How do you know?

[Beachy]

Hi,

I am 19 and I live in England.

I have never been given any supplements with my Crohn's although i know i am not getting the right nutrition that my body needs.
Am i supposed to ask my doctor or would they be giving me them if i need them?
I feel like im left to it so much and im so unaware yet scared about what my body needs and how im supposed to get it!..
The doctors just seem to know nothing and offer me nothing
I have just had surgery and now that im home, ive had no contact from them
I fear im not getting any of the goodness i need as alot of food i cant tolerate.

Can anyone give me more info on this .. im at a bit of a dead end as my knowledge is so limited.:ybatty:

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Most doctors don't really address nutrition although some of their blood tests might check for common deficiencies in which case they should address that through supplementation.

I personally feel safe having a comprehensive multi to cover my bases and I get bloods checked for iron, Vit D, folate, zinc and B12 as they are common culprits of problems.

 

[Beachy]

Sorry if this sounds stupid is a comprehensive multi just an average multi vitamin bought from the shop?

 

[silverdiskdj]

Hey again.... I think I may be able to help ya out here as well, at least give you my experience with this all....

With the surgery you had, and the ileum taken out... Vitamin B12 may be a benefit. I know when the ileum comes out, so does the absorption of that vitamin. I receive a shot of that in my leg, twice a month. I am also on Vitamin D3, 4000iU everyday, calcium to help with the absorption, as well as zinc to help with keeping me well on the immunosuppresive I am on. I take a multivitamin nightly, and also a probiotic... I figure what does that hurt....

Of course, the way to tell if you need it is by blood work and checking the vitamin levels in your body. My doctors keep a keen eye on my blood... taking some everytime I have my Tysabri infusions monthly. They adjust my supplements accordingly. May be another good thing to ask about at your appointment. I know my body really tells me if I am low on these, especially if my energy level is down or if I seem like I am dragging....

 

[mal-ileus]

I take turmeric (I think i heard about it here) as well as fish oil, for my belly. The docs should have told you to avoid raw vegetables. Everyone is different, but i think those items are good to start.

 

[Beachy]

Thank you again! Properly helping me tonight. Haha

I also used to have my blood taken every 6 weeks. Yet nothing was ever mentioned except from iron which i can not tolerate as it makes me soooo sick.

I will ask them, I just dread it as i feel they shrug me off a lot as ' they know best '
I just know I dont get all the nutrients and I want to feel Energized and human again!

As i havnt for years and years, and being told i wont be absorbing alot of the goodness in my food ( a lot of which i cant even eat anyway) and then them still not suggesting anything, It just makes me a bit wary for the future, because there is only so long your body can go without these things surely.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Sorry if this sounds stupid is a comprehensive multi just an average multi vitamin bought from the shop?

Yes, but I'd look at the different brands and find something that covers all your bases not too high or too low. I prefer to buy at health stores as they have less junk fillers but any drug store will have them too.

 

[Beachy]

mal-ileus thank you, were you advised on this by a doctor or did you just take it from reading about it?

I am just so wary about putting anything into my body in case i dont need it or it does damage, although i suppose half the time the doctors are guessing as well.

 

[Charleigh]

E takes a good multi-vitamin, probiotic, and a separate chewable iron (because of low iron).

 

[Axelfl3333]

I sound like an advert for soup but it's nutritious,tasty and really good and easy to make good for us crohnies use low sodium stock cubes make sure the veggies are well cooked and or blended at least that way your getting veggies in safely they are good for us.fish is generally fine oily fish if can its good for you mackerel especially.
Your right about consultants some can be arrogant unapproachable gits!if you,ve got a clinic nurse they can be very helpful and generally friendlier,but don,t be frightened to deliver some attitude adjustment it works wonders.all the best good luck

 

[UnXmas]

You do get savvy doctors occasionally. When my blood tests showed I was lacking in nutrients they got me on supplements very quickly, though I was in-patient in hospital at the time, and was in a very bad way (and for that reason I don't know what exactly it was that I was lacking). I've also been prescribed calcium and vitamin D when they were low, and iron when that was low. Everything I got was prescribed on the NHS, and I never had to ask for it to be tested.

I don't think there's a need to supplement if tests show you've no deficiencies. I would tell your doctors if you are concerned about any symptoms you are getting rather than ask for specific tests, which should prompt them to run tests if the symptoms suggest nutritional deficiencies. With Crohn's I think good doctors will want blood tests regularly even if you don't have symptoms (I get tested every three months or so).