P
phdezra
Guest
Hi all. I'm a 38-year old male currently going through testing to determine if I have Crohn's/IBD/Celiac... here's my story, in brief... please, please if you have any advice or thoughts, please reply and chime in. I'm also hoping my history will help others as we all continue to learn about issues. I am looking for any help and suggestions specifically on My Plan (and Research) list toward bottom of this post. Thank you all so much.
My History
In 2002 (31 yrs old) I started noticing some funny pains in my lower abdomen (primarily right side), every so often. It did not occur all the time and until this point in my life, I was fairly healthy. Apart from an appendectomy in 1985 (13 yrs old), I was healthy and lean (140 lbs). After seeing a GI specialist and going for a colonoscopy, it seems that I was 'simply' lactose intolerant and the flare-ups were due to my eating of lots of ice cream. :ybatty: I cut out all ice cream and eliminated milk, instead going to Lactaid (lactose free milk), and I was fine.
The next few years passed with no major issue and no specific bad event transpired, but I noticed that I would soon want to go to sleep leaning on my right side only, almost exclusively last couple years. Additionally, I developed an "overactive bladder" in 2009 to go along with an occasional irritable bowel (which I thought was normal). As it turns out, it seems as though sleeping on my LEFT side (for me) could be irritating my bladder if my lower right bowel area is inflamed (my GI will determine shortly).
As it turns out, in early 2010 (couple weeks ago), I went back to my original GI to get to the bottom of this. I had not seen him since 2002 and he looked over my old records and mentioned that he wrote "possible Crohn's" in the file (we had done a colonoscopy in 2002 just to be sure, but there were NO meaningful signs at the time), but obviously it was so mild since I had not really complained. I also mentioned that I have acid reflux *every day* for a while, and come to think of it, I've been taking Zantac (over the counter, lowest dosage) or Prevacid prescribed by my general Internist just about every day for five years. :eek2:
Long story, short,... we decided to do 1) CT scan (scheduled for this week), 2) specific blood work (primarily to see if any signs of Celiac, because all my annual generic blood work was all normal--last done in Sept 2009) and 3) Endoscopy (examining the need for and affect of all those Zantacs). Lastly, we will do a Colonoscopy in a month or so, but he wanted to get those first three things done sooner because my bowel/Crohn's/IBD symptoms are relatively moderate (or maybe I just didn't seem like a complainer to him :ycool: ). Make no mistake about it though, even though my symptoms seem minor and I am not complaining like on fire, he does think I have Crohn's and from all the reading I've done, it seems quite likely but a relatively mild case. That said my goal is to arrest my painful lower right abdomen issues before it gets worse...
My Symptoms
My Plan (and Research)
The web, and this website in particular(!) is a godsend with tons of information and collective intelligence. While each of our bodies is unique, there are some common things that seem to apply. I am going to try a modified elimination diet...
Gluten-free: Thus far, after a few days only, I have eliminated 100% of gluten products (at least, as far as I know they are gluten) and my acid reflux is already *dramatically* improved. To me this signals some kind of gluten-based allergy/incompetence of my system. So, I'll be nixing all that stuff. No more cakes, cookies and challah (jewish bread) which I love so much.
Supplements: Tons of blogs, articles and random postings all over the web. I already take a multi=vitamin (delicious gummy bears from Slice of Life: they are gluten free), but I'll be adding the following slowly based on my research:
Avocado and Bananas: Will increase consumption of these and see the effects, most research I've done suggested these foods are GOOD for people with Crohn's? Any thoughts?
Red Wine: I will add a small glass of Red wine (less than 6 oz.) per day to my diet. Probably in evening.
Kefir. http://www.lifeway.net/Products/Kefir.aspx Fortunately, I love yogurt. Always have, always will. And I usually gobble down at least one yogurt per day. In the past, this has been Stonyfield Organic (either chocolate or plain flavor), however in my research the amazing properties of Kefir is light years beyond plain sugary yogurt. I tried a cupful of the stuff so far and it seems to taste like Liquid Sour Cream (which is delicious to me). I have tried the PLAIN, since I noticed the flavored varieties have noticeably more sugar. additionally the Probiotic benefits do not seem bad and can only be good (I think?). Anyone with thoughts on Kefir? Looking for advice of others who have tried it. It is both lactose-free and gluten-free (and it is kosher for those of you who need that).
Sugar: My goal is to eliminate most foods with refined sugar. My wife's chocolat cake will be sorely missed, but my gut won;t mind I think.
Ensure (or Jana Klauer MD) supplement drink. To maintain my calories, I'm going to add one or two of these drinks per day, since over the past week since I;ve become even more aware, my calorie intake has dropped. I also see that my food choices are going to be limited (bye-bye pizza pies), but I need to make up the calroic intake difference somewhere.
Herbal Tea: For the past few years, I've been a rabid Rooibos (Red Tea) as well as Green Tea drinker.... approx 3 cups per day of Republic of Tea Double Green Tea with Matcha: http://www.republicoftea.com/templates/detail.asp?navID=1833 however, my Urologist (when I was seeing one) thought this might have somehow contribted to my bladder issues. Perhaps--it is the caffeineted variety. So, I eliminated that, and now I have a roster of three teas I cycle through every day (Yogi Berry Detox, Yogi Peach Detox and Yogi Kombucha ( Decaf)). Any thoughts on these?
Water: The most obvious, perhaps, but I need to drink more. In addition to three cups of herbal tea (Yogi brand as noted above) I am going to try to drink another four cups of 8 oz. water. Plus a few cups of Kefir and Ensure/Kaluer drink. Hmm.... I'll be in the loo most of the time...! Am I drinking tooo much?
I'm sure I am missing something, but thank you so much for reading all this and commenting. :ysmile: As mentioned, my goal is to arrest my painful lower right abdomen issues before it gets worse... any input is graciously appreciated.
Cheers,
Ezra.
My History
In 2002 (31 yrs old) I started noticing some funny pains in my lower abdomen (primarily right side), every so often. It did not occur all the time and until this point in my life, I was fairly healthy. Apart from an appendectomy in 1985 (13 yrs old), I was healthy and lean (140 lbs). After seeing a GI specialist and going for a colonoscopy, it seems that I was 'simply' lactose intolerant and the flare-ups were due to my eating of lots of ice cream. :ybatty: I cut out all ice cream and eliminated milk, instead going to Lactaid (lactose free milk), and I was fine.
The next few years passed with no major issue and no specific bad event transpired, but I noticed that I would soon want to go to sleep leaning on my right side only, almost exclusively last couple years. Additionally, I developed an "overactive bladder" in 2009 to go along with an occasional irritable bowel (which I thought was normal). As it turns out, it seems as though sleeping on my LEFT side (for me) could be irritating my bladder if my lower right bowel area is inflamed (my GI will determine shortly).
As it turns out, in early 2010 (couple weeks ago), I went back to my original GI to get to the bottom of this. I had not seen him since 2002 and he looked over my old records and mentioned that he wrote "possible Crohn's" in the file (we had done a colonoscopy in 2002 just to be sure, but there were NO meaningful signs at the time), but obviously it was so mild since I had not really complained. I also mentioned that I have acid reflux *every day* for a while, and come to think of it, I've been taking Zantac (over the counter, lowest dosage) or Prevacid prescribed by my general Internist just about every day for five years. :eek2:
Long story, short,... we decided to do 1) CT scan (scheduled for this week), 2) specific blood work (primarily to see if any signs of Celiac, because all my annual generic blood work was all normal--last done in Sept 2009) and 3) Endoscopy (examining the need for and affect of all those Zantacs). Lastly, we will do a Colonoscopy in a month or so, but he wanted to get those first three things done sooner because my bowel/Crohn's/IBD symptoms are relatively moderate (or maybe I just didn't seem like a complainer to him :ycool: ). Make no mistake about it though, even though my symptoms seem minor and I am not complaining like on fire, he does think I have Crohn's and from all the reading I've done, it seems quite likely but a relatively mild case. That said my goal is to arrest my painful lower right abdomen issues before it gets worse...
My Symptoms
- Acid reflux, which I think is primarily brought about by gluten-based products, thus the possible Celiac issue
- Lower right side discomfort every other day; particularly bad about 1 to 6 hours before I need to make a B.M.
- Stools are sometimes normal, but sometimes quite loose; no major diarrhea on a daily basis, and no more than 1-2 trips to bathroom per day, at most.
- Unable to sleep on left side without feeling need to urinate
My Plan (and Research)
The web, and this website in particular(!) is a godsend with tons of information and collective intelligence. While each of our bodies is unique, there are some common things that seem to apply. I am going to try a modified elimination diet...
Gluten-free: Thus far, after a few days only, I have eliminated 100% of gluten products (at least, as far as I know they are gluten) and my acid reflux is already *dramatically* improved. To me this signals some kind of gluten-based allergy/incompetence of my system. So, I'll be nixing all that stuff. No more cakes, cookies and challah (jewish bread) which I love so much.
Supplements: Tons of blogs, articles and random postings all over the web. I already take a multi=vitamin (delicious gummy bears from Slice of Life: they are gluten free), but I'll be adding the following slowly based on my research:
Colostrum: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU149/ItemDetail I will take this initially. I am NOT planning on taking this long-term.
Omega 3-6-9: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/NWF072/ItemDetail I used to take this on a regular basis years ago anyway. but I've been lazy and have dropped it off my schedule for a while now. Need to add it back.
L-Glutamine: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SW826/ItemDetail My understanding is that this is an Amino Acid that helps grow new muscle and intestinal mucosa cells, making the villi longer and more efficient, which increases absorption of nutrients and protection from toxins.
Albion Chelated Chromium: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU078/ItemDetail Maybe. I'm not sure.... looking for advice on this?
Flaxseed: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWE007/ItemDetail I'm pretty sure the "grind-it-yourself" variety is better for you, but I'll never get aroudn to eating it if I need to do that, so I'm going to try this from time to time. Good or bad idea?
Garlic: I have always loved garlic. Fresh, raw, cloves mashed up and put on anything from crackers (though no more crackers for me) to mixed into my chicken soup (an OK food, right?). I've read the sulphur(?) nature of this is beneficial, in addition to the anti-infection properties, etc. I've been gobbling down 3 cloves per day (that's three of the little wedges, not three heads(!)) and no impact at all on heartburn and no worse effects on the bowels.Omega 3-6-9: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/NWF072/ItemDetail I used to take this on a regular basis years ago anyway. but I've been lazy and have dropped it off my schedule for a while now. Need to add it back.
L-Glutamine: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SW826/ItemDetail My understanding is that this is an Amino Acid that helps grow new muscle and intestinal mucosa cells, making the villi longer and more efficient, which increases absorption of nutrients and protection from toxins.
Albion Chelated Chromium: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU078/ItemDetail Maybe. I'm not sure.... looking for advice on this?
Flaxseed: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWE007/ItemDetail I'm pretty sure the "grind-it-yourself" variety is better for you, but I'll never get aroudn to eating it if I need to do that, so I'm going to try this from time to time. Good or bad idea?
Avocado and Bananas: Will increase consumption of these and see the effects, most research I've done suggested these foods are GOOD for people with Crohn's? Any thoughts?
Red Wine: I will add a small glass of Red wine (less than 6 oz.) per day to my diet. Probably in evening.
Kefir. http://www.lifeway.net/Products/Kefir.aspx Fortunately, I love yogurt. Always have, always will. And I usually gobble down at least one yogurt per day. In the past, this has been Stonyfield Organic (either chocolate or plain flavor), however in my research the amazing properties of Kefir is light years beyond plain sugary yogurt. I tried a cupful of the stuff so far and it seems to taste like Liquid Sour Cream (which is delicious to me). I have tried the PLAIN, since I noticed the flavored varieties have noticeably more sugar. additionally the Probiotic benefits do not seem bad and can only be good (I think?). Anyone with thoughts on Kefir? Looking for advice of others who have tried it. It is both lactose-free and gluten-free (and it is kosher for those of you who need that).
Sugar: My goal is to eliminate most foods with refined sugar. My wife's chocolat cake will be sorely missed, but my gut won;t mind I think.
Ensure (or Jana Klauer MD) supplement drink. To maintain my calories, I'm going to add one or two of these drinks per day, since over the past week since I;ve become even more aware, my calorie intake has dropped. I also see that my food choices are going to be limited (bye-bye pizza pies), but I need to make up the calroic intake difference somewhere.
Herbal Tea: For the past few years, I've been a rabid Rooibos (Red Tea) as well as Green Tea drinker.... approx 3 cups per day of Republic of Tea Double Green Tea with Matcha: http://www.republicoftea.com/templates/detail.asp?navID=1833 however, my Urologist (when I was seeing one) thought this might have somehow contribted to my bladder issues. Perhaps--it is the caffeineted variety. So, I eliminated that, and now I have a roster of three teas I cycle through every day (Yogi Berry Detox, Yogi Peach Detox and Yogi Kombucha ( Decaf)). Any thoughts on these?
Water: The most obvious, perhaps, but I need to drink more. In addition to three cups of herbal tea (Yogi brand as noted above) I am going to try to drink another four cups of 8 oz. water. Plus a few cups of Kefir and Ensure/Kaluer drink. Hmm.... I'll be in the loo most of the time...! Am I drinking tooo much?
I'm sure I am missing something, but thank you so much for reading all this and commenting. :ysmile: As mentioned, my goal is to arrest my painful lower right abdomen issues before it gets worse... any input is graciously appreciated.
Cheers,
Ezra.