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Management of crohn's Disease

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Crohn's Disease
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redspot321
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 303
Posted 9/18/2007 10:31 AM (GMT -7)
Well after 2 years Im finally begining to cope and understand my disease process a bit better. I have CD in the term illieum which causes bowel obstructions. Luckily I have not been blessed with chronic "D" yet.....

I am experiencing my 2nd major flare "total bowel obstruction" now and have responded amazingly to Pred, Asacol, and Flagyl.

this combination of meds worked in about 24 hours, I have normal stools and feel great except for the side effects of the meds. Im going on 14 days post flare and see the GI in the morning. Hopefully he will discontinue the flagyl and I can continue to wean the pred and asacol.

MY QUESTIONS.

What can I take (OTC, herbal, holistic, whatever) maintence medications that will

A. Act as an antiflamitory in the small bowel

B. Keep bad bacteria levels down.

I figure If I can do this on a daily basis I may be able to prevent future flares.

Are there any PROVEN methods to doing these things?

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Nanners
Elite Member
Joined : Apr 2005
Posts : 14996
Posted 9/18/2007 10:41 AM (GMT -7)
Well continue with the Asacol to help keep the inflammation down.  That's actually the only Crohns med I take.  As for the bacteria, a good probiotic will help with that.  Hopefully, PB4 will be along soon and give you some more advice on the natural/holistic stuff she uses.  Also, with taking the Flagyl you really should be taking a good probiotic at least 2 hours after each dose you take of the antibiotic.  You don't need a c-diff infection on top of your flare.  Good Luck! 

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pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 9/18/2007 11:01 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks Nanners :) Redspot :) Here are some natural anti-inflammatories that I use which have helped me tons....

bee propolis (but avoid if you're allergic to bees), daily
omegas 3-6-9, daily
drinking chamomile tea EVERYDAY
Fibre supplements, daily and also indefinitely as suggested by my GI

I also take a good probiotic called primadophilus rueteri which has guaranteed intestinal release, also aids with lactose intolerance, high cholesterol and for women, vaginal health (still fine for men to take).


My proof, I was going 30X/day, I now go 5 or less and that's the least amount I've ever gone in my entire 16 yrs of having CD, I've been in a constant flare my entire time, and I still am, but there's been alot of improvements since taking the above mentioned, no bleeding, no mucus, no D....I still have some frequency/urgency issues but this is still much better than before.

:)
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pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 9/18/2007 11:09 AM (GMT -7)
I forgot to add, you have to stop eating/drinking inflammatory foods (table sugar, processed foods, fast-foods, caffeine, also avoid sugar alcohols and all other substitues/artificial sweetners....I also exercise regularly.


:)
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gemini kiwi
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 1136
Posted 9/18/2007 2:15 PM (GMT -7)
Try to follow an anti-inflamatory diet like pb4 suggests, it can only help and we have to do all we can to help ourselves. Dr Andrew Weil recommends adding Tumeric to foods, its a know anti-inflamatory, I now add it to my cooking.
Tess
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nikki0294
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 219
Posted 9/19/2007 12:38 PM (GMT -7)
Anyone ever heard of an expensive probiotic called VSL#3. Watch out for the one with the corn starch (unflavored packet) made me so sick. The lemon flavored packet or the capsules are safer for us crohnies. I take it even though the doc said it is a waste of money until my inflammation calms down. I also had cdiff so I am paranoid that it will come back given the righ opportunity. Those spores are just waiting to hatch.

Take care
Chris
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Sad Mom!
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 58
Posted 9/19/2007 1:00 PM (GMT -7)

Hi Chris, yes I have heard of the VSL 3 probiotics, they are expensive and I know that some GI doctors are doing experiments on CD patients with it. They seem to be helping people but according to someone I talked to at the IBD clinic (she was a patient) and she told me that she switched from VSL 3 to Bio-K and that she did not see any difference between the 2 except for price. I talked to her about Nature's way Primadophilus Reuteri (recommended by pb4) and she was very happy to know that you could take it only once a day and that it is not very expensive (1 month supply for 27.95$ cdn). She said that she will try it and let me know. Anyhow I just want to let you know about this conversation I had with this lady, who swears that probiotics are the way to go for CD. That's her opinion and I know that probiotics have helped a lot of people here including my son.

Bye and take good care of yourself!

 

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Krysta
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2007
Posts : 340
Posted 9/19/2007 1:19 PM (GMT -7)
I have also noticed personally that the more I exercise, the less diarrhea I have. If I go less than 3 days a week to the gym, the diarrhea is worse again, but if I go 4 days or more, it seems to be less after I work out.

I dunnooo... BUt it doesn't hurt!
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pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 9/19/2007 2:23 PM (GMT -7)
Exercising regularly is a huge benefit all around...

Any GI that says it's a waste of time taking probiotics while flaring is sadly confused...there's research done on UCers that were all flaring and given VSL3, the majority went into remission with the rest of the test subjects noting at least some improvements with their disease...I'll post the link here...

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/10/12/probiotics.html#skip300x250

When the link loads in, scroll to the top of the page to read the article from the beginning.

:)

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awatt
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2006
Posts : 34
Posted 9/19/2007 4:30 PM (GMT -7)
pbs4-  I have a couple of questions.  What dose/brand of omegas do you take?  And is fiber OK to tak eif you have a stricture?  Thanks.

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pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 9/19/2007 9:14 PM (GMT -7)
I use omega 3-6-9 from puritans pride, right now (for the next 2 days) they have a buy one get 2 free sale on...

NO, DON'T USE FIBRE IF YOU HAVE A STRICTURE...talk to your GI and see if he can help you.


:)
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Krysta
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2007
Posts : 340
Posted 9/20/2007 1:03 PM (GMT -7)
My GI told me NOT to take fiber supplements. Pb4- if I remember correctly we have the same location of disease (crhn's ilio-colitis).

So should I take fiber or not? I haven't been told I have strictures...
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pb4
Elite Member
Joined : Feb 2004
Posts : 20577
Posted 9/20/2007 1:54 PM (GMT -7)
If you have strictures then that's likely why your GI said not to take fibre supplements...I don't have strictures thankfully and my GI told me to take fibre supplements daily for the rest of my life, I have benefitted from taking them so I'm sticking with it.

:)
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Krysta
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2007
Posts : 340
Posted 9/21/2007 3:39 PM (GMT -7)
I actually was there today and he said I should start taking fiber now that the remicade is starting to work for the crohn's. He thinks that my other symptoms are related to IBS or bile salt diarrhea which fiber will be helpful for. He gave me metamucil samples. What brand do you recommend?
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killerzoey
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 161
Posted 9/22/2007 2:39 PM (GMT -7)

gemini kiwi said...
Try to follow an anti-inflamatory diet like pb4 suggests, it can only help and we have to do all we can to help ourselves. Dr Andrew Weil recommends adding Tumeric to foods, its a know anti-inflamatory, I now add it to my cooking.
Tess

I believe Turmeric helps me quite a bit for inflammation. I stir 1 whole tsp in 1/2 cup of grape juice and drink it down. It's really not too bad this way. Days that I don't do this I feel the difference, esp. in my joints. Of you can buy Curcumin capsules (Curcumin is the isolated part of Turmeric that helps) at the health food store.

Regarding keeping bad bacteria down, I am on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, for what it's worth. It has restored my bm's to normal. They were anywhere from mucousy to yellow and floaty before. This has been a drastic and notable improvement that directly coincides with beginning the SCD. The diet is designed to starve out the "bad guys" and feed the "good guys" via a special yogurt you make per the instructions they give. Check out www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info or www.pecanbread.com.

As a safe, cheap, lesser-known therapy you might look into Low Dose Naltrexone www.lowdosenaltrexone.org Also "Low Dose Naltrexone Improves Active Crohn's Disease" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=17222320 I can't say personally if it works but I am starting it next Wednesday, Sept. 26th.

I recently started taking Serrapeptase, an extract of the silkworm which "eats up" inflammation and dead tissue in your system. I take Doctor's Best brand http://www.vitacost.com/DoctorsBestBestSerrapeptase. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serrapeptase http://www.serrapeptase.info/

Digestive enzymes can help ameliorate the digestive issues we have. See my signature for the brand I take. Also S. Boulardii can be very helpful in maintaining good gut flora. http://www.crohns.net/Miva/education/articles/Probiotics_in_the_Treatment_of_Crohns_Disease.shtml
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Krica
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2007
Posts : 106
Posted 9/23/2007 11:15 PM (GMT -7)
Hi

I have 2 strictures in the term illieum, i am doing pretty well. My disease is in remission. i am currently on 100mg imuran, pure fish oil 11oomg, vitamin E 400mg and Arsenicum album. I was on herbal medicine but now i have changed to homoeopathic . My patches of psoriases are healing which i found incredible, because with london weather on this time the disease tend to flare up. Omega 3,6 and 9 is working for me. Rapseed oil for cooking meals , you can get th best of it. Good luck!!! Bye.
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