything, diet, stress reduction, pre and probiotics and I am not doing well. Liquid stool, intolerable pain, fatique. Seeing counselors. Family little support. My quality of life is dismal. I am reluctant to try biologicals due little research, poor efficacy and high adverse effects. I am open to input. I am grateful for this forum and hope to hear back.
Oh sweetie I hear you. I was diagnosed in 2023 with a Yersinia infection and received antibiotic. That gave me C-Diff, so in September, 23, I received a new antibiotic. Still with diarrhea, my new Gastro doc scheduled a colonoscopy and I was diagnosed with the other flavor of Microscopic colitis - collagenous colitis. For me, the medication triggers seem to be non steroidal anti inflammatories (ibuprofoen) and proton pump inhibitor (nexium) - [identified by
stopping those and a Couple of other known triggers and then adding them back one at a time. ]
I was given Budesonide - a colon-specific steroid that doesn't have the generalized side effects of other steroids. It was a miracle delivered in 9 weeks
Life was great. For the first time in almost a year I was confident in leaving the house.
But I have relapsed almost 3 months ago - possibly due to nsaid eye drops for a month after cataract surgery - or as my Rheumatologist with a PharmD believes - due to nothing specific. Budesonid didn't work this time. So while i was waiting for an appointment with my Gastro, I researched in National Institute of Health (NIH) for treatment research in cases of MC relapse when budesonide fails to help.
They researched giving three 262mg Pepto Bismol capsules three times a day and a restrictive diet of very low fiber, fat, and sugar - think white bread, scrambled eggs, white rice, bananas, soft cooked, low fiber veggies like green beans, white or sweet potatoes, carrots - all no fat (tho I use some plant based butter in small amounts). Drained, no sugar added canned fruit (like peaches and pears) Or stewed apples, no sugar and no peel. I eat small amounts of soft cooked white chicken, baked salmon or mild white fish. I can also have a ground turkey patty and I get baked lean ham from the deli i can roll up to have with eggs or rice. I bought a rice cooker and make rice every other day.
This is my diet and it plus the pepto bismol has helped tremendously. I would eat gravel if it helped. I see my Gastro tomorrow - i will let you know what his thoughts are. But i strongly recommend considering a colon calming diet and Pepto Bismol.