Mysterious Personal Health Issue

[dundeedude]

There's the theory that Crohn's is actually many different diseases with similar symptoms, although the symptoms seem to be pretty wide ranging. I went nearly 20 years thinking it was "just IBS" as they told me the first time round, and I certainly never considered Crohn's as I didn't have the symptoms I read about. It wasn't until losing a third of my weight over 2 years that I went back.

BTW Crohn's most commonly effects the Terminal Ileum (last part of the small bowel) which is located lower right. It's also where B12 is absorbed, and a lack of B12 causes depression amongst other things. A lot of crohnies do have success reducing their symptoms with diet, but diet isn't the problem or the solution. It's your immune system attacking your body that's the problem. Stupid immune system.

I've seen some research indicating that having a severely restricted carbohydrate diet, in which refined carbohydrates are almost completely restricted, aids in reduction of symptoms for Crohn's disease, UC, AS and associated HLA-B27 disease pathologies.

There are a number of musings behind this, but the most accepted idea at the moment is: many bacteria contain genome patterns very similar to HLA-B27 and in attacking the bacteria in the diverse microbiome within the gut your body is ultimately inadvertently attacking the synovial fluid and collagen between joints, resulting in inflammation. Thus reducing the proliferation of this bacteria can lead to decreased experience of inflammation and therefore symptoms. This would also explain why a FODMAP diet, which heavily limits specific starches is also seen as beneficial for many (yet not all) such patients.

I have two friends who have taken this approach and done well and no longer on medication, managing it via diet - but a third isn't having much luck at all. This would lead to the fact that these diseases are often inter-related and caused by different bacteria or immune issues in the first place, so diet will not help alleviate all cases. Best of luck to you.

[TheFaQQer]

Lofgren's Syndrome?

[GJABS]

As a number of the reported ailments are related to back pain, have you considered trying out a chiropractor or an osteopath? I have found these useful in the past.
Though chiropractors might try to drain you of money given half a chance (through unnecessary repeat appointments).

[dundeedude]

As a number of the reported ailments are related to back pain, have you considered trying out a chiropractor or an osteopath? I have found these useful in the past.
Though chiropractors might try to drain you of money given half a chance (through unnecessary repeat appointments).

Hello GibberJabber.
Being averse to the over-medicalisation of life I did go down this route originally. Orthotics bought through an osteopath, massages galore, chiropractor manipulations and so on. After all, sitting all day can't be good for anybody really.

MRI scan of back confirmed no current abnormalities, which was the most surprising thing of this whole debacle.