New member and newly diagnosed

[survivor]

I think I've had crohns for a while, but like most men I'm stubborn and I didn't want to go to the doctor. I was having the symptoms, but I just thought it was because of my drinking. So I quit drinking thinking the symptoms would stop but they didn't. Shortly there after I got into a car accident that left me with four herniated disk in my back. So I started the pain medications and that's when things really took a turn for the worst. I had diarrhea and lower abdominal pain for about two straight months. I finally took my stubborn ass to the doctor (no pun intended) and had all the test done (colonoscopy and the barium x-rays) I got the results today. The doctor told me I'll have to stop the pain medication I'm on and change my diet completely. Any advice on what type of pain medication I can suggest to my pain management doctor that won't make the crohns worse, and any advice on what to eat would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time, I look forward to your replies.

 

[Silvermoon]

Hi Survivor, and welcome to the forum!

If you look at the top of the page, you will find a Search button to help you find specific information posted thoughout the forums, but so far I have found these two threads for you:

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=11337&highlight=pain+medication

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=1103

There is lots more info on food and what you can eat in the "Food and Diet" section... I think the best thing for you to do is going to be to start slow - low fiber - and "experiement" from there... food is such a different thing for all of us.

I hope you find the info you need. Welcome! Glad to have you here!

 

[Dexky]

Welcome Survivor!! That's the first time I've heard a doctor be so adamant about diet pertaining to crohn's. It seems more often they dismiss diet completely. Hope you find the answers you're looking for. Good luck!!

 

[gypsigirl28]

Welcome to the forum Survivor, I can not answer your question but wanted to welcome you just the same.. Good luck finding what you need to know

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Survivor and :welcome:

I guess I'd have to say with the pain medication is the one's you really need to steer clear of are NSAID's which may be prescribed to treat pain by reducing inflammation. The side effect of perhaps causing gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding rule it out for the use of people with IBD. As Silver said, browse through the Food and diet section for tips and info related to diets and foods.

Welcome aboard!

Take care,
Dusty

 

[donna martinez]

Welcome to the forum survivor. There is tons of information here. Welcome to the forum!

 

[lucycharley]

hiya, welcome to the forum. with pain control all i can suggest is maybe you ask your dr for some codiene? they used to help me quite alot, only they can knock you out! so be careful with them. i cant take them anymore they now make me sick .
as for elimintating certain foods, i would shy away from any hot and spicey foods for a while they can cause a trigger, then slowly introduce them back into your diet. it a long slow process of finding out what causes a reaction and what doesnt. i am rather lucky in that department, the only food i get a reaction from is macdonalds lol. but all is not lost i still have burger king lol
good luck and feel free to ask anything . we all here to help each other xx

 

[Genio]

Short list is greasy, red meats, sugar, lactose, crunchy veggies like carrots, most nuts, and any and all processed foods. These are generally out and you should try them one at a time to see how they effect you.

 

[Guest]

hi Survivor, & welcome to the forum.

your doc is right - diet can play a massive role in managing Crohn's symptoms... like Silvermoon has already said, we have lots of info here on gentle diets.

regarding painkillers, i think the only one which is completely safe for Crohn's sufferers is paracetamol (tylenol)... but many of us do take others & if we're careful, the side effects are tolerable. personally, i don't have issues with ibruprofen or voltarol (both NSAIDS) but i make sure i take them within a meal, and not too often or for too long. the codeine based ones can cause constipation.. so be careful with them, but again, i've had them when needed and coped ok.

everyone's different - a lot of it depends where your Crohn's is, and how bad it is. i would actually let your pain doctor give you advice to be honest - he should know what's suitable for IBD patients and what isn't.

there are also the other options, like heated pads, and gels to rub in topically, which shouldn't affect your digestive system.

 

[survivor]

Thank you all very much, you have all been very helpful. I personally don't know anyone with crohns so it's really nice to be able to get thoughts and opinions from people that know what I'm going through.

 

[maxibear]

good luck

 

[cally]

Welcome survivor!

When I was in the hospital recovering from a resection surgery, my doctors had me on dilaudid for the pain. I'm not sure if that's too strong for long-term use, but your pain management doc can probably tell you. I hope you find something that works!

 

[Toran74]

New to Forum and Crohns

Hi all i am new to and cant even figure out how to start new thread lol

My story on 13.07.10 i was totally fine had een back and forth to docs with bad feet swollen and painful and had to give up dancing a few months previous which really affected me they thought it was arthiritis and i was awaiting for an appointment with consultant to confirm this, then i went to work on the above day and had terrible low abdominal pain sickeness and D i got sent home from work how i drove i dont know was slumped over wheel in pain well i spent the next 6 hours on bathroom floor in agony with my lovely 4 year old putting blanket over me i thought i had a bug a nasty one at that eventually at 2 am my husband realised i was sicker than that and called ambulance as i was screaming in pain, they thought it was kidney stones and took me n well after a long night and a lot of morphine which wasn't working i had tests galore and finally diagnosed with crohn's collitis they had me dow for emergency surgery even marked me up i had no clue what this meant had not even heard of it so was very scared, they decided to try meds first to see if i reacted and thankfully i did, So after 2 weeks in hospital they let me home but am going back in on fri for another colonoscopy and biopsy on bowel is this normal i had one in hospital but they said they didnt go far enough up???
I am really nervous and also scared what else they may find bearing in mind i have gone from healthy dancer to this and scared everytime i get a twinge.....

I have done lots of reading up but would welcome any advice i am on pred pentasa and cocodamol at moment and an anti sick drug i am due back to work next week yet still feel so tired all the time is this normal...

So sorry for the long boring post but wanted to introduce myself as i feel this forum is going to help me loads..

I am 36 byt the way

Thanks

Tor xx:lol2:

 

[survivor]

Hi all i am new to and cant even figure out how to start new thread lol

My story on 13.07.10 i was totally fine had een back and forth to docs with bad feet swollen and painful and had to give up dancing a few months previous which really affected me they thought it was arthiritis and i was awaiting for an appointment with consultant to confirm this, then i went to work on the above day and had terrible low abdominal pain sickeness and D i got sent home from work how i drove i dont know was slumped over wheel in pain well i spent the next 6 hours on bathroom floor in agony with my lovely 4 year old putting blanket over me i thought i had a bug a nasty one at that eventually at 2 am my husband realised i was sicker than that and called ambulance as i was screaming in pain, they thought it was kidney stones and took me n well after a long night and a lot of morphine which wasn't working i had tests galore and finally diagnosed with crohn's collitis they had me dow for emergency surgery even marked me up i had no clue what this meant had not even heard of it so was very scared, they decided to try meds first to see if i reacted and thankfully i did, So after 2 weeks in hospital they let me home but am going back in on fri for another colonoscopy and biopsy on bowel is this normal i had one in hospital but they said they didnt go far enough up???
I am really nervous and also scared what else they may find bearing in mind i have gone from healthy dancer to this and scared everytime i get a twinge.....

I have done lots of reading up but would welcome any advice i am on pred pentasa and cocodamol at moment and an anti sick drug i am due back to work next week yet still feel so tired all the time is this normal...

So sorry for the long boring post but wanted to introduce myself as i feel this forum is going to help me loads..

I am 36 byt the way

Thanks

Tor xx:lol2:

As far as I know the doctor should have gone all the way up to the end of the colon. When I had my colonoscopy done the doctor actually pointed out to me the entrance to my intestines on the monitor and that is where the crohs usually develops. He took a biopsy of this area and then had me do a barium x-ray test. My doctor just put me on Entocort, but I can't afford so Im wondering if pentasa and cocodamol Is something I can afford if in-fact that is what I need instead of the Entocort. I'm very new to this disease as well, but I have experienced the testing phase of this. If you have anymore questions about testing feel free to pm me, and I'll help you any way I can.