What are the best options for treatment?

[CrohnsJob]

Hi all,

I routinely study various conditions, and from my preliminary research with regard to Crohn's disease, it seems the following may help to reduce symptoms, in order of importance (in my opinion):


1) blood based IgE test, e.g. yorktest, foodintoleranceuk (eliminate all food intolerances found) - this can help reduce internal inflammation, improve digestion, more energy etc.
2) increase use of probiotics, and fermented/cultured vegetables in diet - this will boost your natural digestion
3) Increase water intake
4) multivitamin + fish oil supplement
5) 1 tsp colloidal silver daily (or during episodes only)


Can anyone please provide feedback on any of the above, if you have tried them, and also, what are your thoughts or the latest research in terms of effectiveness in treatment options, or at least in reducing symptoms?

Thanks.

 

[Jennifer]

Why the colloidal silver CrohnsJob?

"Colloidal silver isn't considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Silver has no known purpose in the body. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim.

Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid — the same type of precious metal used in jewelry, dental fillings, silverware and other consumer goods. Colloidal silver products are usually marketed as dietary supplements that are taken by mouth. Colloidal silver products also come in forms to be injected or applied to the skin.

Manufacturers of colloidal silver products often claim that they are cure-alls, boosting your immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, and treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, shingles, herpes, eye ailments and prostatitis. However, no sound scientific studies to evaluate these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has taken action against some manufacturers of colloidal silver products for making unproven health claims.

It's not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in argyria (ahr-JIR-e-uh), a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums. While argyria doesn't pose a serious health problem, it can be a cosmetic concern because it doesn't go away when you stop taking silver products.

Rarely, excessive doses of colloidal silver can cause possibly irreversible serious health problems, including kidney damage and neurological problems such as seizures. Colloidal silver products may also interact with medications, including penicillamine, quinolone, tetracycline and thyroxine medications."
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colloidal-silver/AN01682

People I know who have tried colloidal silver experienced diarrhea. I never tried it because of that, the above information and because it has no scientific backing.

 

[CrohnsJob]

Thanks for the reply craby.

I included colloidal silver as the last item on my list because of the anecdotal reports I had read.

Regarding the quote you gave from the mayoclinic, a few points should be clarified:
1) It says "It's not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years." - yes, if one takes huge amounts of high concentrations over a long period of time! Firstly, such use is not what I stated in my list, and secondly, I know of no documented case where this has happened with normal/low doses.
2) It says "no sound scientific studies to evaluate these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals" whilst the evidence base for colloidal silver products may be lacking, there is plenty of evidence for silver ions/compounds. A good overview can be read in:
Silver in Health Care: Antimicrobial Effects and Safety in Use
Lansdown, A.
Hipler U.-C., Elsner P (eds): Biofunctional Textiles and the Skin. Curr Probl Dermatol. Basel, Karger, 2006, vol 33, pp 17-34


In any case, since you are a moderator, can you point me in the right direction: I am looking for threads/people who have tried any of the things in my list, ideally the first 2, as they seem the most promising. Thanks.

 

[CrohnsJob]

I forgot to say those who experienced side-effects in trying CS, I'd be interested to know what dosage they tried etc. If you have links to threads, let me know. Thanks.

 

[UnXmas]

Hi all,

I routinely study various conditions, and from my preliminary research with regard to Crohn's disease, it seems the following may help to reduce symptoms, in order of importance (in my opinion):


1) blood based IgE test, e.g. yorktest, foodintoleranceuk (eliminate all food intolerances found) - this can help reduce internal inflammation, improve digestion, more energy etc.
2) increase use of probiotics, and fermented/cultured vegetables in diet - this will boost your natural digestion
3) Increase water intake
4) multivitamin + fish oil supplement
5) 1 tsp colloidal silver daily (or during episodes only)


Can anyone please provide feedback on any of the above, if you have tried them, and also, what are your thoughts or the latest research in terms of effectiveness in treatment options, or at least in reducing symptoms?

Thanks.

Years ago I had testing done by Yorktest. Sorry to report negatively, but it was a complete scam. The foods the test said I was intolerant to made no difference to my symptoms whatsoever when I cut them out (and I did do it carefully and for a good few months to make certain).
They provided phone consultations with a nutritionist, who didn't know what he was talking about. I told him the troubles I had keeping my weight up, but he kept telling me to eat fish and vegetables - but the volume I needed to consume of that type of low calorie food was way too much. He couldn't seem to comprehend a person lacking appetite. This nutritionist told me I had "leaky gut syndrome" which I've come to conclude is not a real condition - at least not in any scientific context.

My use of Yorktest was part of my desperate attempts to be open minded to alternative ways of treatment. I didn't really believe in its ability to help even when I did it - though I made sure that didn't stop following the diet correctly.

Every attempt I've made to pursue treatment/symptom management through non-conventional means (i.e. anything other than mainstream medicine) has either done nothing or been a complete disaster. I felt terrible following the diet recommended by the Yorktest nutritionist and their test results. This may partly be because I just don't have the right mindset or personality to get on with this kind of approach to illness, but with diet it should have some effect if it's to work for anyone as anything more than a placebo.

Some people might get lucky and find they are lactose intolerant or gluten intolerant and so believe all parts of the diet are helping them when really they've just stumbled accross the one thing they shouldn't be eating. I don't have any allergies or intolerances (whatever my test result may have said), so I got no benefits at all. Some people may just feel a bit better getting onto healthier foods and having someone direct them in managing their diet, but again, although they may feel better, the benefit is not directly because of eliminating specific food as the test claims they should do.

I can't comment on the other things you've listed, but they at least sound cheaper and less likely to do harm.

I always feel like I ruin these kinds of threads, but I do have to be honest when I share my experiences. I'd rather people know. I'm always pleased to see things work for others. I'm not sure why they're always disasterous for me! I'll stick to conventional medicine, not that I don't have my problems with that at times too...

 

[CrohnsJob]

Hi UnXmas,
Thanks for the reply. The more info we have the more helpful it is. I would point out however that because it didn't work for you doesn't mean it is "a complete scam", as you said.

Can you clarify the following for me, you said:
"I felt terrible following the diet recommended by the Yorktest nutritionist and their test results."

Can you tell me what foodstuffs you were found to be intolerant to, and what grade. Then tell me what diet the nutritionist told you to follow.

Thanks.

 

[UnXmas]

Sorry – maybe it’s not a complete scam, but it did feel that way at the time to me. It didn’t help that the nutritionist refused to accept it wasn’t working for me. When I had my last phone consultation he basically told me I hadn’t been doing it long enough yet – after many months! – far longer than the two to three weeks he’d claimed it would take at the start.

It’s a while since I had the tests so I don’t have the results or diet plans anymore. I do remember I was told I was intolerant to wheat, gluten, dairy and eggs to the highest level (I seem to remember it was printed out with 3 different colours for different levels of intolerance – red being the most severe). Then there were odd things like peas, chicken, etc. – seemingly random meats and veg and fruits and even spices/herbs – I had about half a dozen come up as either severe or moderate intolerance.

The nutritionist recommended rotating food on different days to supposedly avoid new tolerances developing, and eating whole foods, all organic, no sugar or refined food, etc. It was mostly fish and white meat, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, vegetables and fruit.

The nuts and seeds in particular really messed up my digestive system. Like I said, I was underweight and only lost more weight trying to follow this diet. I was stuffed full all the time and had severe diarrhoea, far worse than before I began the diet. And I was really miserable because I couldn’t eat socially and it was impossible for me to join in cooking and food shopping and eating with my family.

I have since found that refined or processed foods – white bread, pasta, cereals, etc. – can be much more gentle on the digestive system. I now eat small amounts of fruit and veg that’s not too high in fibre. Sometimes I have home cooked meals, sometimes convenience foods. This diet doesn’t cure or treat my illness in any way, but it does minimise my symptoms and fits in with my life. And I don’t have to stress or get neurotic about it! I think some people really get a kick out of experimenting with diet, but I never really found that kind of enjoyment in it. I was just trying to make myself better.

Sorry I can’t be more precise – this was quite a few years back now.

I tried seeing a couple of other private nutritionists shortly after this, who were not associated with any particular company. One had another method of food intolerance testing – which was just as useless in my case as the York test. She told me a different set of foods I was intolerant too - again, cutting them out made no difference at all. Both of the other nutritionists I saw had similar ideas about organic, whole foods being better than processed foods. Both got equally fed up with me when I told them I didn’t feel better following their advice.

I hope this is useful for you. I wish I had something more positive to report.

 

[CrohnsJob]

Unxmas - It doesn't surprise me nuts/seeds caused you issues because they are known for being more difficult to digest. However, many people can digest them without problems.
I assume the nutritionist knew you had Crohn's or some digestive condition?

Also, it seems you were intolerant to quite a number of things. In such a case, I'd recommend eliminating the most intolerant first. Then perhaps the others.

You may wish to try probiotics and fermented/cultured vegetables (which are usually put through a food processor first so are small, and by the time you eat them they are partially broken down) which might work for you.

 

[UnXmas]

Unxmas - It doesn't surprise me nuts/seeds caused you issues because they are known for being more difficult to digest. However, many people can digest them without problems.
I assume the nutritionist knew you had Crohn's or some digestive condition?

Also, it seems you were intolerant to quite a number of things. In such a case, I'd recommend eliminating the most intolerant first. Then perhaps the others.

You may wish to try probiotics and fermented/cultured vegetables (which are usually put through a food processor first so are small, and by the time you eat them they are partially broken down) which might work for you.

I'm not intolerant to anything. Eliminating the foods they said I was intolerant to made no difference.

He knew I was having digestive problems and what my symptoms were.


I've tried probiotics - no help either.

I think my illness just isn't one that responds to this kind of approach - diets, etc.

Edit: I really hope this post doesn't sound too dismissive - I just had bad experiences and so that's what I have to go by. I do realise that many people do benefit from places like Yorklabs.

 

[CrohnsJob]

I meant "intolerant" regarding their test results. Of course, you may not be intolerant to those things.

If you have tried probiotics before and they didn't help, I'd still recommend fermented/cultured vegetables.

I've decided to swap the first two in my list around, since the fermented/cultured veg option is fairly cheap to try.

After doing more research, I would also add fecal transplant to the list.

1) increase use of probiotics (not those yoghurts), and fermented/cultured vegetables in diet - this will boost your natural digestion
2) blood based IgE test, e.g. yorktest, foodintoleranceuk (eliminate all or the highest food intolerances found) - this can help reduce internal inflammation, improve digestion, more energy etc.
3) Increase water intake
4) multivitamin + fish oil supplement
5) 1 tsp colloidal silver daily (or during episodes only)
6) fecal transplant therapy

 

[UnXmas]

I meant "intolerant" regarding their test results. Of course, you may not be intolerant to those things.

Sorry, I understand now. Perhaps it is partly because I had so many things come up as intolerances that the nutritionist couldn't recommend a more suitable diet. Especially since I came up as intolerant to wheat and dairy, which are found in so many things that any diet which eliminates them would have to be very restricted.