Husband with Crohn's

amother

OP ↓

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 11:41 am

My husband has known that he has Crohn's since adolescence when he had his first flare up. He was managed with medication for a year or two and has been symptom free up until recently. Over the last few months he has had recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort. He had a non invasive test done to visualize the colon and is now waiting for a colonoscopy. I'm only vaguely familiar with Crohn's and am looking for advice regarding diet. Any help would be appreciated. Tia.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 11:53 am

He has been okay for over 15 years without any flare ups whatsoever without any food restrictions. Is it worthwhile trying to eliminate certain foods? Should he potentially wait to try that until after his colonoscopy? I'm not really sure where to start. I do most of the cooking and I dont want to be cooking food that is detrimental for him.

amother

Turquoise ↓

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 11:58 am

The SCD (specific carbohydrate diet) has gained lots of attention the past 10 years for specifically treating crohns. Its science based, and has a very very good success rate.
There have been a few hospital studies on it the past few years, with very good results.
Enough frum people are on it that there are scd food gemachs in lakewood, brooklyn and monsey (new square).
Lots of people on imamother are on it as well.

amother

↑ Turquoise ↓

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 12:41 pm

amother [ Sapphire ] wrote:

SCD is very good. There's also a similar diet from the U of Mass. Don't consider it a replacement for meds though.

The SCD can definitely replace meds. Not for everybody as each person's crohns is their own story, but there are many many people who use scd without medication

amother

↑ Turquoise ↓

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 1:03 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Thanks for the info. A quick google search and it seems that the scd diet is pretty drastic. Is it all or nothing? Any ideas how to slowly ease into it?

The scd is all or nothing. Slowly easing into it will only help psychologically-the actual physical change can only happen when youve started it 100%.
But there are people who, after being "re-set" with scd, and become completely symptom free for at least 2 years, are able to slowly re-introduce foods that arent allowed. This doenst work for everyone, many people dont even bother risking it.
But there are those who do manage to go back to eating "illegal" foods safely-some only manage to introduce certain ones, others can go back 100% regular.

Ita not as daunting as you'd think. Theres plenty of delicious food he can eat, including desserts and stuff. It just requires more planning and cooking. You would need to read the book called Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschal. Its not long, its an eaay read, but its important

Wellbees.com is a frum family that sells ready made baked goods for scd, as well as other scd product.

The facebook group called "breaking the vicious cycle scd community" is a tremendous support group with thousands of people on it, always trading recipes and advice. If you go with this, definitely check it out.

amother

Ginger

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 1:12 pm

The SCD diet is very restrictive, don't fool yourself that it isn't. I have heard great things about it. However, and this is a biggie, don't force your DH to be on a diet like that unless he is 100% interested, because it is life changing. I wanted my DH to be on it due to complicated Crohn's, but he has resisted do far because of the restrictions (we did do it for a small time period). He is currently on Entyvio (an IV infusion once very 2 months) and doing well.

I definitely wouldn't make any drastic changes without the colonscopy, though.

amother

↑ Turquoise ↓

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 1:28 pm

amother [ Ginger ] wrote:

I agree.
Its only easy and doable if he wants to do it.
(My child is on it. Happily and willingly, so it works for us)

amother

Blue

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 2:47 pm

It is hard to find ppl who SCD has permanently cured with no flare ups.
Many ppl on SCD still live with pain and/or take meds. Or have flare ups every do often. I just find proponents of SCD gloss over the facts that many ppl still suffer from severe flare ups.

You need a colonoscopy to see what is going on. If there is a lot of damage the colon will need to heal. There are a few options. Including an all liquid diet (under dr guidance$ or new meds.

In the meantime is it an option to take steroids until the colonoscopy to manage the pain.

amother

Hotpink ↓

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 2:54 pm

amother [ Ginger ] wrote:

My husband with Crohn's was extremely resistant to scd Because he didn't want to be restricted like that. I pushed him to do it for a set time that I made us in advance, think it was 6 weeks. I told him once the time passed, if he wants to go off, I won't push him to stick with it. It's been more than 6 years, and he would never even consider going off because he feels so good.

amother

↑ Turquoise

Fri, Jan 08 2021, 4:26 pm

amother [ Blue ] wrote:

I know many people who have been on scd for years, with complete healing. Not just symptom free; not just clean scopes, but also mucosal healing on biopsy.
The facebook group im part of also has many many people who say the same.
It may not work for everyone, but it does truly work for others.

amother

Brown

Sat, Jan 09 2021, 1:35 pm

I would wait to see results, depending on those get him well and back to good bloods with meds. After that when he is feeling well and up for it, then try diet changes if you/he like, but get well with meds first.

I have crohns, bH well with meds. Never tried diet changes as I don’t need crohns taking over my life. I’m in charge of it not the other way round. Meds saved me and I’m grateful to them and continue taking them.

Jdoe

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 7:41 am

I agree with all those that say wait.
Do do anything yet. Wait to see how the colonoscopy goes. See what your dr recommends.
For me, meds have allowed me to life perfectly fine (once the meds kicked in) with restrictions on certain food that trigger me to have pain. But I chose when I want to eat those oily fries, crispy chicken nuggets or jelly donut and I enjoy it.
There are some great meds out there these days that if they work for him, it will be easier on the 3 of you.
Hold off on the diet changes for now, imo.
Good luck. It could be scary but with some attention, it will all be good. IYH.

amother

↑ Hotpink ↓

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 11:17 am

amother [ Turquoise ] wrote:

Yes, this. Bh Bh for my dh, it's been truly miraculous healing.

amother

↑ Hotpink

Sun, Jan 10 2021, 11:18 am

amother [ Turquoise ] wrote:

Yes, this. Bh Bh for my dh, it's been truly miraculous healing.