Post-pregnancy Crohn's symptoms

[macromusical]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2010 after several months of severe pain, cramps, and general bad health. I went to regular checks and had monthly blood work done, and took the meds they gave faithfully. I was doing much better more than a year later, so I talked to my Dr about getting off the meds. They were effecting my brain - I couldn't think straight, just processing information at my job was taking so long - and I wanted different options if that was possible. My dr. said if I was feeling fine, I could get off the meds slowly and see what happens. I did eventually go off all meds and, when no real symptoms reappeared, just lived life normally. I was VERY paranoid anytime I had digestive pain, but for more than a year it was just "regular" discomfort that people have when they eat poorly or don't drink enough water or have a virus.

I got married and found out we were expecting just months later. During the pregnancy, I felt better than I had since I'd been diagnosed with Crohn's.

Now my baby is 3 months old and I'm starting to feel like the Crohn's symptoms are coming back. At first I was ignoring it, thinking maybe it was just hormones readjusting, but since I am starting to feel worse and worse, I'm thinking that my initial fear of Crohn's returning is correct.

I don't want to get on meds, as my diagnosis was not severe or in advanced stages, so I'm trying a diet my friend who does have advanced Crohn's uses - the specific carbohydrate diet.

That's my story. Not very dramatic - God has been very gracious. I'm just hoping that this diet will help!

 

[Lisa]

Hi and welcome - it is fairly common for a female to go into remission and/or feel better when they are pregnant, and then flare after the pregnancy hormones have settled down...my own story - I had flared and was in the hospital, got out and shortly after got pregnant (unkplanned/known to me!) - I was VERY healthy during my pregnancy, however when my daughter was @3 months old I had to go back onto meds and did end up on Remicade to take care of an ongoing fistula problem (had those before becoming pregnant).....

There is a lot of good information about different diets here on the forum, please do keep in mind that what works for one may not work for all - and please, don't let things progress too far if you don't start feeling better or get worse without consulting with your doctor - remember that inflammation can be there even if you don't have symptoms, so you still need to be under a doctors' care to make sure all is ok.