Crohns/uc/colitis And Celiac

[cookie22]

Hi everyone, I thought I'd start this topic to see who else is out there in the same boat as me, celiac and crohn's disease, and if anyone wants to talk about it/vent/find support!?

[Elena M]

My husband is recently diagnosed with Celiac and ulcerative colitis. He is on medication for the colitis. The frustrating part now is trying to make all the diet changes (he is now gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and corn-free) and calm down the colitis, but he is still not gaining any weight back (he lost 15 pounds and he was thin to begin with!). Any suggestions would be so welcome!

[somegirl2004]

I'm in the same boat... I was diagnosed with celiac in June 2005 and Crohn's in December 2005.

Doesn't it suck taking so many pills every day?!?! I'm only 21, but my pill collection makes it look like I'm in my 80s!

[corinne]

I have collagenous colitis and I follow a gluten free (well actually grain free including corn+rice, dairy free, soy free etc) diet. I haven't been diagnosed with celiac, but my mother has celiac disease.

The gastro. just started me on Asacol so that I can expand my diet a bit, because I'm losing weight, but so far Asacol is making things much worse. To try and keep up my weight, I eat avocado and olives which have healthy fat. I can't eat nuts, but if you can those have lots of good fat calories too.

[Cheri A]

I'm babysitting for a friend whose dh has Crohn's Disease. I know through my various searches I've seen info on how a gluten-free diet can help with that. But, I can't find the links now. Does anyone else have any links that are helpful? They are at the surgeon's right now to discuss how to help him right now. This will be his 2nd surgery!

[evie]

I have collagenous colitis and I follow a gluten free (well actually grain free including corn+rice, dairy free, soy free etc) diet. I haven't been diagnosed with celiac, but my mother has celiac disease.

The gastro. just started me on Asacol so that I can expand my diet a bit, because I'm losing weight, but so far Asacol is making things much worse. To try and keep up my weight, I eat avocado and olives which have healthy fat. I can't eat nuts, but if you can those have lots of good fat calories too.

Nearly one year after Celiac DX I found I have colitis too. Not using any meds but still experimenting to find what causes upsets of both problems...does anyone eer get to the point where you feel safe in what you eat? Do you think emotions enter into theses problems? I am wondering about the colitis if it does not...I am so much better than i was at DX of celiac...have come a long way mostly due to gluten free foods. What does Asacol do for you corrine? Do you plan to do any tests for celiac? If so good luck!! evie

[NicoleAJ]

I just went to a celiac/UC specialist at Hershey Medical Center (PA) and she was great. I was misdiagnosed with UC last year. Asacol actually caused paralytic ileus for me (paralysis of the colon)--I was in the hospital for the week fasting for a few days and then liquids only. The doctor seems reasonably convinced that I have Crohns, which I'm really not happy about. I'm going in next month for a gastroscopy and a capsule endoscopy.

[NicoleAJ]

I just went to a celiac/UC specialist at Hershey Medical Center (PA) and she was great. I was misdiagnosed with UC last year. Asacol actually caused paralytic ileus for me (paralysis of the colon)--I was in the hospital for the week fasting for a few days and then liquids only. The doctor seems reasonably convinced that I have Crohns, which I'm really not happy about. I'm going in next month for a gastroscopy and a capsule endoscopy.

[Erikee]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease of the large intestine (not the small intestine -- lucky) a year ago. While I was at the gastro, I mentioned to him that I have issues with eating wheat so he ran a TTG test just to be sure. It came back positive so they caught the fact that I have celiac as well, which was lucky for me because I didn't have external symptoms yet. Come to find out I have osteopenia caused by malabsorption of calcium, which you wouldn't expect in a man of 42.

I'm taking Asacol for the Crohn's, and in my case it has put it into remission. I also have a hiatal hernia that causes bad reflux, so I'm on a double-dose of prescription-strength prilosec.

I take a lot of pills every day too!

I'm on a Gluten-free Casein-free diet, as are my boys. They don't have celiac but they have dairy and wheat "issues" and the Gluten-free Casein-free diet is helping their digestion and behavior.

[spunky]

Have you read up on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet? It sounds promising for these types of inflammatory bowel diseases. Google it and see if it looks helpful.

Also, I've heard of people feeling better taking a product called Digestive Advantage for Crohn's and Colitis...a so-called "functional" food (consisting of a sporgenes-like probiotic...i.e., survives without refrigeration and survives stomach acids, enzymes, etc., and other ingredients) designed specifically to combat those diseases. I take the DA for irritable bowel...and it helps me quite a bit...that one is gluten free, and I'm pretty sure all of their products are...check on their website to be sure. Their products are inexpensive and seem to be very effective!