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Has anyone tried implementing a gluten free diet as a way to manage Crohn's Disease symptoms?  I recently heard that suggestion but given the bulk of my caloric intake is via carbs (wheat products) this would be a drastic change for me and I am not sure if I would like to do this voluntarily.  (I do not have Celiac Disease or a wheat allergy.)

I swear by the gluten free (GF) diet.

I am in my early 40's, diagnosed with Crohn's 2 years ago (after Irritable Bowel Syndrome / IBS in my early 20's). Strictures in my lower small bowel were causing significant issues, including retention of a pill cam for ~10 months. During that period, I developed other autoimmune diseases: arthritis (I could barely go up a flight of stairs), Grave's (overactive thyroid), and mild alopecia (hair loss). I was scheduled to have a resection surgery, then to go on biologics (i.e.Humira or Remicade).

After a trial of steroids and fish oil, my luck turned up and the pill cam was released.  I delayed surgery and explored alternative therapies, most of which did not work for me. An immunologist ran a series of tests (all normal), including tests for Celiac and gluten intolerance -- these tests are 95% accurate and my results were NEGATIVE.

Nonetheless, I tried GF. After a month, no arthritic pains, no progression of alopecia, and improvement in GI issues. Now 10 months later, I don't feel bloated and not once since have I felt nauseous / vomited -- recurring symptoms since my 20's. Today, with the exception of Grave's, which is still under treatment but likely in remission per lab tests, I feel perfectly healthy!

To be clear:

1. I also take probiotics daily.
2. I avoid whey and  all veggies in the onion / garlic family.
3. I am eating more fats - mostly healthy fats described in "Perfect Health Diet" by Paul Jaminet & Shou-Ching Jaminet, 

With increasing prevalence of GF foods, GF diet is ten times easier than avoiding onions/garlic.

As Crohn's and Colitis affect people differently, I feel lucky to have found my "cure."  I pray that this regiment continues to work - for me and anyone else who gives it a try.

 Reply posted for DianeMike.

Diane-
 Thank you for writing about your husbands GF free diet. I struggle with staying with the diet (and no dairy). But then I  remember being hospitalized SO many times and being away from my young daughters and it helps motivate me. Your hubby is lucky to have you as a support system too. It makes a huge dif. not to do it alone! Any advice on recipes or sites to find good ones? I find a lot of good ones but they usually incude the main ingredients being foods I can't eat w/ the UC (blk beans, corn, veggies w/ seeds)
 Thanks so much!
Jen

 Reply posted for lacarantit.

Most people who have a sensitivity do not know they are sensitive to Gluten & may even test negative (many are known as silent sufferers because of negative test results). My husband as Crohns & Colitis with celiac. We are maintaining most of the flare ups by diet & probitics.

Yes changing to a gluten free diet is a test of your will power to say the least. You feel like you are being deprived & you crave the foods you are trying to get off of. Thats a natural process your body will put you through. You have to decide how badly you want to feel good again. Its not cheap to change the way you eat. But hospital visits are costly & flare ups are painful & even life threatening.

 If you are going gluten free you need to get rid of most of your items in your kitchen & buy new stuff. If you do not you are depriving your self of the food you shouldn't be eating but still making yourself sick because of cross contamination form your toaster, cutting board,  pots & pans just to name a few times. Anything, wooden, metal or plastic that ever came in contact with gluten MUST be replaced or you will continue to make yourself sick.

Yes you will still have flares as your body is recovering & repairing itself, but they should become farther apart & less sever has time passes.

We do not use any medications for his issues, diet change & probiotics have been working for us. We had a really bad scare 2 years ago that had my husband hospitalized for 5 days, the doctors wanted him to stay longer. We at one point where getting ready to say our good byes to each other. We never want to go through that again. That is our motivation for staying on the Gltuen free diet.  I eat gluten free as well, it makes it easier to cook and to shop for groceries. My best advice is to follow your diet to the tee, your well being counts on it. Focus on the things you can change & live to learn from the ones you can not.

May your BEST day from your PAST be your WORST day in the FUTURE! 

 Reply posted for lacarantit.

I have tried packaged , gluten free pretzels, crackers, bread and pasta. These definitely did not cause bloating, gas and some other discomforts that the gluten varieties did. So I have continued with some of these products. But I have found that a mostly fresh/raw diet (vegetables, fruit , fish and poultry) has made the biggest difference for me. I use the above gluten- free products for an occasional snack without any side effects.

 Reply posted for lacarantit.

HI,  When I removed almost all gluten from my diet I did notice quite an improvement with my symptoms.  I did SCD and was in remission long time. But unfortunately in Sept I had ear infection and had to take antibiotics and had a flare so am struggling now and had to go back on Entocort.  Anyhow the lack of gluten really helped me and still I notice if I have gluten I feel the difference. Interesting - perhaps specific to me - I am okay w/ small doses of rice but not at all for any wheat bread or whole wheat and most white breads.  I also can not tolerate very much dairy.  I also focus on low fiber and I hardly eat raw veg or fruit - I cook all veg (crockpot meals are great). I also take probiotics. But I did notice biggest difference when I removed gluten as that was my big trigger along w/ dairy.   I noticed probiotics helped w/ bloating.

 Reply posted for lacarantit.

I think response to GF diet varies from person to person.   We did try it w/my daughter because we were trying to kick the 5ASA and be med free.   Unfortunately, GF wasn't enough....we didn't see a difference.   We are now low fiber, low risidue and maintained w/5ASA.  

You have nothing to lose to try so why not go for it.   Who knows, you may see a difference. 

Good Luck.

Lizzies Mom