Chrohns (sp?) Disease???

[Taddy]

I was just wondering can someone please give me a little bit of info on Chrohns as my father and uncle both have it. Is it hereditary? What type of foods can they eat? As my dad still eats everything and just suffers with the pain.

I would really love to hear from others that know of this illness.
Thankyou

[Oscar's mum]

Check out this site

Chron's Disease Link (http://www.ucheepines.org/crohns_disease.htm)

[suemp]

my brother has chrons disease. he was mis diagnosed for years so it is pretty bad. he is on a heap of tablets that has made his normally lanky body puffy around the waist and his face has puffed out like a chipmunks. he usually has to go to the loo 3 or 4 times a morning before he will leave the house and will only go places he knows toilets are nearby. he finds eating meat is hard. he is on a forum similar to this chrons australia or something like that.

[timetoplay!]

Hi!
I have Crohns. They still aren't sure about the hereditary thing. My mum has something similar though, and my brother probably has it. I've been pretty well lately. I've had 3 kids over the past 5 years and the disease is in remission during pregnancy and for a while after (for me anyway!) not that that's going to help any men! My youngest is 10 months and my symptoms are just starting to show up again. I can recommend getting a referral to Dr Radford-Smith at the Royal Brisbane Hospital Gastro Clinic if he hasn't already. As for eating, get them to avoid citrus fruit, anything acidic really, spicy foods, fizzy drinks... It's not diet related, some people tell you to eat high fibre, some say low fibre. They'll just have to figure out what works for them. When I'm really bad I live on Yogo and Nice bikkies! Something else that's good is Sustagen Hospital strength formula which can be bought from the pharmacy, and also cod liver/fish oil tablets. My advice is: don't read too much - it's depressing! I haven't had any operations yet but you usually only hear the horror stories (just like childbirth!) Live with the disease but don't live by it. Hope this helps!

[kymmy]

My brother has Chrons disease too.
He has a puffy face too
and he is suppose to stay away from chocolate

[mel04]

Hi!
I can recommend getting a referral to Dr Radford-Smith at the Royal Brisbane Hospital Gastro Clinic if he hasn't already.

My brother saw him, he told my mum that it is all phsychological and there is nothing wrong with him. He has since been diagnosed with crohns. I wouldn't reccomend him.

[timetoplay!]

Wow! That's surprising!
I was misdiagnosed 4 times before I saw him and have been really well looked after since.

[twistwantsabub]

I have Crohn's disease tooooo.... It is different for every single person that has it. But i can tell you what helps me. I can't eat a lot of red meat, can digest it. I have worked out over time how much fruit, cereal, whole grains i can have without getting a gut ache. It takes a lot of time and patience on the persons behalf to make a conscious effort to work out what affects them. I can't work(as a nurse) full time. Every time i try i last about 2 months and then the crohns flares up bad again. I definately know i can't get too tired as this effects it majorily. I am a little bit of a stress head, i worry about silly things, i I know this is the major cause of my illness. Often dietary things can aggrivate the illness, but i think it quite often comes from how people FEEL inside. I mean stress at work or in family life really do play a big part. Research says that there is some familial trait to it, however i am the only one in my family with it and it took 6 months to diagnose.... yuk

I am healthy now, and really want to get pregnant while i am good.

If there is anyone out there who has Crohns and is pregnant/has kids, i'd love to chat with you. please PM me.
ox
twist

[defa]

Hi there..
They have done alot of research on Crohn's in the last few years and it does look like it is hereditary and well it is so in our family I have it ( mine not to bad) my sister has it ahe was told for 6 years that it was phsychological and there is nothing wrong with her it was just in herd head and she jus needed to eat more.. My aunty has IBS and my grandfther had cancer of the bowel so there is something going on there...
My sister and i don't take any medication anymore as i felt it was making me feel worse and my sister had to stop when she found out she was having baby number 1 after trying for 4 years the dr's did tell us that it might take a bit longerr for us to fall as Crohns stuffed up everything.. It took her 4 years to fall with both of her kids lucky she only wanted 2..
I have just had my first baby and i only want 1 so we are done..
We do eat what we want sometimes we do pay for it but i would rather eat and live my ife to the full untill it comes back.
Do what timetopay said "My advice is: don't read too much - it's depressing!"
There are some very yuk stories out there that you don't need to read my sister was really bad by the time they foud out what ws wrong they only gave her 2 weeks to live she was so sick.
So keep your chin up there are alot of people out thre that have it but it isn't something that we normaly talk about...
Hope this helps a bit..

[Rhoxie]

My Husbands family has quite a few people with it - so I think there must be some kind of genetic link.
His father has crohns and has had two ops
His sister has crohns and was misdiagnosed as anorexic until she was near death. She has had numerous hospitalisations and really should have a bag as her quality of life is rather poor.
Two Uncles have crohns
One uncle has Coeliacs
Aunt has a related arthritic form of crohns

The puffyness in crohns patients is caused by steriods that they use to keep the crohns under control

Some people can control or manage crohns with diet, some with medications (such as steriods) some need to have an op to remove damaged parts of their intestine and some need their lower intestine removed completely as they do not respond to medications they then have a colostomy bag instead of bowel movements. There is no way of predicting which type of crohns a person will have.

[Ness@Dango]

Hi taddy,

I have had crohn's for 14 years, was diagnosed as soon as I got out of school. Had many doctors as it was hard to diagnose at first, but found a great doctor in brisbane who I credit my great health to.. I had an operation which removed all my large and half of my small bowel as a last resort because my medication didnt respond, however I havent been on medication for years and never been better! My only advice to your father and uncle is find the food that agrees with them and find ways to relax as much as they can, and remember every case of crohn's is different and alot of stuff written can be depressing and not suited to there disease.I'm living proof you can have a healthy life, work and travel and not let your disease rule you!!!


p.s hope this helps, my doctor was Dr Allistair ***** in Wicham Tce Bne, if you want more adviice..

DF - 26
ME - 32

Baby 1 due 8th may 2007 !!!