Fasting with Crohns ??

[hr40369n]

Hi,

I'm a Muslim and Ramadan is coming up for us . we have to fast for 29-30 days. I wanted to know if people with crohns should fast or not ?? is it wise ?

im perfectly fine with my crohns.

 

[eadavenp]

Ask your doctor. I know I need to eat something with my medication, or it gives me massive heartburn.

 

[farm]

Hi,

I'm a Muslim and Ramadan is coming up for us . we have to fast for 29-30 days. I wanted to know if people with crohns should fast or not ?? is it wise ?

im perfectly fine with my crohns.

You can eat/drink before daylight and after dark, correct? I would think you would be fine.

 

[Agent X20]

Hi hr
You can get special dispensation (is that the right word?) if you're not well can't you? If you don't feel too bad why don't you give the fasting a try at first and see how you get on. Don't know where you are, but the daylight hours in the UK are awfully long at the moment... but I suspect the spiritual benefits will outweigh the physical effects, just be prepared to stop if it doesn't go too well.
By the way, you need to contact an administrator and get your account set up again, it looks like it's been accidentally deleted.

 

[Mazen]

Hi. I'm a muslim too. On my first year of diagnosis, i tried to fast but after a week had so much pain that I stopped and never fasted since.

Religiously speaking, if you are sick with a malady that doesn't allow you to fast, it is OK not to fast. Religion is supposed to be easy not hard. Instead you can give money to the needy so they can get the food they need.

You can give fasting a try and see if you can tolerate it. Each one's Crohns is different.

 

[Wizbit]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that Muslims were allowed to forgo Ramadan if they were ill?

 

[RWeb]

I'm pretty sure if you are ill, that you get to forego Fasting. Fasting is a sign of religious discipline and who say's your not disciplined if your sick? There is a sence of compassion placed on those who cant fast, and there are those who still try by drinking juices or nutrient shakes, etc. Your not there to stake your life on proving something by fasting...

 

[shazamataz]

There is NO WAY I could do a fast for such a length of time! Even a day would be impossible - how can a person keep going normally with practically no fuel?

 

[samtheman786]

Im muslim and have fasted in the past while beieng diagnosed with chrons, the only times i didnt fast was days that i had blood test or Infliximab. But this year it will be diffrent for me as I just had ileostomy the doctor reccomends that not eating will not be an issue but not drinking during the day might make me worse as I am not able to retain any liquid in my system and this can lead to dehydration which is worse. So im going to try not eating during the day butt ill still have to keep my water level up so I dont get dehydrated inshallah.

If you cant fast because you are sick or fasting will make your situation worse allah will forgive you and it is recommmend if you can for every day you can not keep fast give money to the less fourtanate to the equivallent to meal for how many days you were not fasting or something like that.

I hope this helps and I hope allah helps you with your crohns.

 

[shmo]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that Muslims were allowed to forgo Ramadan if they were ill?

That's correct. Same with Jews and Passover. You get a get-out-of-fasting free card

 

[Basmah]

Salaams!

There were years where I was able to fast, and years that I wasn't. The years that I couldn't, I just gave charity (zakat) for every day that I could not fast. Good luck to everyone (muslims, jews, etc.) who may have to forgo certain practices due to your CD. <3

 

[nitty]

I have been following the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet for about 2 months now and it hasn't negatively affected my Crohn's at all. If anything, I go to the loo a bit less often than I did before starting the diet (probably just due to the lower amount of food matter in my gut, but I don't care why - it's better than before!).

I am doing the fasting diet because I need to lose a little weight, and it is working in that respect, but obviously if your disease causes you to be on the skinnier side, you may need to increase your calories when you do break the fast.

 

[crow-hens]

as salaamu alaiykum, i was recently diagnosed with crohns disease (may 2015) after severly suffering for many months upon months( august2014) symtoms started occuring) colonoscopy n endoscopy showed i had inflamation pretty much everywhere, as its ramadhan again i thort of doing the fasts to giv my intestines a chance to heal n rest, first 3 fasts i was fine, but 2day i became really bad stomach pains generally not feeling well, would u recommend me to carry on fasting in the hope tht 2day was an off day or just stop, im frm the UK where the fasts are from 2.30am to 9.30pm im currently on budesonide n aziathropine, im fighting a losing battle bt the only thing keeping me going is the ajr i hope frm our rabb, jazak allah khair

 

[nitty]

If you have to fast for religious reasons would you feel comfortable with fasting for a shorter length of time each day? I heard a discussion today about a fatwa relating to the fact that fasting hours in the summer in the northern hemisphere are just too long, even for people who don't have any medical issues.
Usually when people with CD/UC stop eating to rest their bowels they are still taking nutrition in liquid form somehow.
I think that you are perfectly justified in not fasting at present because of your medical condition (please excuse me, but I am not familiar with the customs of Ramadan), and that, when you are in a better state of health, and hopefully in remission, you could consider how much you participate then.
Do you have a GP who is familiar with your religious practices? Hopefully they could guide you with how to deal with this.
Best wishes
Nitty

 

[crow-hens]

nitty, thanks for your reply, fast 5 & 6 went really well, i was full of energy and no problems apart from the odd stomach gurgles. I agree with what you have said in regards to those who normally fast do intake some sort of nutrition, however, for now i seem to be doing well and it seems fast 4 was just a one off (probably because i hardly anything to eat at dusk) You are right those who have medical conditions are exempted from fasting i.e diabetics, you are not allowed to put your health at risk but at the end of the day it all comes down to the individual and whether they think they will be able to handle it. Unfortunately none of my GPs are familiar with my religious practices to they wouldn't be any help there. best wishes to yourself too.

 

[nitty]

Thanks crow-hens, I'm glad you're doing better.
I don't know how people manage Ramadan, it must take true devotion - when I did the 5:2 diet I really struggled with headaches, even when I drank lots of water. I don't know whether it was the lack of caffeine or sugar. It worked wonders as a weight loss plan though!

 

[Lady Organic]

I discourage anyone to do fasting the way most people typically do it, meaning fasting no food or water during the day, sleeping a lot and go into extreme food ingestion at night and go to bed with a full stomach. during Ramadan people traditionally cook heavy fat meals, fill and stretch the stomach at night and do less physical activity/mouvements. I know of some people who sleep all day and wait for night to wake up and eat. the whole body goes into extremes. This way of doing is very unhealthy I believe.

I believe in the benefits of intermittent fasting and research has shown possible benefits, but there is a way to properly do it and this does not involve big food ingestion at night, sleepping with full stomach ,nor to cut water. Not drinking water especially when the day is hot in the summer is scary to me.

Serious Medical conditions can be automatically excluded of Ramadan fasting, and crohns is a definately a serious condition, even in remission. By imposing such a stress on the whole body, I believe we risk trigger a flare or causing other unwanted issues. I really discourage it.