Guys
I have had Crohns for the past 15 years (iagnosed for 15 years probably had it since I was a teenager) - 2 re-sections in the past 7 years.
Last week, I had a bleeding episode from the Small intestine - lost a bunch of blood (black/maroon colored)
This week I went to an allergist to do a food allegy test to test for fish allergies - They ran a full allegy test and found that I was allergic to Soy (fairly significant Allergy) - I then began doing a lot of reading as I quickly realized, almost every packaged food has Soy. I have seen people saying that when eliminating a food that they found out they were allergic to, they went into remission and have not had Crohns symptoms since. I am now wondering, If I have been allegic to Soy, and my Crohns medicine (Humira, Pentasa etc... have never really worked), is it possible that I have an inflamatory bowel disease that is caused by a food allergy?
A little more background that I read today that I found really interesting.
A woman had noted that in her reading she noted that a study was trying to show that heavy antibiotic use in childhood tended to lead to higher incidents of Crohns disease - I guess the theory being that if the bacterial balance in your stomach was disturbed significantly enough when you were younger, it could lead to overgrowth of bad bacteria and lead to IBD. When I was a kid, I had really bad ear infections and was on antibiotics almost constantly for about 5 years (from 1 to 6 years old on Penecillin which I am now allergic to). Is it possible that an inbalance of bacteria and a food allergy to something I consume without knowing it multiple times a day is causing me to not be able to get better
I would love any insight I can get
Thanks
I think you can have a sensitivity to food that results in unpleasant bowel symptoms (gas, diarrhea) but I doubt they can cause inflammation, stricturing etc. I am lactose intolerant and gluten intolerant and yet I still have Crohn's. I feel a lot better, though, now that I avoid these food groups.
I do think that Crohn's either results in or is caused by a change in the gut flora. Extended use of antibiotics can certainly affect gut flora. Not everyone who has Crohn's has overused antibiotics (me, for example). Not everyone who has overused antibiotics gets Crohn's.
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49 yrs old, IBD diagnosis in spring '01. Proctitis, gastritis, ileitis.
Currently takingPentasa (3g/day)Colazal (9 pills/day), Sulfazine (1.5 g/day), Prevacid, folic acid, vit. D (2K iu), flax seed oil (2 tsp/day), mesalamine enema as needed. Gluten free as of 5/30/11.
I do think that Crohn's either results in or is caused by a change in the gut flora. Extended use of antibiotics can certainly affect gut flora. Not everyone who has Crohn's has overused antibiotics (me, for example). Not everyone who has overused antibiotics gets Crohn's.
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49 yrs old, IBD diagnosis in spring '01. Proctitis, gastritis, ileitis.
Currently taking
Well whatever it is, it's cause by something. It doesn't just come out of thin air. There is a cause and effect. That is the way.
DX Ulcerative Colitis (panchocolitis) - May 2011.
"Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you' gonna get. " by Forrest Gump
DX Ulcerative Colitis (panchocolitis) - May 2011.
"Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you' gonna get. " by Forrest Gump
zoso73, how were you tested for food allergies? How did your allergist determine you were allergic to soy?
I had a standard scratch test, and had bloodwork to follow up
True food allergies are quite rare. You know when you have an allergy because you have the symptoms of an allergic reaction shortly after eating the offending food, eg skin rashes, hives, swellings of the lips/tongue, shortness of breath, etc. Any other type of reaction is an intolerance and doesn't involve the immune system.
Personally, while I think diet may do a great deal to manage the symptoms of Crohn's disease in some folks, I don't think it is a major factor in triggering flare-ups. It's at heart a dysfunction of the immune system, not of the digestive system. Your intestines would be fine if it wasn't for your dopey immune system attacking the wrong things, eg food particles, friendly bacteria.
I'm not convinced about antibiotic use having a major part to play in Crohn's either, although I am probably biased by the fact that I don't think I took a single course of antibiotics as a kid. Only antibiotics I remember taking was when I was 19 and had had a chest infection for a week; the antibiotics worked like a dream and got rid of it overnight.
One thing worth remembering about Crohn's is that it has a genetic basis. It's not nearly as simple as a single gene causing Crohn's, but nevertheless there are now lots of genes associated with Crohn's. You got Crohn's because you drew the genetic short straw, basically. True, it had to be 'triggered' in some way, but looking for the triggers with Crohn's is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, imo. You just can't be certain that what you think are the triggers really actually are the triggers: it may be something else entirely.
Personally, while I think diet may do a great deal to manage the symptoms of Crohn's disease in some folks, I don't think it is a major factor in triggering flare-ups. It's at heart a dysfunction of the immune system, not of the digestive system. Your intestines would be fine if it wasn't for your dopey immune system attacking the wrong things, eg food particles, friendly bacteria.
I'm not convinced about antibiotic use having a major part to play in Crohn's either, although I am probably biased by the fact that I don't think I took a single course of antibiotics as a kid. Only antibiotics I remember taking was when I was 19 and had had a chest infection for a week; the antibiotics worked like a dream and got rid of it overnight.
One thing worth remembering about Crohn's is that it has a genetic basis. It's not nearly as simple as a single gene causing Crohn's, but nevertheless there are now lots of genes associated with Crohn's. You got Crohn's because you drew the genetic short straw, basically. True, it had to be 'triggered' in some way, but looking for the triggers with Crohn's is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, imo. You just can't be certain that what you think are the triggers really actually are the triggers: it may be something else entirely.
PS: Forgot to add, if you are still convinced you have a food allergy/intolerance, then the thing to do is go on an elimination diet for a few weeks. Eliminate all the suspect foods from your diet: if the foods really have anything to do with it, your symptoms should subside or disappear. After a few weeks, reintroduce the suspect foods, one at a time. If the symptoms reappear, it's a pretty safe bet that the food was the culprit.
NCOT is right that allergies cause a reaction in a relatively short amount of time, the immune system makes IGE antibodies to proteins that the body considers foreign material. There are other types of antibodies, (IGG, IGA), that are also produced by the immune system that can cause a delayed reaction, or a reaction in the intestines. In the case of IGG antibodies these reactions can be classified as intollerances.
Have been doing quite a bit of reading on intolerance/allergies and generally yes allergies come on soon after being exposed to the allergen however I have found that I have a reaction about 6 hours after being exposed-ahh I hear you say, then it is an intolerance, however taking anti-histamine tablets does relieve the symptoms(which it wouldn't do with an intolerance) Also most people that are intolerant to something can still have some of it on a daily basis(providing small amount) whereas some one with an allergic reaction only needs the tiniest bit for the body to provoke a response. Also generally, an intolerance will show itself within the stomach/intestines, allergies elsewhere.
Just my thoughts :)
Just my thoughts :)
Good points, Vixen. I suppose a person could be allergic and intolerant to a food at the same time, that is the offending food could cause multiple reactions. Allergies can be found using a skin scratch test and intolerances can sometimes be identified via an ELISA blood test.
I guess someone could have a food allergy and be misdiagnosed as a possibility..I also think with the onset of an autoimmune disease your body can become intolerant or allergic to certain things it was not in the past..I do not think I suffered from food allergies as child, and my crohns came on due to a bad gene pool! I have found an ease in symptoms going gluten free and doing dairy free when flaring..It has not eliminated my crohns and I am in a light flare right now that I hope will not keep on..I do suffer from a bacterial overgrowth problem in my intestine and urinary tract..
DX Crohns Disease 2004- one resection--Current medications Predisone 10mg, Atenolol 25mg, and Synthyroid 75mcg--Prior Medications Antibiotic combos, antispasmodics, sulfazine,anticholergenics, and antacids--don't tolerate most drugs well--Currently doing Gluten Free since Sept 2011!--D3 & B Complex w/ C..
DX Crohns Disease 2004- one resection--Current medications Predisone 10mg, Atenolol 25mg, and Synthyroid 75mcg--Prior Medications Antibiotic combos, antispasmodics, sulfazine,anticholergenics, and antacids--don't tolerate most drugs well--Currently doing Gluten Free since Sept 2011!--D3 & B Complex w/ C..
Scratch tests for food allergies are not very reliable - lots of false positives show up, and even some false negatives. The value of the blood tests is up for debate as well.
For example, I tested positive on scratch tests to a ton of things, including soy, peanuts, green beans, corn, tomatoes, and several other vegetables. I tested negative for shellfish.
But I'm allergic to shrimp! And that's the only thing I've ever had a reaction to when eating it.
I did a food elimination trial with the others, then added them back one at a time, and noticed no changes either way. My allergist confirmed that the scratch testing for foods is not reliable.
For example, I tested positive on scratch tests to a ton of things, including soy, peanuts, green beans, corn, tomatoes, and several other vegetables. I tested negative for shellfish.
But I'm allergic to shrimp! And that's the only thing I've ever had a reaction to when eating it.
I did a food elimination trial with the others, then added them back one at a time, and noticed no changes either way. My allergist confirmed that the scratch testing for foods is not reliable.