Do you have Crohns and no tolerance for drugs to treat anything?

Posted by peni @peni, Aug 13, 2025

Before I was diagnosed with Crohns, it was called severe food allergy and I went on a rotation diet. It is the only thing that helps now, but is very hard to follow long term. All drugs give me the worst side effects or set off the Crohns.

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Profile picture for kayabbott @kayabbott

Mine is controlled by diet and managing stress; I had flares after getting diagnosed with new maladies. The flares are abating and will likely be gone once I am off budesonide in a few months. Budesonide has the advantage for microscopic colitis that the collagen layer thins while on it, reversing damage. Chron's is a lot different. If Budesonide doesn't work, then I'll try LDN.

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I agree, Crohn's is a lot different and I defer to your greater knowledge. At least you have a back-up plan. I hope all goes well.

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Profile picture for suetex @suetex

I agree, Crohn's is a lot different and I defer to your greater knowledge. At least you have a back-up plan. I hope all goes well.

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I have had CC for 8 years, and as long as I stay away from trigger foods (gluten, legumes) and medicines, it behaves itself. I've kept a food log for 16 years, since celiac was diagnosed. They are handy for food intolerances and other triggers. CC has the advantage that there is no pain or increased risk of cancer, just needing to know where bathrooms. My CC is predictable and consistent, early morning after decaf coffee and breakfast and a short walk. Some with it have multiple flare through the day, which is really tough. Does make colonoscopy prep easy tho.

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Profile picture for kayabbott @kayabbott

I have had CC for 8 years, and as long as I stay away from trigger foods (gluten, legumes) and medicines, it behaves itself. I've kept a food log for 16 years, since celiac was diagnosed. They are handy for food intolerances and other triggers. CC has the advantage that there is no pain or increased risk of cancer, just needing to know where bathrooms. My CC is predictable and consistent, early morning after decaf coffee and breakfast and a short walk. Some with it have multiple flare through the day, which is really tough. Does make colonoscopy prep easy tho.

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I think that would be a big plus.....
If you do try LDN, I would be interested in the outcome.
I sure don't miss Crohn's. I just had a phone visit with the PA. That is how much I've been put on the back burner. You sound like you have been through a lot. Best Wishes to you.

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Profile picture for suetex @suetex

I think that would be a big plus.....
If you do try LDN, I would be interested in the outcome.
I sure don't miss Crohn's. I just had a phone visit with the PA. That is how much I've been put on the back burner. You sound like you have been through a lot. Best Wishes to you.

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Thanks. I have no reason to try LDN, particularly with the possible GI side effects. My CC is controlled well without more layers. Glad that you are doing well. A lot of my interest in medicine is from being a retired research scientist; I find it all quite fascinating. My health quirks don't limit me.

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Profile picture for kayabbott @kayabbott

Thanks. I have no reason to try LDN, particularly with the possible GI side effects. My CC is controlled well without more layers. Glad that you are doing well. A lot of my interest in medicine is from being a retired research scientist; I find it all quite fascinating. My health quirks don't limit me.

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I was a Public Health Microbiologist for almost 30 years and always interested in medicine. So I am curious what your field of study was.

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I was a social worker, then teacher only interested in medicine because my family & I had such serious genetic illness for which available drugs were making us much sicker. I hope you can use your interest & expertise to help people like us. This country also needs people like you to be politically active enough to wrench control of health care away from the powerful & greedy Pharma and Insurance industry who care only about making as much money as possible off sick people. They should be working for doctors, nurses, therapists and people like you for the benefit of patients instead of overcharging us to cheat you out of the time, energy and funds to do your best work. Doctors had to hire companies just to negotiate with them to get paid, and now a lot of those companies are hiring the doctors! It probably doubles the cost as well as ruining the quality of health care.

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Profile picture for peni @peni

I was a social worker, then teacher only interested in medicine because my family & I had such serious genetic illness for which available drugs were making us much sicker. I hope you can use your interest & expertise to help people like us. This country also needs people like you to be politically active enough to wrench control of health care away from the powerful & greedy Pharma and Insurance industry who care only about making as much money as possible off sick people. They should be working for doctors, nurses, therapists and people like you for the benefit of patients instead of overcharging us to cheat you out of the time, energy and funds to do your best work. Doctors had to hire companies just to negotiate with them to get paid, and now a lot of those companies are hiring the doctors! It probably doubles the cost as well as ruining the quality of health care.

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I agree, there are a lot of problems with Todays health care. My personal friend (a Family physician) talk about them all the time. Alas, my age and infirmities keep me from doing much. I had to retire (After 20 years) from running the Neighborhood Assn. But I do offer my advice, such as it is and when appropriate to others on this website. Which seems to be a true blessing in many ways.

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There should be an organization dedicated to improving healthcare, especially now when funding for unbiased research, which has never been enough is being cut. Most of the Med studies are done by the Pharmacy companies which skew them for profit. Even elderly feeble folks like us might be able to help with messages to government officials. Is there one? Forbes & JAMA had an excellent article about former MYLAN CEO Heather Bresch who confessed to, & is trying to change the Ethical Erosion in healthcare.

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Profile picture for peni @peni

I had allergy, sensitivity or side effects to ALL drugs taken for anything all my 85 years, just like my mother did. She took them, was totally crippled by RA & lung damage, died young in terrible pain. I avoided most drugs with naturopathic vitamins, minerals and herbs. A rotation diet for Crohn’s works but is impossible to always follow but I do not have pain from it or my RA. I take Eliquis now for atrial fibrillation congestive heart failure until the side effects start. Then it’s back to natural blood thinners. I also have pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, but do not catch contagious colds or flus even when my nearest family and friends do. Has anyone had a combo like this except Mom and me?

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@peni - with your intolerances to medications, then, is the rotation diet, when doable, the best way you've found to treat your Crohn's?

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Yes and I also need to avoid all artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, chemicals, processing & just eat real food not fried with lots of fruit & veggies, fish & very limited meat. I found the Eat Right For Your Blood Type book amazingly accurate for my blood type A. Stress makes any ailment worse & good luck with avoiding that! Sometimes I just need to act normal, eat whatever my friends serve, wear incontinence pants, & sit near a toilet.

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