Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Ibs Remedies

Question:
I am looking for a summary of things that help IBS and Crohn�s patients to control their diarrhea, constipation, and gas. Where would be the best place to find suggestions like: Imodium, Pepermint Oil, aloe, Caltrate, etc.... all in one consolidated place for recommending items for treatment.

Answer:
I would be interested in replies as I have two friends who suffer with IBS and Crohn�s. The best thing you can do in my opinion, and I too have both, is find a good doctor who is knowledgeable in both. Just my opinion. Best thing is to find out what foods are troublesome, and avoid them. The follow from a woman in Canada: The journal article that is a must for anyone with Crohn's who wants to try diet is: Jones, V.A, Dickinson, R.J., Workman,E., et al. Crohn's Disease: Maintenance of Remission By Diet. The Lancet, July 27, 1985. pg 177-180. It describes exactly what we did with Greg only we did it at home: the home version is Turkey broth only until no symptoms (if I remember that was about 3 days) and then add one food in at a time and only keep it in if no symptoms. In Greg's case symptoms are within 3 hours, I realize that this is not the case with some Crohn's patients and for those, this may not work. The good thing about this article is it lists a whole bunch of foods that may be the problem. For example, while wheat and milk are quite common problems, if I remember correctly barley was only a problem in 1 out of 150 patients (don't quote me on that just my memory) - barley is definitely a problem with Greg. All the foods he does have problems with were incidentally in the list. Anyways the gist of it is that they all went on spring water and an elemental diet. (We had Greg on turkey soup broth and water.) They then started adding foods in and if they bugged them they cut that food out of their diet. Out of about 110 people, 50 decided medication and surgery was easier. Of the 60 who remained, 10 did not stay in remission and found that diet did not help, the good news is 50 who stuck to their diets have been 3 years in remission. Greg is now 1 1/3 years in remission which was unimaginable before we did this to him. The things that bother him are gluten, corn, yeast, tap water, coffee, additives, alcohol, chocolate. � Anyway the main food intolerances listed are wheat, dairy products, brassicas, maize, yeast, tomatoes, citrus fruits, eggs, tap water, coffee, banana, potato, lamb, pork, beef, rice, tea, fish, onions, chicken, barley, rye, turkey, additives, alcohol, chocolate, shellfish, swede (rutabaga). It would be great to find a doc that is knowledgeable in at least one (at the VA in Dallas) considering I have both IBS and Crohn's. However, for a year I had a great doctor (PCP) and she was extremely knowledgeable for an internist and I will explain her treatment for the IBS as the GI didn't feel it needed to be addressed (hence, he didn't know what to do). She tried several of the Levisin (sp?) and Bentyl type drugs which none worked, so she tried some trycyclic (sp?) antidepressants which have shown to be helpful but again they didn't work, so instead of giving up, she hit the books and decided to give an old fashioned treatment a try, small doses of valium....BINGO �That part eliminated the spasms and pain from cramping, but doesn't do much for bloating and the wrong foods that can wreak havoc on IBS, so with that I am still learning which foods are safe and this is in addition to learning which foods are safe for the Crohn's. �And yes, I finally started a list. For those that have both, I wonder if when the diarrhea is active and if you can tell which is causing it. �I have found that the yellowish and burning type is bile acid type diarrhea which would be Crohn's related and the other type is like bad food or a light touch of the flu. �My great PCP also wanted me on Metamucil to help with the diarrhea and to also keep me regular when the diarrhea lets up some (like now) as I am on MS Contin 30mg 3x day and Percocet 5x day which slows things down quite a bit. �Well my mother was here over Thanksgiving and she was taking a pill and I ask what that was and she said Metamucil. �Well to make a long story short, it wasn't Metamucil, but Citrucel (sp?) is now making the pill form so we went to Wal-Mart and got some and it has helped in the few days I've been on it, but the jury is out for the long term. Well I have rattled on enough but hope it provides some insight on my battle with IBS and Crohn's. �If you have any questions, drop me an email. You might check the FAQ's for IBS and Crohn�s. They both can be found from this web page. http://qurlyjoe.bu.edu/cduchome.html (click on 'FAQ') http://qurlyjoe.bu.edu/cducibs/faqs.html There are links to the FAQ for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).