Diagnosed

[johnjack21]

My name is Jack and I've just been diagnosed with Crohn's. Looking for tips and good information, new to the site. Any help would be great, I'm 17 and hoping to make this manageable as soon as possible in order to live a normal life.

 

[valleysangel92]

Hello Jack, would you be able to tell us a little more about yourself and your condition? Such as how long you've had symptoms, was diagnosis easy or did it take a long time, current symptoms and treatments, this will all help us to help you since the more we know the more we can advise you on.

Try keeping a food and symptom diary, it will help you to see any links between the food you eat and the severity of your symptoms as it is known that a lot of people have 'trigger foods ' and these are different for each person.

I know the symptoms of this disease can be very embarrassing, but everyone here understands and we will always do all we can to help you.

We also have a teen's only area in the support section which you might want to consider looking at and introducing yourself in.

 

[badbelly]

Hi Jack and welcome!

You'll find a ton of great information here. If you have bee put on medication there are several sub forums specific to treatments. There are also sub forums for diet, lifestyle, etc.

Let us know if you have any specific questions.

 

[johnjack21]

Sorry for not getting back to you quickly, I've been very busy with all the appointments, school, sports an other things. Anyways, compared most of the posts I have read on this website, and other stories I have in general, I have a very mild case of crohn's. I have an MRI next Sunday and I have been keeping a diary of what I have been eating, side effects, and bowel movements. Currently I am on prednisone and I have found some improvement with the normalcy of my bowel movements however I am still continuing to have abdominal pain and gas. Regardless I would still love to get some advice about medications. I am finding it difficult to decide which to take,it almost feels like I am picking my own poison. My doctors are favoring Remicade and also suggested 6mp but both present an increased risk of lymphoma. Although the odds maybe be low I still would rather not risk it, and the odds have not really been in my favor lately. One route I have been looking at is enteral nutrition, however my doctors don't seem to in to it. They really seem to favor the Remicade however my other sources have told me Remicade should be my last line of defense. Any advice or knowledge you can give to me about the medication would be great!

 

[wild_one353]

My name is Jack and I've just been diagnosed with Crohn's. Looking for tips and good information, new to the site. Any help would be great, I'm 17 and hoping to make this manageable as soon as possible in order to live a normal life.

hello!!

welcome to the forum.

just like to say that i have managed my disease symptoms with diet for 4.5 years. but im not recommending you avoid drugs, i just want you to know that dietary modifications can really help. low lactose(milk sugar) and sucrose(white sugar) diet, can reduce diarhea alot. Thsi is called the SCD diet and you can learn more by buying a book called breaking the vicious cycle.

Also, you hopefully wont have to have this disease for long since a new treatment has shown to induce long remission quickly it in small trials (hopefully will be a cure). it restores damaged intestinal bacteria in IBD. it wont be available for another 2-3 years for IBD though, but 8 studys over the next 2 years for it find out more here- http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=52400

 

[Jmrogers4]

Hi Johnjack, welcome
My son with crohns is also Jack we call him johnjack all the time.
EN is good at lowering inflammation the major problem being a soon as you reintroduce food the inflammation comes back. We use EN in place of prednisone. My Jack can't stand the side effects from that.
Have a look at ldn as well, few side effects my son has seen some remission from it, but there are very few studies and not many doctors willing to prescribe it. There is a forum on it under treatment.