Back! And on Ensure.

[Shannon]

Haven't been on here in a while, had a recent colonosopy/EGD - 6MP cleared the disease except for about 20%! Unforuntately, had to stop all Crohn's meds when two days ago I was rushed to the ER with plummeting blood pressure and skyrocketing heart rate. Diagnosis was 6MP caused severe aenemia, and so I recieved a transfusion and went home in a couple days. Today is my third full day on a diet only of 7 cans of Ensure a day, with one can of soda, a popsicle, a jello, and two jolly ranchers. After this I am going all organic and I have made an appointment with a holistic doc to see what dietary changes I can make to help myself out. My goal is really to eliminate these awful meds (side effects are killing me), but I know realistically that is difficult, so I hope lifestyle changes can meet meds half way and the dosages and extremes can be minimal. (And ER trips for side effects instead of the disease!)

Wondering if you seasoned formula-suckers have any tips for making the next five and a half weeks a little smoother?

THANKS for reading

 

[Mountaingem]

Aw, so sorry you've been suffering-I've missed you on the threads! I like to blend Ensure in the blender with ice, kinda gives it a Frappachino feel, makes you feel fuller. I only drink the chocolate or coffee flavored because for some reason vanilla and strawberry make me crampy.

I mentioned your idea to a friend w/ Crohn's who has gone the holistic route, but he nearly died from no meds with a scary high white count and infection-not to freak you out, but FYI. His disease became so aggressive he had to take massive chemo to stop the Crohn's and was in the hospital for 6 weeks. He also said be cautious about the holistic docs trying to get you to buy alot of supplements that are expensive out of their office only, etc.

For diet though, I think it's definitely worth a try, healthier foods are always the best way to go. He said organic meats are the main thing that made a huge difference for him, as well as eliminating all dairy that isn't organic or cultured.

I know the side effects of the drugs blow, but maybe if you tried Remicade it would have less side effects for you. I know it did for me; I couldn't tolerate 6MP, Aza, and Sulfasalazine; but Remicade is fantastic (at least for me).:thumleft:

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Hi Shannon, I don't have any advice for you but I wanted to say welcome back to the forum, and good luck with your Ensure diet! You might want to check out this thread, written as a sort of diary from another person who was on a liquid diet for awhile.

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=11409&highlight=christina

 

[Inwe]

7 cans a day? Holy moly. I bitch when I have to drink one! Haha. Be careful though... you can overdose with some vitamins which is not good. So don't drink too many meal replacement drinks. Eating the food is much better for you.

When you actually start eating again, Organic foods are the way to go. I see that you were eating a lot of sugar. Personally I find sugar a trigger food for me, not to mention it isn't exactly healthy generally My favourite healthy foods that are pretty much crohn's approved are chicken and apples.

My GI called a nutritionist in during one of my visits and this is what she said in a nutshell:
- Organic = good
- whole grains are hard on your digestive systems, try sticking to simple carbs aka: white bread, etc
- Stay away from foods with high sugar and high unhealthy fat
- Avoid anything deepfried
- Limit dairy intake
- stay away from juices. And be careful of which fruits and veggies you eat. Personally for me, I can't eat ANY green veggie, (crazy!)

 

[kildare crohnie]

is ensure not full of sugar?

 

[aliciars]

My doc just had me start Fish Oil....I have had better results from the Fish Oil 2x's a day than I have from all my other treatments (see below). Seems way too simple. I also have Ensure in my fridge ready to start as I was so over not seeing results...and the voila - the fish oils seem to be helping???? Worth a shot maybe?
Happy healing. Please let us know if you find some natural ways that help.

 

[Shannon]

Thanks everyone.
Ensure IS full of sugar unfortunately, but it is doing wonders for me... I feel great, without any symptoms for the first time since meds...except this time, no awful side effects! Being off the meds feels the greatest.
I just went to a holistic doctor who prescribed a combination of Chineses herbal therapy capsules (I will let you know how they go for me). We talked about diet, and she too said whole grains are inflammatory so sticking with easier ones like quinoa and brown rice is advisable. Green leafy vegetables have high anti-inflammatory agents, but since they are difficult in a flare up, she suggests juicing and blending (just about everything!). Additionally, no dairy. She told me chicken has a high uric acid content and to limit it initially because acidity will inflame as well. She gave me a great recipe book of organic and crohn's recipes, so when I'm eating again, I'll reccommend the good ones! She was diagnosed with UC 15 years ago and instead of opting for meds or surgery (at a deathly ill point) she trialed and errored with food and went to school to become certified holistically, hasn't been on meds for 15 years, (and looks the best I've seen a 46yr old woman look)!

 

[Chuck2008]

I've been on 6 bottles of ensure a day for half a year now, plus the occasional meal out. I don't need to be on them anymore since they've long ago put me back in remission, but I love the taste of Ensure Plus chocolate so much that now I drink them because I choose too . I wouldn't say they're full of sugar, the cards/fats/protein balance in them is textbook perfect, I've done my research. So I'm getting better nutrition than I've ever gotten before drinking them..

BTW how much are you paying for them? I pay $7.99/6 here in Ontario. Some stores charge as much as $14.99 for 6. Ask your pharmacist to put a big order in for you next time there is a sale (assuming one comes up in the next week or so) and they're more than happy to help. They have my phone number at Shoppers Drug mart and call me whenever they're about to go on sale

 

[littlemissh]

I am on resource energy liquids as it has less sugar as pred has given me abnormal glucose tolerance and these have a third less sugar. They do contain some fats though which I seem to be ok with in these quantities.
Actually they are really nice- much nicer than previous- my favourites are chocolate, apricot and banana.
I am lucky because as they have been prescribed by an IBD dietician I get them free on the NHS which is good because 5-6 bottles a day would be costly. They are nutritionally complete.
I was on for 3 months and now adding back in foods gradually over the last 3 weeks. On stage 3 now - so well cooked root vegetables mashed up...yum. Still no weight gain and on food flared up again so pred increased again.

 

[Shannon]

Chuck, thanks for the tip! I pay a little over 8 dollars for a six pack, but just the same amount for a 4 pack of the Clinical strength ensure (added prebiotics and amino acids). It can get pricey. My doc actually is writing a prescription (since its my sole food source) and the insurance company will cover it. About four more weeks to go!