13 with Crohn's - can I play sports?
- Thread starter WarrenVex
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Hi Warren! I don't see any reason you can't continue your sports. In fact it is better if you remain active. I would only caution that you cut as much salt out of your diet as possible. Steroids increase the salt's ability for the body to retain water and that is a big reason people put on weight and swell. You don't want to swell because it can slow you down for your race.
So don't add salt to anything and avoid high salt content foods: ketchup, chips, fries, sauces etc. Have your mom or dad help figure out what to avoid. Fresh vegetables, fruits and meats are best. Also don't trust food packaging that says "low sodium". Always look at how much salt/sodium is listed on the nutrition panel per serving to really see if you want it. When I am on steroids I don't eat out very often because almost everything has way too much salt.
I am not sure how low to keep salt intake but the lower the better. I was trying to keep it under 500mg/day and I was running/hiking every day and I am in my 40's. If you run every day and sweat, then you can have a little more salt because you can get rid it through sweating.
Good luck with your race and good for you for asking the question! Doctors mean well but those of us that have had the disease most of life are usually a better resource.
Darin
Agreed, if you feel well enough do it!
Good luck,
Lauren
Good luck,
Lauren
How long should it take steroids to work. It's been 2 weeks and although I'm going to the toilet less and my still is firming, I still feel cramps and when I have to go to the toilet it comes on suddenly. Feeling so frustrated. I have to pull out of a sporting event because I had to go to the toilet.
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Warren,
It can take several weeks for the steroid to have more noticeable effects. Hang in there buddy and give it time. Don't let setbacks like pulling out of a sport discourage you. You will have other opportunities. It's important to get your symptoms under control and learn how to manage them. It takes time.
It can take several weeks for the steroid to have more noticeable effects. Hang in there buddy and give it time. Don't let setbacks like pulling out of a sport discourage you. You will have other opportunities. It's important to get your symptoms under control and learn how to manage them. It takes time.
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There are foods that do need to be avoided and some of that is specific to what any one person can or cannot tolerate based on dietary needs/restrictions. I think it is better to to say you can eat what you can tolerate. Some people write down everything they eat in a food diary to help figure out if there are trigger foods that make there symptoms worse like cause more stomach pain or increase diarrhea or constipation.
As I noted before, when taking prednisone, it is advised to restrict salt and salty foods from your diet because salt makes the body retain more water and causes swelling in joints and the face (moon face is a common name for face swelling due to steroids and I have had it several times. It goes away after you stop the steroids.) Prednisone also causes an appetite increase so eating more is another side affect to try to manage if you don't want to gain weight.
Lactose intolerance is common with Crohn's so mild products are avoided. If you have a narrowing of the bowel (called a stricture) then food that does not digest easily should be avoided. Some common foods to avoid are: corn, uncooked vegetables (especially with skins like tomatoes or potatoes), fruits with skins, nuts and other foods that you can look up on the internet.
So I have mentioned a few common areas to be thoughtful about when choosing what to eat but each person has to figure out what is best for their particular disease.
I hope I have helped shed some light on the topic. There are other threads in the forum written on food and I encourage you to explore them as you need to be in control of your food choices that work best for you.
Darin
As I noted before, when taking prednisone, it is advised to restrict salt and salty foods from your diet because salt makes the body retain more water and causes swelling in joints and the face (moon face is a common name for face swelling due to steroids and I have had it several times. It goes away after you stop the steroids.) Prednisone also causes an appetite increase so eating more is another side affect to try to manage if you don't want to gain weight.
Lactose intolerance is common with Crohn's so mild products are avoided. If you have a narrowing of the bowel (called a stricture) then food that does not digest easily should be avoided. Some common foods to avoid are: corn, uncooked vegetables (especially with skins like tomatoes or potatoes), fruits with skins, nuts and other foods that you can look up on the internet.
So I have mentioned a few common areas to be thoughtful about when choosing what to eat but each person has to figure out what is best for their particular disease.
I hope I have helped shed some light on the topic. There are other threads in the forum written on food and I encourage you to explore them as you need to be in control of your food choices that work best for you.
Darin
Last edited:
I am a mom of a 15 year old and he was diagnosed back when he was 12. He has always played Ice Hockey and his doctor encourage him to continue doing his sports as long as HE felt up to it. My son took a round of prednisone giving us some time to decide what treatment he would go on. My son decided on the SCD diet and I want to say he has always been one of the strongest kid on his team. Good Luck at your meet!
theOcean
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Hello Warren! Welcome to the forum.
Just wanted to let you know I moved your post (and all responses to it) to its own thread. If you feel like this is the wrong section, and want it to be moved elsewhere, just let me know.
Just wanted to let you know I moved your post (and all responses to it) to its own thread. If you feel like this is the wrong section, and want it to be moved elsewhere, just let me know.
DJW
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Absolutely!!! I've played sports my whole life. I do take a break when flaring.
Hi Warren,
I will disagree with most posters here. I would listen your your doctor's advice and not go on very intense activity such as a race. Yes to some very smooth sports but nothing too intense when you are still in a flare and not yet off steroids. Give your body some time to concentrate on healing instead of exhausting it. Steroids can make you feel like superman (which is my case), like full of adrenaline and wanting to return fast to full activities, but because of a bad experience I now know its best to remain calm and smooth while on steroids. I'd make sure your crohns is fully under control and off steroids before engaging in intense physical activity. I know thats maybe not what you want to ear, but I'd definately go with your doctor for this one.
All the best to you and you can find lots of information on dieting options in the diet section of the forum.
All the best to you,
:ghug:
I will disagree with most posters here. I would listen your your doctor's advice and not go on very intense activity such as a race. Yes to some very smooth sports but nothing too intense when you are still in a flare and not yet off steroids. Give your body some time to concentrate on healing instead of exhausting it. Steroids can make you feel like superman (which is my case), like full of adrenaline and wanting to return fast to full activities, but because of a bad experience I now know its best to remain calm and smooth while on steroids. I'd make sure your crohns is fully under control and off steroids before engaging in intense physical activity. I know thats maybe not what you want to ear, but I'd definately go with your doctor for this one.
All the best to you and you can find lots of information on dieting options in the diet section of the forum.
All the best to you,
:ghug:
Thanks. I have divided to put my running on hold for now and take the doctors advice. I'm not feeling well enough to perform anyway. I miss running so much, and going from representingy state to doing nothing is making me feel depressed. I seem my doctor for my second visit and he confirmed not to exert myself. He said I could play soccer, but definitely not run a competitive race. After 3 weeks, I remain on 30mg of steroids and just started a maintenance medicine also. 25mg a day of Azathioprine (Imuran). Has anyone had success with this medication?
good, Imuran will most likely help you. Its a well-known medication thats been around for a long time in crohns and which helps a lot of people. I find your attitude very responsible in coming here. You'll find plenty of support here whenever needed. The forum is very active and there'll always be somebody to answer your questions. Surround yourself with friends and family, people you love, do fun things together and keep your spirit up. Better days are coming and so will be running
theOcean
Moderator
Imuran/Azathioprine helps keep Crohn's at bay by suppressing your immune system enough that you shouldn't get inflammation in the first place! The steroids you're on also have an immunosuppressant quality, but also help calm down inflammation (and are just temporary). Imuran works really well for people. I'm on its sister drug called 6mp as well as another medication called Humira and they're both helping me a lot.
Once you're in remission you'll be able to go back to a normal life! I was really sick for a long time and felt so controlled by this disease, but since I got my diagnosis corrected and got put on the right medication last year I've been in remission. Now I don't feel like I have an illness at all, and I'm able to do anything I want!
(Well, except eat some foods I'm sensitive to, but that's nothing major.)
So you're really not destined for a poor life. You just need to keep on top of your health a little more than most people. As long as you do that and tell doctors immediately when you get symptoms again, you'll be okay.
Once you're in remission you'll be able to go back to a normal life! I was really sick for a long time and felt so controlled by this disease, but since I got my diagnosis corrected and got put on the right medication last year I've been in remission. Now I don't feel like I have an illness at all, and I'm able to do anything I want!
(Well, except eat some foods I'm sensitive to, but that's nothing major.)
So you're really not destined for a poor life. You just need to keep on top of your health a little more than most people. As long as you do that and tell doctors immediately when you get symptoms again, you'll be okay.
Catherine
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My daughter was dx with Crohn's at 16 years. She was very sick at dx and wasn't allow to go back to training for number of weeks. Her sport was swimming.
The reason the GI didn't her to swim was she didn't want it to effect her weight gain. Another reason was the risk of injury while taking pred.
Once your off steriods more options with sport will open up. It early days yet.
The reason the GI didn't her to swim was she didn't want it to effect her weight gain. Another reason was the risk of injury while taking pred.
Once your off steriods more options with sport will open up. It early days yet.
DJW
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Staying away from google is a good idea.
You're not destined to a poor quality of life. As I mentioned earlier, I've been playing sports all my life. But I don't play sports when in a flare.
Hey Warren - I think it's great that you have tried to educate yourself about your disease. You seem like a smart kid! Reading is never wrong, but reading about this disease can be very overwhelming. You will find many accounts of people having all sorts of problems as a result of this disease, but you have to remember that there are many more people leading active healthy lives (playing sports!) who have this disease but are too busy to write about their experiences. Don't be discouraged by what you read. You are not destined to have a poor quality of life. You are destined to have the quality of life you make for yourself!
Thanks. No matter how busy I am, I'm going to make time to share my positive stories. I'm determine to achieve my goal of representing my country in sport some day. It may be in athletics or soccer, but I will do it. I just have to be patient for at least a few months.
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welcome to the forum Warren. In the beginning its always tough to cope up with this desease, but with time you will learn more about CD and you'll find that its not that difficult to manage it..you can live and play like any other boy of your age. Am sure soon you will see yourself participating in races again. All the best !!
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Hey Warren, as many people above said, no need to stop sport.
Actually sport is one reason that keeps me in remission, so I work out 5-6 times a week, go running etc.
In any event, you have probably heard that by now, Crohn's unfortunately a chronic condition which doesn't go away. As you have only been diagnosed a few weeks ago, my advise would be to over the next weeks and months read up on Crohn's, the medical treatments, the studies, the diets, the deficiencies, etc. to really know what it is about. You cannot just rely on your doctor treating it and you cannot rely on medication alone either. Crohn's needs to be tackled on various fronts and principally by you personally.
Actually sport is one reason that keeps me in remission, so I work out 5-6 times a week, go running etc.
In any event, you have probably heard that by now, Crohn's unfortunately a chronic condition which doesn't go away. As you have only been diagnosed a few weeks ago, my advise would be to over the next weeks and months read up on Crohn's, the medical treatments, the studies, the diets, the deficiencies, etc. to really know what it is about. You cannot just rely on your doctor treating it and you cannot rely on medication alone either. Crohn's needs to be tackled on various fronts and principally by you personally.
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My 13 year old daughter exercises regularly and loves playing organized sports when her energy levels permit. It helps her manage the stress of the disease she says. You will learn in time what you can & can't do in stages of your health. Don't overdo it and even if you can attend a meet now it doesn't mean you have to quit the sport. When in a flare or in the hospital My daughter tryies to catxh up with teammates playing black ops or modern warfare to keep the competition going even though physically she isn't up for it.good luck!
Running is definitely something you can do.
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