I can't eat anything!!!!

[Crohnaroideramasis]

Hi fellow crohnies! I am completely frustrated!! I've been in a flare going on 4 months now. I am so incredibly tired and fed up! I had been on a diet of the only foods I could tolerate; white rice, white bread, white noodles, potatoes and soy milk. Obviously this diet is not sufficient, but I get ill from meat or veggies or fruit. I broke down out of pure exhaustion and drank a protein/ vitamin shake. Now I'm back in terrible pain and my stomach is swollen so much I look 8 months pregnant! I don't know what to do! I have a million things to do and a life to live and I'm stuck laying around in pain! I just really needed to vent big time! I don't know if I'll ever be able to eat again!!!

 

[muppet]

Are you sure that's Crohn's? Try boiled chicken? There are quite a few theories floating around that carbs are exactly what you DON'T want for Crohn's, but there's some contention there. I'll be cutting out ALL carbs soon in a grand experiment.

I don't doubt that you HAVE Crohn's, but I'd wonder what else might be going on with THAT MUCH food sensitivity. What are you managing your flare with?

 

[Kenny2hm]

Have you been tested for gluten intolerance. Gluten is in everything and can cause the symptoms you have. I don't have a gluten intolerance but my sister does. Genetics geez...

 

[bamboling]

My doctor put me on a low-res diet until I get a dx. I am eating prettu much the same things, but also eating boiled eggs, chicken, and lactose free drinks. I am getting fed up, too. I was cooking green beans for my hubby last night and got really upset. I did find some corn dogs in the frozen section that I have been able to tolerate. They are turkey gots with a light corn batter. I am doing better since the diet change but I do get upset.

When you get out of your flare hopefully you can slowly add some things back. Have you tried boost or ensure? They remind me of chocolate milkd which I love!

Going along with the above post, my father has crohn's and he eats a low carb diet to control it. No grains, potatoes, etc. It works wonders for him!

 

[muppet]

Do what works for you bamboling, but I can't help but stick my nose in and caution you that corn is actually pretty high on the list of "things Crohn's patients should never, ever eat."

 

[bamboling]

I knew I shouldnt have corn, but I thought maybe the little bit of cornmill in the batter would be okay. Eek! I hope I am not making it worse! I read the ingrediants and cornmill was far down the list.

 

[Crohnaroideramasis]

Thanks everyone. Yes, I do have crohn's. I was diagnosed after a colonoscopy/ endoscopy and many many blood tests. And more recently, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis as an additional bonus;-) the crohn's was found in the ilium. I'm new to this so I'm not yet up on all the right terminology. I am taking humira, cortacosteroids, cymbalta and miloxicam for the rheumatoid arthritis. I'm also anemic and am taking a liquid vitamin supplement that includes iron. I thought I had this a bit under control and was doing very well with the foods I mentioned as well as the meds and vitamin supplement, only I was becoming incredibly exhausted. As soon as I drank the protein/ vitamin shake I went right back into severe inflammation, pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. (I haven't had a non Diarrhea bowel movement in 6 months now) I just accepted it.

I'm learning about what I can and cannot eat still and was not aware that carbs are bad for crohn's. I absolutely cannot at the moment eat meat or veggies or fruit or grains as OT makes me ER ill. So I'm at a loss as to what I can eat?

I will check out the gluten intolerance as you suggested.

Thanks for responding and caring, guys! As you probably know the support and advice from others is invaluable!!

 

[muppet]

Certain carbs MAY be bad for Crohn's. The jury's out. Just to clarify...

 

[Natalie38]

Are you sure that's Crohn's? Try boiled chicken? There are quite a few theories floating around that carbs are exactly what you DON'T want for Crohn's, but there's some contention there. I'll be cutting out ALL carbs soon in a grand experiment.

I don't doubt that you HAVE Crohn's, but I'd wonder what else might be going on with THAT MUCH food sensitivity. What are you managing your flare with?

Hi,
I am very interested in your plan for cutting out the carbs, and what your diet will look like. I'd love to try that.

 

[bamboling]

Also, what works for some, might not the others. My dad doesn't eat starches, and dowes well. But my Grandfather, who also has Crohn's can eat them, and does fine. Each case is different. I guess trial and error! I have been doing this.

 

[muppet]

Hi,
I am very interested in your plan for cutting out the carbs, and what your diet will look like. I'd love to try that.

Hi Natalie. We're going to follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which is laid out in "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Gotschall. I don't normally subscribe to single "experts" like this but we've gotten a lot of positive testimonials and what I'm reading makes sense.

Because it's copyrighted I can't really reproduce any of it here, but the diet is quite severe. The book is not that expensive on Amazon.

 

[[email protected]]

As mentioned earlier, the book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" is a very good choice. I've been on SCD for a month and I haven't felt this good in a looong time.

 

[Carrie630]

my nausea is at least partially due to my gastritis and stomach ulcer, but a few things that I could somewhat tolerate were cottage cheese, banana, and raw honey. I would take a spoonful of raw honey sometimes when I was real nauseous and it helped some.

in regards to the corn - corn kernels aren't digested so they pass through the entire tract whole which can cause issues in an active flare. Its similar to the thing about nuts. With that said, I think that corn products like cornmeal don't have the same restriction although you should keep in mind its indigestible fibrous content is still there to some degree, its just broken up very small.

 

[tiloah]

Before my surgery I ended up in severe pain every single time I ate, no matter what it was. Even Ensure made me vomit at one point. I had a crazy abscess and was severely inflamed and it didn't go away with treatment (had to have surgery). So yes, this type of pain can definitely come from Crohn's.

I would say whatever your management is at this point, it's not working well enough. Have you seen your GI recently? Have you discussed changes to your regimen? Have you had any imaging recently?

 

[lizzy]

Hi! I've been through similar things with my diet, I remember having a bowl of boiled pototoes for dinner at one point! I have fairly bad stricturing in my small intestine and although most of it was cut out a year or so ago there is still some left.
I was offered Modulen by my dietician at the Hospital about 3 years ago and I found it really helps becuase it adds back all the vitamins I am loosing through my restricted diet (I have really good nails?) and it has anti-imflatories in it as well have help sooth as it goes through. I have tried other liquid diets and I really didnt like them because they were thin and watery and often had milk in them. This doesnt contain milk and is satifyingly thick. I do get a bit sick of it sometimes but my body really liked the routine of having it and it helps me eat better because my intestines are calmer! I have it with food although I think they try to discourage that because it is costly. I would reallllly recomment Modulen! I know I sound like a dodgy salesman but it really has worked well for me. I hope things get better soon!

 

[scottmyster]

HI. My Crohn's has recently flared up and been testing different foods. The suggestions in everybody forum is right. Stay away from high carb foods, nuts, corn and especially stay away from anything that as high fiber content. I am now on a liquid diet mostly boost and ensure with are made out of skimmed milk no fat content and it is working for me fine. also jello puddings almond milk, anything that is fat free. i am going to try boiled chicken tonight and some boiled potatoes. Wish me luck . i probably will end up in the ER dept. But, i have to try something. But, like with anybody who has crohn's everybody is different you have to keep a food diary and write down the foods that cause you pain and the foods that don't. It's really a hit and miss game i suppose. anyway good luck. i hope you really fine something that works for you personally. :hug:

 

[lenny]

Have you tried broths? Maybe chicken and beef broths with a little carrot in them..everything well cooked..
*Hug*

 

[Daisy123]

I tried gluten free and besides being considerably poorer, it made no difference. In fact, I started bloating on it. I have reverted to low residue but have also been trying buscopan again. I am taking two twice a day and to my surprise have found it helping. I am now back to being incontinent but prefer that to distension

 

[cleuger]

When Im flaring I drink the clear ensures lactosse free milk and broths and bananas thats about all I can tolerate ad water to that also.