Crohn's Disease and Intensive Exercise

[Tofu]

Hello,

I've had CD for 8 years and things have been pretty stable until a a couple of years ago when things started to flair up.

I think it coincides with an increase in my mountain bike riding and starting to push things harder.

My Gastro tried me on azathioprine which I had a massive reaction too ending up in hospital for 3 days etc... He's switched me to Budenofalk from prednisalone and is waiting for things to settle down before trying me on methotrexate.

I've been off the bike for a couple of months but have just started to do some very short gentle rides.

How do other people fair with CD and intensive exercise?

 

[Guest]

hi Tofu - welcome to the forum

re your question, i'm not really talking from experience here because i've never done what you could consider intensive exercise.... but knowing that Crohn's (& IBD in general) responds to a relaxed and stressfree lifestyle, i'm wondering if it's possible that high exercise routines could bring about the reverse and in turn impact on your Crohn's?

having said that, some exercise is good for us even if we do have IBD, so maybe finding a middle ground is the way to go... not too much or too hard, but regular & gentle...

 

[Tofu]

Hi,

I suppose I've been very lucky as I've hardly had to modify my lifestyle to help keep the CD in check.

I'm starting to realise that I am going to need to be more careful and mindful of the CD in the future if I want it to stay under control.

I'm the sort of person that if I'm out on the bike I like to push it as hard as I can. Go further, faster, longer etc... I did a 24 hour endurance event earlier this year. I'm planning on doing a couple more next year and a number of 100km long events. None of which is easy on the body. But that depends on how well I recover from the current flair-up and how much I can do going forward without causing flair-ups. So those plans may all change.

 

[rygon]

I enjoy kickboxing, snowboarding, rock climbing and skydiving. If I dont push myself too hard im fine (feel much better for it). Still come back drained.
Did a skydiving comp this year which lasted 3days, getting up at 6.30am and getting to bed at 11pm (last night 4am). Being on my feet training all day, and the lack of sleep combined with bad eating (energy drinks sweets etc) made my stomach bad for the next 5days.
Personally i'd try and keep away from this type of thing again

 

[Manzyb]

hey Tofu!

I am a big exerciser. I love doing it. On days when i'm not exactly up to par, I have to just take it a little easier. I pretty much always make sure I'm near a bathroom at least somewhere close by!! You really just have to listen to your body. There are times that I really have to take a step back and listen to my body telling me I need a break. Sometimes I push myself too hard and end up getting sicker.

Going to the gym makes me feel like I'm somewhat in control over my body. Not totally... but i always feel a lot better when I go, and days that I don't go, I really dont feel as good. It's crazy! Keep it up though, I think it does great things for our bodies!

 

[cally]

I just saw my GI last week and he gave me an eyebrow raise when I told him I did a lot of running. lol here I was, thinking I was doing something good for myself! But he said that intense exercise can make things worse for some people.