Community Forum

I am 19 and a sophomore in college in New Orleans(which is away from home). I have had crohns for about 8 years now, since I was 11. When I was first diagnosed I was just a child so my parents made all my medical decisions for me. I tryed many different medicines throughout that time period, from steroids, 6mp, remicade and lialda. The remicade was really the only medicine that helped me completely and was a sort of "magic drug" for me, but along with the crohns being kept at bay, I got alot of other types of infections, and was hospitalized 2 times. while on it. Eventually before starting college I decided to go off it and stay on Lialda which is like 6mp and is simply 4 pills a day.

But, during my freshmen year I got sick again and was hospitalized. It was scary and unexpected and caused me to start thinking about my overall health. Living on my own and becoming an adult I was finally at a point where I was making my own medical decisions and I was tired of always being sick. I started looking into natrual ways of healing crohns or dealing with it and they all seem to be very strict and hard regiments. Basically, I was wondering if there is anyone who has done any of these types of diets or regiments and if it has helped. Also, if you have done something similar, how did you manage school(or work) aka living a normal life while doing this.

 Reply posted for kahimmel7991.

My daughter is a college sophomore and started SCD a few weeks ago.  It is workable, but you really need to have a working kitchen available or to have someone who is able to cook the fruits and vegetables for you.  My daughter is currently in a dorm with no car.  She's 1.5 hours away so I puree the fruits and veggies for her for a 2 week supply.  Between access to a fridge and freezer, it works.  The cooked meat and eggs come from her food plan (college cafe).  We clearly are not getting out money's worth out of the food plan so next semester she will have an apartment.  For now, we just accept its what we need to do in the interim.  If you are already in an apartment, it should not be an issue.

Best of luck!  It can be done.  It just takes dedication.  The only unfortunate side effect she has had was nightmares.  For the first week, she repeatedly dreamt that she was eating SCD illegal foods (cookies, cake, ice cream), then would wake up in a panic that she had broken her diet.  It seemed like some cruel joke to me.  That did stop after a while but happened nightly.

 Reply posted for patman75.

Thank you for the comments. I am trying to first cut down on carbs, dairy and sugars - including processed foods and fried/heavy foods. I may try to go on the full diet in the near future. Any further advice would be great. Thank you !

 Reply posted for kahimmel7991.

Low carb diets can help.

SCD, Paleo and Candida diets are all very similar and will reduce your symthoms and improve your health.

There are many different supplements that can help as well.  Look up Jini Patel Thompson, Crohnsboy, Wanted Crohns End.  They discuss many other alternatives.

Best of health to you.

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

I know I love Nola food, but unfortunately most of it is fried and heavy which equals very tasty, but not so great on my system.

Anyway, yes I have the perspective on it or at least I have gained a totally new perspective on it the past couple of years. I'm just at a point where I want to be healthy and not be on drugs(which can cause other illness including cancer) for the rest of my life. That is why I have begun looking at different diets etc. I am already farely well versed on the ideas about processed foods and supplements that are helpful. I take Vitamin D, Probiotics, Iron, Folic Acid and Aloe Pills right now. I also have an aloe drink that have been helpful too. I just havent commited to a serious diet regiment yet because:

 1. They seem absolutely overwhelming, (especially being in college)

2. I dont know which one is the best to try/ which ones are the most effective.

In the past I have tryed to do the SCD diet (breaking the vicious cycle diet right?), and I didnt last more than a week. I also tryed this other diet, I dont know the name of it, but it is similar to SCD and again didnt last more than a week. I guess I just need to commit and see, but like I said it just seems very overwhelming when I have school and work and other outside commitments. In my head I feel that inorder for me to do the diet I need to focus solely on that and nothing else. Have you found/ do you know anyone who has done this while maintaining their normal life?