No Idea What I am Suppose to be Eating :(

[AussieChick]

Hello,
I'm extremely new to this. No idea what I'm doing really. I'm 27years old and I was diagnosed with Crohn's on 27/02/2013 :ymad::ymad: The symptoms started last year and after a colonoscopy was properly diagnosed. I have a specialist and I don't see him for another 3 weeks. Been put on Prednisolone and Pentasa Mesalazine. I had an extremely bad flare up while taking the colonoscopy prep sachets which put me in hospital and caused the worst pain I have ever had in my life. Giving birth to my 9 pound son was easier than what I went through that night. Since taking the Prednisolone I have been feeling GREAT WOOOO a little agro and moody and having bad nightmares quite a lot, however pain free.. But as I'm slowing coming off them I am noticing niggles...like my body's saying 'HEY U STILL GOT CROHN'S AND I'M GOING TO PUT YOU THROUGH HELL AGAIN' I'm scared coz I don't know what to eat, as my specialist says Crohn's is not food related, even though I know it is.I feel that the Pentasa isn't doing anything and the Prednisolone was just masking everything and as I'm coming off them all my symptoms are reappearing. I know I can no longer have milk, coffee, oily foods (always had a problem with this) these all definitely set me off. I don't drink or smoke..(use to socially) but have definitely stopped all this fun stuff now lol. Ive read on the net a few people going completely gluten free and this has cured Crohn's....is this true?? Has anyone here tried this?? I went to the shop today to get some gluten free food and OH MY GOD...the cost of going gluten free is appalling. Almost impossible especially at the moment when my fiance is the only one working. I lost my job just after christmas due to a horrible flare up and my haemoglobin going down to 90 :depressed:. Sorry I feel like all I'm doing is whining. I would just like some advice, like I said I'm so new to this and I want to to everything I can to avoid surgery and lead a normal life. I'm getting married in 11months and we are wanting to have another baby next year after we get married. Is all of this possible. I suppose I'm just down atm and pissed off this has happened to me BOOOHOOOO poor me lol

 

[PVail]

Hi there and welcome to the Forum .
First of all now you know what you have means you ate now part of a large group who have a lot of experience dealing with this . Even if you just want to say what a bad day your having thats fine ,vent away .
So for advice on Diet ,if you go to the Diet and fitness section you will find plenty of information on diets in progress and diets tried . I personally have just started a sugar or gluten free type experiment . yes it is expensive but I think in the mean time start a food diary . Keep records of what you eat each day and try eliminating what sets you off . I know this is easy said but it will help.
I have cut out any thing with refined sugar and I am replacing it with fruit. This seems better for the body generally and I find it is easing my symptoms along with my meds of course. I dont think it will cure Crohns but it will help the symptoms .
I think its a matter of trying to find a happy medium that you get enough out of the food your eating but your not getting sicker in the process. Small steps, one thing at a time and record your findings. this will help you identify what works for you and can be useful when talkin to your GI .

Hope this helps and do lets us know how your getting on
Peter

 

[AussieChick]

Thanks heaps. Food diary sounds like a good start
Cheers

 

[Nigella_Sativa]

I'm not diagnosed yet but I think it is Crohn's. Some things that work for me are: potatoes, plantains, avocados, cooked veggies like frozen chopped spinach and carrots (pureed into a soup makes the carrots go down easier for me). Bananas are also good. So far I've been okay with plain spaghetti noodles too.

I've read that other people on the forum eat; eggs, white rice and peanut butter (it's better if you avoid the peanut butter products that contain things like corn syrup and palm oil- simple peanuts made into peanut butter are better but that's my opinion).

By the way, congrats on making plans to get married. There are other members here who have successfully gotten married and had children. You may want to talk with your doctor about the medications you take and see if they interfere with pregnancy, I'm still new to all of this so I myself have much to learn as well.

P.S. Don't let that little voice mess with you or say that things are hopeless. One bad day doesn't have to spoil the rest of them.

 

[rollinstone]

Hey, sorry you're feeling down in the dumps ATM, you will get better soon, has your specialist considered any other medications for when you're off pred? Like imuran for example? I am coming up on the 2nd month of it and feel like I'm headed into a solid remission, (I'm finally tapering off pred). Oh btw, I'm from aus aswell, you should go into Centrelink while you're sick, they may be able help you out until you're better.

 

[AussieChick]

I definitely seem to be fine eating bread and rice, I have just been sticking to extremely bland food. However was craving a coffee the other day while away and got a skinny latte. Tasted too good to be a skinny latte...definitely wasn't skim...had a flare up that night even on my pred. booo

My specialist hasn't said much, he pretty much told me I had crohn's put me on these meds and told me to see how I go and come back in 6 weeks. So go in a few weeks to go

Yeah I spoke to centrelink, I'm in the process of trying to get disability pension for while, feels weird getting it, but we definitely need the help and I know right now I just cant work being so up and down!!

Thanks heaps guys for your comments

 

[rollinstone]

Cool, let us know how you go, I'm currently on new start sick allowance, if it goes through plz let me know if it's gonna be calculated on what your fiancé earns or not as I'm not sure about that

 

[AussieChick]

No worries will do

 

[Sandrao]

Hi Aussie chick have sent you a private message about a support group in Adelaide cheers

 

[AussieChick]

Awesome thank you

 

[AussieChick]

Hey Sandrao, just had a look and I haven't received any private messages?

 

[Sandrao]

Hi Aussie chick the support group is at the Box Factory community centre - 59 Regent stree Adelaide next meeting is Tuesday April 9th 7-9 pm - more info is on the crohn's & colitis Australian website, It's a great group and the people have a wealth of information

 

[AussieChick]

Oh wow, thank you so much

 

[xxjemmamxx]

I just wanted to add that I got married 3 months after surgery for Crohn's and it was fine. My advice would be to relax as much as possible and consider taking Imodium. I was nervous on the morning of the wedding and this made things worse, but after I took some Imodium, I didn't need to go for the rest of the day (the next day is a different story but meh, it's not your wedding day anymore so it's worth it IMO ). I couldn't eat much and didn't get to enjoy my buffet at all as I didn't want to risk it but my wedding day was still perfect even with Crohns.

My IBD nurse told me that it can take longer/be more difficult to conceive (particularly if your Crohn's is active) but that there's no reason why we can't have children just like anyone else. She also said that there's no major risks in pregnancy and I've heard that pregnancy is good for bringing round remission but not sure how credible that is. I understand your concerns though as I have them too, and like you would like to consider having children in the not too distant future.

There's a lot of helpful people on this forum and I found it so useful to talk to others with IBD after I was diagnosed - they helped me to understand it better than my doctors did! Rant/ask away.

 

[AussieChick]

Thanks so much xxjemmamxx Does help a lot.
I had a bit of a read last night on here and I can see there is definitely hope