It's Go Time!

Peter has dedicated his life to nutrition, proper exercise and education regarding I-B-D. He's happy to share his valuable insights in this section. As with all advice, or opinions, please remember to consult your doctor and get regular checkups.

Assemble Your Team
Find a list of doctors in your area. Interview at least two or three before selecting the person with whom you want to work. You'll want a general practitioner, a surgeon and a G-I specialist. Ask a lot of questions. Here are a few to get started:

Are you a member or on the board of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America?
What is your educational background?
How many surgeries have you performed?
What's your success rate?
Have you had any malpractice suits?

While there is no know cure at this time, variable drug therapies may be prescribed for these diseases and new drugs are constantly being tested. If a drug is prescribed for you, research it and ask for a list of all the drugs that are available based on your individual case. And find out which new drugs will be coming to market in the near future. Ask for referrals to websites that will help to keep you informed on any new information.

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Triggers

Here are some triggers that may bring you out of remission or aggravate your symptoms: Stress, alcohol, caffeine, lack of sleep and too much sun.

There are numerous problems associated with these diseases and learn everything that pertains to yours and then learn the word moderation. While we all experience stress, learn to avoid the situations that produce it. The same goes for the other possible triggers. Nutrition is very important and you'll need to learn what you can and cannot eat. Many foods that you would normally eat will now make you very sick, so learn as much on this topic as possible.

Some foods to avoid:
Foods with shells, fruit skin, food high in fat, spices, and sugar alcohols. Gum releases enzymes in the stomach that may cause acid that will both you. You may become lactose intolerant and find that dairy products will upset your stomach. This list can go on and on. Take precautions and learn what you can and can't tolerate.

What can I eat?
Here are foods that are easier to digest: Grilled skinless chicken; grilled salmon without butter; egg white omelets; potatoes without butter and oatmeal. There are books that can help you create healthy meals. Just be sure that they are approved for your condition. Online nutrition evaluations are now available. Contact Peter's West Bloomfield club for additional Information: 248-855-0345.

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Exercise

Now is the time to get into shape. Peter went into his last surgery weighing 196 pounds and came out weighing 158 pounds. You need to build a foundation prior to any remission or complication you may face. Here are some useful tips:

Try resistance/weight training (increases bone density and lean tissue)
Exercise Walk as opposed to running (easier on your stomach)
Swim (great alternative to joint jarring routines)

No matter what your fitness level, if you look hard enough, you will find something that works for you. Peter offers a variety of options to help everyone customize the right exercise program. We offer online evaluations and we can tailor an affordable plan for you.

Products Peter Uses

Res-Q Probiotic Res-Q 1250 Omega 3 Res-Q Multi-Vitamin Country Life Fish Oil Mrs. Dash Rice Dream products Yoz Yogurt Puffed Rice Cereal Mega Foods-Whole Foods Perdue Skinless Chicken	Rice Chex Worldwide Pure Protein Bottled water 100% Egg White Protein Powder Quaker Oats (old fashion) Bio-Chem Creatine Equal Zantac Tuffutti Ice Creatin
Res-Q 105 with natural Pumpkin Pentose Extract Lactose Free Bio-Chem Ultimate Protein Sys.

Peter's Own Supplements

Super C-1000
Vitamin E

Organic Cal-Mag
Multi P.N. 100

Commonly Prescribed Pharmaceuticals

Remicade
Azulfidine
Prednisone

Nexium
Asacol
Pentasa

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Diet and Emotions

There are no foods known to actually injure the bowel. However, during an acute phase of the disease, bulky foods, milk, and milk products may increase diarrhea and cramping. Generally, the patient is advised to eat a well-balanced diet, with adequate protein and calories. The physician may recommend a multivitamin and iron supplement.

Stress, anxiety, and extreme emotions may aggravate symptoms of the disorder, but are not believed to cause it or make it worse. Any chronic disease can produce a serious emotional reaction, which can usually be handled through discussion with the physician.

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I-D-B and Nutritional Therapy

What's new in nutritional therapy for IBD?
Eating to help the gut heal itself is one of the new concepts in IBD treatment, and numerous experimental studies are being conducted in this area. Fish or flaxseed oils, in the diet or as supplements, have been used to help fight the inflammation in IBD. The complex carbohydrates that are not digested by the small bowel-such as psyllium-stimulate the bacteria in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids help the mucosa (the lining) of the colon to heal itself.

Another approach is the use of probiotics, which are just beginning to be appreciated as a therapeutic aid in IBD. Probiotics are "good" bacteria that restore balance to the enteric microflora-bacteria that live in everybody's intestine. Lactobacillus preparations and live-culture yogurt can be very helpful in aiding recovery of the intestine. There is much work being done in the use of diet and supplements to aid in the healing of IBD and much more to be learned.

Cancer chemoprevention with minerals (selenium, calcium), vitamins (folic acid) and medications (the 5-ASA drugs seem to fulfill this role for many with IBD) is a developing field, and there will be more about this as new research studies are published.

(Excerpted from CCFA article)

DEALING WITH
STRESS

A NEW LOOK
FOR CROHN'S

Table of Contents
Triggers
Exercise
Peter's Products
Pharmaceuticals
Diet and Emotions
IBD & Nutritional Therapy

Treatments
Effective medical and surgical treatment is available for Crohn's disease. It is particularly important to maintain good nutrition and health with a balanced diet, adequate exercise, and a positive, upbeat attitude.

Five types of medications are available to treat this disease:

Cortisone or Steroids
These powerful drugs provide highly effective results. A large dose is often used initially to bring the disorder under quick control when the disease is severe. The drug is then tapered to a low maintenance dose, perhaps taken just every other day. Hopefully the drug may eventually be stopped altogether. This medicine is administered by pill or enema. Prednisone is a common generic name.

Anti-inflammation Drugs Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), Dipentum, Asacol, Rowasa, and Pentasa belong to a group of drugs called the 5-aminosalicylates. These drugs are most useful in maintaining a remission, once the disease is brought under control. They are most effective when the disease is present in the colon. These are available in oral and enema preparations.

Immune System Suppressors
These medications suppress the body's immune system, which appears to be overly active and somehow aggravates the disease. The names of two of these commonly used medications are azathioprine (trade name: Imuran) and 6 MP (trade name: Purinethol). These drugs are particularly useful for long-term care. There are other potent immune-suppressing drugs that may be used in difficult cases.

Infliximab (Remicade)
This drug is the first of a group of medications that blocks the body's inflammation response. It is given by intravenous infusion over several hours. These blocking antibody drugs are proving to be very effective in many patients with severe disease.

Antibiotics
Since there is frequently a bacterial infection along with Crohn's disease, antibiotics are often used to treat this problem. Two that are commonly used are ciprofloxacin (trade name: Cipro) and metronidazole (trade name: Flagyl).

Got a question or comment about I-B-D, Colitis or Crohn's? Send me an e-mail and I may answer your question personally.