My husband has Crohn's Disease. Anyone have info. about this disease? Diagnosed at 18 yrs old. Now he's 35.

Question

He's had 2 hospital stays in the 17 yrs. But, has not had a bout since age 22. He won't take any medicine for it. He says it makes him have terrible mood swings and messes with his body. Lately has had a lot of stomach pains and just has not been feeling well. Need to know what kind of diet he should be eating. All the info. I have read says one thing then that same food in the next paragraph says the opposite. Need info. ASAP!!!

Answer 1

Chrohn's disease is an inflammatory disorder that leads to severe ulceration of the digestive tract.
Protein deficiency is common in people with Crohn's Disease. Incorporate quality protein sources into your diet, such as organic chicken, legumes, turkey, and fish, for two meals a day. Soy is also an option unless you are sensitive to it.
Homemade soups and broths are excellent. These meals are liquefied and easy to digest. Use a variety of fresh vegetables and quality protein sources.
Juices are ideal for Crohn's sufferers, because they require little work from the digestive system and their nutrients are easily absorbed. Drink vege juices every day. Cabbage juice is particularly effective in healing ulcerated areas.
Eat a cultured product like kefir or, if you're not allergic to dairy, live unsweetened yogut every day. A deficiency of friendly bacteria is common in Chrohn's patients.
Lots of water is also important.
AVOID: consumption of refined carbohydrates is strongly associated with Crohn's disease. Eliminate white flour, white rice, and both white and brown sugar from your diet. Almost all packaged products are made with at least one of these products, so read labels carefully.
Foods that are high in saturated, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat will irritate your gastrointestinal trace and make diarrhea even worse. Avoid red meat, as well as any fried or greasy foods.
Many people with Crohn's disease have undetected food allergies; when they remove the allergens from their diets, the disease often completely disappears. Try eliminating particular foods from your diet. Dairy and wheat are common triggers for people with this disorder.
Be careful with high-fibre foods like wheat bran as it is too harsh for some people with this disease. Slowly increase fibre-rich foods in the diet.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and spicy foods. They don't cause Crohn's disease, but they irritate the gastrointestinal system and can make things a lot worse.
Limit fruit juices, as they often irritate the digestive tract of people with this condition.
Go to a health food shop and get some aloe vera juice. It soothes and heals the lining of the digestive tract (I use it, it's great) While you're at the health food shop, get yourself some licorice capsules, some kind of fish oil (also in capsules), and a good probiotic (non-dairy if allergic). Digestive enzymes are also very beneficial, but I'm not sure if you need to see a practitioner to get them. Also, an amino acid called glutamine, 1000-3000mg a day.
Peppermint tea is excellent, unless you have reflux.
Chamomile is also great. Slippery elm is great for bowel disorders. Cat's claw has anti-inflammatory properties. A good multivitamin is always a help, plus an antioxidant formula.
If hubbie smokes, tell him not to. People with Crohn's disease shouldn't even be in a smoky room.
Check stools for signs of blood. If he sees it, call the doctor.
Exercise and relaxation, to reduce stress.
Does that help? :)

Answer 2

Just buy him a book on Crohns disease and put a sweet note in it and leave it where he can read it in private. If I were you, I would read it first so that if he has questions and wants to talk at least you will know what he is talking about. Is he angry that you don't get medical help for him? He could be afraid of his illness. Education is the best place to start. He will be an adult soon and if you don't learn how to talk with him you may never know what is going on in his life. He needs to know that there are lots of people in this world with Crohns disease. By the way, there are alot of people who are misdiagnosed with Crohns and it could be something else entirely.

Answer 3

There are a number of sites about Crohn's disease that can tell you a lot more about it.
The medicine is required if he is having trouble with pain. If he is having messes, then the program is not working for him. It is time for him to see a gasteroenterologist about the stomach pain and messes.
The diet is one that drives people nuts because it varies. Lesions occur in the small and large intestine and they move around. If a lesion is in one area of the intestine, you would be "allergic" to one set of foods. If the lesion moves to another spot, you will be "allergic" to another set of foods. The only way to know is when the food you eat makes the symptoms worse.
If you are in a university residence or rely on some other person for cooking, they need to understand WHY the foods you can't eat keeps changing. It is not a psychiatric/psychological issue, but it is based on faith.

Answer 4

PLEASE CHECK THIS LINK

http://www.medicinenet.com/crohns_disease/article.htm