Hi JadieLady!
this is a long one, but if it helps anyone...
The earlier attacks of Crohns, when they started about 15 years ago when I was 21. The attacks were really bad. It took mainstream doctors 7 months to figure out what it was - in the meantime I got worse, couldn't eat or drink and could barely move from pain and malnutrition. I was first diagnosed with symptoms of five ulcers throughout my bowel and one biggie in my oesophagus too. I was put on the usual drugs they give for Crohns: prednisolone and two others (Imuran and Sulphasalazine).
Crohns is supposed to be an auto-immune disease and these drugs, especially the Imuran (brand name) reduces your immune system (I had to have regular blood tests to monitor my red - or was it white?? - blood cells as that was a major side effect of this drug). I loathe conventional medicine at the best of times, so this was a struggle for me. Not to mention the immense weight gain and depression that comes from long term use of prednisolone. After the drugs kicked in and I started to feel better, more able to look after myself, I weaned from the steroids (as per doc's instructions as this is very important). Much later (months if not a year) I decided to stop taking the other maintenance drugs. Each year or two after that though, I would have a relapse, with each one getting worse. I would be put on the drugs again to get better. The worst stint I ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks. The first week I wasn't allowed any food or water via my mouth. I was 'fed' intravenously - that was the worst - especially as other patients in the hospital were getting food brought to them and all I wanted was to be nurtured and looked after!
(There's a hint in there!) The nurses were lovely though and would rub my back for me ;)
I was determined after that to not let it get me that bad ever again. A couple of years later in 1998 I was pregnant with my first baby. I was not taking the steroids at the time, but I was now and then taking the maintenance drugs. I was going in to renew a script when I found out I was pg. So I never filled the script as I was determined to stay drug free for my baby.
Oh backtracking a little, to answer your question (gosh I've gone way off track I think
) early in 1998 I saw a metaphysical healer as I had enough of the Crohns pains coming and going and I just did not want to go back to drugs. Alternative healing has always been my first choice anyway. I received a few sessions of Reiki-like therapy and this is where the colloidal silver was mentioned and Co Enzyme Q10. I took both those things for months. Within this time I also went on a strict gluten-free, dairy-free and caffeine-free diet. All three of which would build up over time and make the Crohns recur. (For me also, I find mild depression /mood swings could bring it on.)
These 3 months were the best of my life. I had never felt healthier and craved fruit and veg (something I never did before). About 3 months after I started the diet and supplements I found out I was pg with my daughter. The Crohns then went away and didn't come back for about 3.5 years - after my son was born and I had a bit of PND. Apparently it is common for the Crohns to go away during pg as your body produces extra cortico steroids when pregnant and therefore was acting like the prednisolone and the Crohns was left at bay. (Although the OB GYN said it could have gone either way; got worse or better - I got better ;)
My last bout with it was last year October. Was bed ridden for a week, but it came on for a few weeks before that, gradually getting worse until I couldn't eat, drink or move. I was a single mum then with my two kids, so that was so very hard. I tended to self manage it then though and my GP would give me a script for one bottle of prednisolone, which I would take in small doses for only one week, enough to get me up and about again. Then I would be fine. He did refer me to a gastroenterologist (sp?) though after that last bout. I refused another colonoscopy to see what was going on (I'd already had five of those horrible things between 1991 and 1997. I started to feel better and the bloodwork and symptoms suggested it might not be too bad.
I personally find, as I mentioned already, that if I allow myself to get overwhelmed and miserable (really miserable) and feel depressed (not clinically, but down enough to not care about stuff) then the disease hits me. If it gets so bad that I can't manage it, then I need the medicine to get me out of that hole and then I move on. But I don't want to repeat this pattern anymore, so I'm hoping it's under control. I also believe it has a lot to do with not following your 'path' and getting off track. But that's another story ;)
Diet plays a big part for me also (although all the specialists I saw over the years deny this). And it's not a sudden thing, but more of a build up over time of too much gluten (wheat), dairy and caffeine. So moderation is the key.
Digestive tonics and slippery elm are a great help when not feeling well. Lots of vitamins (especially the B groups and C), and it is really important we get minerals in colloidal form (ie suspended in water). Now I take a lot of Tissue Salts that are effective quickly and completely safe and free of side effects. I manage the cramps with Mag Phos as well as the other things I have mentioned.
The best thing is for your sister-in-law to consider talking to a naturopath or homeopath as this disease isn't just about the bowel. Unfortunately the docs are only treating the symptoms and they have no clue as to why people are getting Crohns. All the specialists I spoke with just rolled their eyes at me.
To help any disease, we need to look at our whole life - and this gives a better picture as to why things occur. Having said that , there is talk at the moment of Crohns being some sort of bug or parasite too. I just hope people can find hope and avoid relapses before their bowel is sectioned. I know of many young men and women who have had to have sections of their bowel removed just to get the ulceration out. It was suggested to me once also. And the warning that came with it was "this will only fix your current bout. It will probably come back later in another section and we may have to remove that too." I have read of people who have had almost the whole lot chopped out!
Anyway, I hope this has helped some! If you have any questions, please feel free to write ;)
(August 2006) (
