My basic understanding of Crohn’s disease is this: Crohn’s Disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease which causes inflammation to the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease is an auto-immune disease, meaning the immune system attacks its own healthy body tissue. White blood cells gather into the seams of the intestinal lining, initiating chronic inflammation, then progressing to ulcerations and injury to the bowel.
Crohn’s can affect any part of the intestine from the mouth to the anus, it isn’t picky. Most noted is the lower part of the small intestine, or the ileum. The ileum is where my tumor lies. The inflammation and swelling going on in within the feet of your intestines penetrate deep into the intestinal lining, causing horrific pain, vomiting and diarrhea. And if you are lucky like me you will experience fainting spells. Because our intestines have the inability to digest nutrients properly and even absorb water, malnutrition becomes a completely real and immediate threat. Do we have a lot in common?
Although, the doctors are great, your real relief I find comes from groups. C&C groups here in Vegas are loaded with women, men and children suffering from the disease. How do we cure this disease? We don’t cure it we manage it. I find the best medicine is just talking to other suffers like myself.
When I first started my research the Las Vegas area did not offer any type of support group for Crohn’s Disease. I had to drive to California if I wanted the support of a group. After being diagnosed and seeing the need for a community group, my sister and I created Las Vegas’ first C&C support group at St. Rose Hospital. If you find the lack of groups in your area, don’t immediately assume that there must not be that many effected in your area, create your own group. If you need assistance, I’d be more than happy to lend my experiences to you. Within 4 months we went from 4 suffers to 54 active Crohn’s member.
My Diet
High Calorie or Low Carb
Many experts suggest a high-calorie liquid diet because it may bring relief to the embattled intestines, and enable greater absorption of nutrients so needed by Crohn’s sufferers. But for those who are on the heavier side like myself, and want to keep their calories in check may want to consider adding protein shakes into their meal plan versus a high calorie diet. As you already know, not one of us is the same. Although we share the same disease our fingerprint is never the same. What works for me may not work for you. There are no set rules or diet plans for Crohn’s suffers and no diet works universally. But learning and being aware of which foods agree with you and which ones don’t gives you the upper hand in planning your meals and future remissions.
For those of you who have lost a lot of weight and can’t seem to keep it on may want to try a high-calorie, high-protein diet with 6 meals per day. When I say “meal” I mean 3 complete clean meals and 3 protein shakes or some other type of protein snack. Also, a low-residue diet may be beneficial for you as a low-fiber and low-residue diet can decrease the cramps, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Off Limit Foods
I try to stay away from dairy products, high-fiber foods and salads, fried foods, whole grains and bran, some nuts and seeds, red meat, spicy foods (even though Mexican food is so yummy), and dominating carbs. I absolutely stay clear of alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, and milk. Although, due to my recent separation from my husband a glass of wine, maybe the call to order. I’ll let you wine drinkers know how it affects me!
Food Journals
Lastly, it is highly suggested that you keep a journal of what you are consuming daily. A daily food journal may bring non-conforming foods to light. Many times we eat something and don’t realize that the bagel you are having every morning is causing major gastro issues. Don’t feel intimidated about the journal, just write down what you eat, how much you ate, and how it made you feel afterwards. If you need a journal you can download mine from this blog. I haven’t figured out how to attach it to this post so just search for “THE JOURNAL.” Good luck my lovelies, I hope that some of this helps!
Hugs~
My Crohnstipated Life 
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