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Generally for me, my Crohn's settles slightly when I am ill with a virus. But a virus or fever will lead to muscle and bone aches, even a bad cold can leave me feeling like I have the flu! (but I know it's not as I have had real flu before and it's on another level- besides, this passes too quickly)

You could be describing how I felt 2 1/2 years ago when Crohn's was first mentioned. By the time I got the definitive diagnosis 2 months later I was starting to turn the corner. But even then I would have my self pity moments. It's a perfectly normal reaction to such life changing news! You...

I hadn't heard about opiates being contraindicated for Crohn's. Not a good idea to be taking them constantly due to hiding symptoms and addiction, but not contraindicated. My GI has prescribed me small amounts of morphine, codeine and Tramadol before to take during flares.

Well, seeing that one of the side effects of cocodamol is constipation, it's probably withdrawal. Cocodamol is available in different strengths, maybe you could continue to take 8 a day but less strong ones, rather than cutting down the number? And 8 to 2 over 2 days doesn't sound that slow really!

The overall aim is to not have any active inflammation. As active inflammation, even if you can live with the symptoms it causes, can cause scarring and adhesions which will give you problems further down the line. Usually no active inflammation means blood work normal and symptoms minimal-...

The possibility of 'hiding' symptoms (eg excess folic acid can mask b12 deficiency on blood tests, or is it vice versa?). Plus too much of anything can be toxic. And excess supplementation can mess with your body's natural regulation systems and make it more likely that your levels rise too...

Wow! A doctor that listens to you :) Make sure you eat plenty of gluten before your blood test, as the celiac check measures the immune reaction to gluten. No gluten means no reaction even if you do have celiac. Good luck!

Ha ha Crabby, I do the same even though fiancé would never see it anyway in my house, he never puts the empty tp roll or bottles in the bin, he just leaves them lying around!

Personally I use wipes but then bin them. Just put a carrier bag or bin liner in your bathroom bin and make sure you have a bin with a lid. I have heard of people keeping water bottles with sports caps next to the toilet so they can squirt water and rinse their bums.

I feel awful when I don't eat. My stomach just gurgles more and more and I get crampy. It's as if I just carry on trying to digest thin air or something. The fasting before my colonoscopy was almost as bad as drinking the prep!

I think psyllium husks might help with constipation as well as diarrhoea, but you have to drink a lot of water with them. Then the psyllium pulls more water into your stool and softens it. I haven't tried them myself though!

I think the reason an IBD option doesn't exist is because it's so individual. It's not like celiac where you have to cut out gluten, or diabetes where carbs have to be managed. Some people find success with SCD, others with Paleo, others need low residue, others just have a few specific...

Sometimes symptoms return as you come off prednisone, this is usually a sign that your body is not ready (the inflammation is still there) so it could be worth going back up to the previous level until symptoms lessen again. However, there could be something in the naturopathic medication that...

In the UK, once you have a diagnosis of Crohn's or similar (or any long term illness for that matter) you should have access to a specialised medical team pretty much instantly. I have a telephone number and email address for the IBD nurses team at my hospital and they are my first point of...

I think that Tysabri is available in the UK, as a last resort med due to the potential side effects. But if you want to find out more about Tysabri, I would go read forums for people with MS as it is more commonly used for that. Alternatives for aza are 6-MP, which is essentially the same drug...

When I was in bad pain, I couldn't bear for anything to press on my abdomen, including clothes. I also have had days when only laying on my left side seems to ease the pain, something to do with helping your digestive system along. As for meds, yes they do have bad side effects. But if they...

Sorry, sometimes posts get missed! With your family history, an IBD does sound like a possibility. Also with pain on the upper left, and pale stools, your gallbladder ought to be checked out. And IBS is a definite possibility, but shouldn't be diagnosed until a doctor has actually ruled out any...

Maybe you could persuade your GI to prescribe you enteral nutrition? Basically it is a liquid feed that gives you all the nutrients you need, but in an easily absorbed form- no digestion needed. There is a condition called gastro paresis where the stomach doesn't empty quickly enough. It sounds...

Hi Guinevere! It might help if you tell us a little bit more about yourself- do you have a diagnosis of Crohn's/UC? If not, have you been to a gastroenterologist, had any tests done, that sort of thing?

I get this on occasion- when I have an upset stomach. I figure it's from abdominal cramps, like you're being squeezed in the middle and everything is forced either up or down.