Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's, Colitis

[Rose28]

A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. I've been unwell for years but drs only started taking it seriously when last summer things got from bad to worse. I was very shocked when the Dr told me the diagnosis of some of the tests that have been done and also said but need to carry out further tests to see whether I have Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis?? I've never heard of any of these conditions before.

Anyone been diagnosed with any of these? How are you managing it?

I'm still very confused as to what to eat with regards to diabetes and the above?

Any advice?

 

[Kat100]

Hi Rosie , sorry to hear this, hope someone has some information to share with you ...please look after yourself ...kat

Rosie , there are hospital dietitens that can also work with you regarding diet ,re bowel problems , they are specialised in their subject ...might be worth asking for a referral ....something else to consider ..

 

[jack412]

have a read about LCHF diets and bowel problems, you may have seen the diet used for diabetes by members on the forum too.
https://www.google.com.au/#q=Crohn's+or+Ulcerative+Colitis+lchf

 

[harric]

Hi Rosie I had ulcerative colitis, it can be managed with medication and changing your diet, I was diagnosed with irritable bowel then had a very bad bout when on holiday, ended up with an emergency op , I now have a n ileostomy, I hope you go on okay,

 

[Totto]

Hi Rose, a friend of mine with UC has been well for over two years now since he started LCHF. He can't tolerate a lot of fibre so goes easy on some vegs. He said the major thing for him was to ditch everything with grain in it like cereal and bread.

 

[Rose28]

Hi Rosie , sorry to hear this, hope someone has some information to share with you ...please look after yourself ...kat

Rosie , there are hospital dietitens that can also work with you regarding diet ,re bowel problems , they are specialised in their subject ...might be worth asking for a referral ....something else to consider ..

Hi Kat, hope you're keeping well. Oh seeing a dietician hadn't crossed my mind... I've got a hospital appointment to see a consultant in April, perhaps I should ask then about a referral ... Like you said... They should know!

 

[Rose28]

have a read about LCHF diets and bowel problems, you may have seen the diet used for diabetes by members on the forum too.
https://www.google.com.au/#q=Crohn's+or+Ulcerative+Colitis+lchf

Hi Jack, thanks for the link... I've just had a quick peep at a couple of the sites... Omg! Its such an eye opener... i had no idea the link between eating high fibre cereals ... Which I always believed were doing me good .... Have actually been causing me harm!

I have to seriously workout what foods I can eat on LCFF and being veggie! This for me is the hardest part at the moment.

 

[Kat100]

Hi Kat, hope you're keeping well. Oh seeing a dietician hadn't crossed my mind... I've got a hospital appointment to see a consultant in April, perhaps I should ask then about a referral ... Like you said... They should know!

Worth it Rosie , just to get a balanced approach ....they may have some ideas to help ....
I used the gastric dept for three years they were great ....good luck Rosie

 

[Rose28]

Hi Rosie I had ulcerative colitis, it can be managed with medication and changing your diet, I was diagnosed with irritable bowel then had a very bad bout when on holiday, ended up with an emergency op , I now have a n ileostomy, I hope you go on okay,

Hi Harric, Im sorry to hear that you've had to go through all this. Are you still on medication? How are you feeling since your op?
I hope it's getting easier to manage for you.

 

[Rose28]

Hi Rose, a friend of mine with UC has been well for over two years now since he started LCHF. He can't tolerate a lot of fibre so goes easy on some vegs. He said the major thing for him was to ditch everything with grain in it like cereal and bread.

Sound advice Totto. It's good to know that people are managing this and taking control of their lives again. Wishing your friend continuous good health for the future.

I think I've caused these problems to myself ... through my life of being a vegetarian and eating high fibre cereals and wholemeal flours .. Thinking this sort of diet was doing me good but it wasn't

 

[Rose28]

Worth it Rosie , just to get a balanced approach ....they may have some ideas to help ....
I used the gastric dept for three years they were great ....good luck Rosie

Would I need to get a referral from Dr or consultant ?

 

[Kat100]

Sound advice Totto. It's good to know that people are managing this and taking control of their lives again. Wishing your friend continuous good health for the future.

I think I've caused these problems to myself ... through my life of being a vegetarian and eating high fibre cereals and wholemeal flours .. Thinking this sort of diet was doing me good but it wasn't

I have the same diet as you @Rose28 it might not be the case ..wait and see what happens with your other tests ..etc ...
It is a hard balancing act though ....
Flare ups I always find are the worst ...they just happen and you can't do much about it ...
Let us know how you get on .....x

 

[Kat100]

Would I need to get a referral from Dr or consultant ?

Try both Rosie ..GP might be a budget issue these days ...
Hospital ...once you are in the system much easier to cross refer to different departments....they can also,be part of your care from the consultant .

Quite often gastric departments I found do many tests , work with you , I hope...
I had a camera capsule endoscopy for example which suited me better ....I had a kind consultant ....

 

[rowan]

Hi Rose, I was diagnosed with IBS many years ago but which turned out to be IBD (they thought Ulcerative Colitis) 3.5 years ago when I was dangerously ill and rushed into hospital for emergency op to remove my colon. Problems flared up again last summer and after recent tests it has finally been diagnosed as Crohn's Disease and I'm due for more surgery in a few months.

How are you managing your diabetes now, hope you 've managed to find a diet suitable as it's really not easy combining IBD with diabetes! My BG levels are high but slowly coming down, but i don't think they'll get much better now till after the surgery and some of my inflammation has gone.

 

[rowan]

I've just seen this:
"Certain foods may aggravate symptoms of Crohn's disease – most often, dairy products, fats, and spicy foods. People with Crohn's disease may want to avoid these foods."
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/crohns-disease

I'm relying heavily on dairy and fats now, being on lchf, hope I'm not making it worse!

Also, "Falling short on fluids can raise your blood sugar, since the sugar in your circulation becomes more concentrated."
Dehydration is an ongoing problem with an ileostomy as the water that is usually absorbed back into the body through the colon just passes right through us instead. So we have to drink more than other diabetics. I think this might have a lot to do with my high levels. Must drink more!

 

[Indy51]

If you aren't already aware, there have been a lot of success stories posted on various Paleo/Primal sites about people being cured and/or their autoimmune diseases put into remission by following the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol diet.

Here are some examples: http://robbwolf.com/category/real-l...on-uc-ibs-gerd-celiac-real-life-testimonials/

There are a couple of books (and some Youtube videos by the authors) on the subject that you might find useful: Dr Terry Wahls, "The Wahls Protocol" and Sarah Ballantyne, "The Paleo Approach".

 

[Rose28]

Hi Rose, I was diagnosed with IBS many years ago but which turned out to be IBD (they thought Ulcerative Colitis) 3.5 years ago when I was dangerously ill and rushed into hospital for emergency op to remove my colon. Problems flared up again last summer and after recent tests it has finally been diagnosed as Crohn's Disease and I'm due for more surgery in a few months.

How are you managing your diabetes now, hope you 've managed to find a diet suitable as it's really not easy combining IBD with diabetes! My BG levels are high but slowly coming down, but i don't think they'll get much better now till after the surgery and some of my inflammation has gone.

Hi Rowan, I'm so sorry to hear that you've had all these ongoing health conditions... Gosh you really have been through the mill.

Did you find the symptoms quite different or are they similar for UC and Crohn's, especially during flare ups?

What are you eating to keep the diabetes and Crohn's under control? Are you following any particular diet?

I too was diagnosed with IBS many many years ago. During the last 4 years, Ive been diagnosed with 7 different health conditions IBD is the last one. First appointment to see the specialist is in April and they'll be carrying out tests to see if it's UC or Crohn's. Really not looking forward to this at all.

I've never eaten eggs, meat or fish, so my diet was kinda restricted even before being T2 But nowadays I'm really lost... Don't know what to eat or not to eat, IBD flare ups last weeks and during that time I'm afraid of what to eat. Last summer was the worst flare up and since then I've realised I've had to restrict even more foods... Can't tolerate cold uncooked cheese but I'm ok with a little heated cheese, no seeds unless they're blended into a green smoothie.
Food seems like an enermy not a pleasure. I haven't found a suitable diet for both diabetes and IBD... Don't even know if is one out there....

 

[Rose28]

If you aren't already aware, there have been a lot of success stories posted on various Paleo/Primal sites about people being cured and/or their autoimmune diseases put into remission by following the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol diet.

Here are some examples: http://robbwolf.com/category/real-l...on-uc-ibs-gerd-celiac-real-life-testimonials/

There are a couple of books (and some Youtube videos by the authors) on the subject that you might find useful: Dr Terry Wahls, "The Wahls Protocol" and Sarah Ballantyne, "The Paleo Approach".

Hi Indy, no I wasn't aware of the paleo diet .... Thanks for the link, I'm going to have a look into this, it might just give me some tips and ideas.

 

[rowan]

Hi Rose, the symptoms are similar for UC and Crohns, the pain, exhaustion, diarrhea etc, although UC affects just the colon whereas Crohns affects the whole digestive system from mouth to where it comes out!

In some ways it's a bit easier having the ileostomy as you don't have the urgent rush to the loo with diarrhea and it's often possible to eat things you couldn't before trhe surgery. But the ostomy brings its own problems so you don't get off scot free
And with Crohns there's always the probability of further problems and surgeries.

But I'm managing better with LCHF than i thought I would. I've started eating things I haven't eaten since before the colectomy without too many problems, I just have to remember to chew everything to mush and boil vegetables to death to avoid blockages!

I was veggie for years but when my health started to deteriorate and there was fewer things left to eat I started eating fish again, then chicken, and now very occasionally red meat. I've seen a veggie thread in the Low Carb forum that might help, I must have a look myself as I still eat a lot of veggie stuff

Do you see a nurse at your GP surgery or go to a hospital diabtic dept? I've only ever see the GP's nurse but I'm going to ask to be referred to hospital as I think they'd be better if there are other complications to be taken into account, and IBD is an awful complication! My nurse freely admits she doesn't have a clue about liver dumps and DP so that doesn't exactly fill me with confidence!

 

[Rose28]

Yes, there's a fantastic veggie thread on here...I've made a few recipes from it. its only since joining this site, that I discovered low carbing is the way forward for controlling blood sugars, prior to that I'd listened to the DN advice and had been eating carbs at every meal

I have reduced carb intake but I find with so many food restrictions for me personally, it's not that easy. And with IBD I'm finding some LC veggie friendly foods not that easy on the tum tum. The research continues ......

I've only ever been seen by DN at the surgury but Last June, I did ask for the diabetes care to be referred to the hospital but the surgury refused this request. I even spoke to practice manager and the reply was, "As from April 2014 all diabetes care is to take place at surgury and no referrals can be made to hospital"

Rowan, I'm pleased you sound positive and have found LCHF is helping both conditions. Are there any foods that you've discovered you cannot have because of Crohn's?