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Found a book at my library this weekend and recommend ALL parents read ASAP:

http://www.solutionsbooks.us/ibdbook.html

Beat Crohn's to Remission with Enteral Nutrition by Margaret Oppenheimer. Enteral Nutrtion is the only holistic treatment without long term health ramifications, encourages healing and GROWTH (my son is in the 3rd percentile for height right now) and has long term studies (40 years) and testimonials!  The first line treatment for kids with Crohn's (severe and otherwise) in Europe, Japan and Canada (countries where pharmaceuticals are not king).

We will begin this at the first sign that imuran post steroid 'remission' is not working AGAIN.  (Next month or so)

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

Problem is with regular diet/eating, children with Crohn's often do not have the appetite to eat enough of caloric requirements.  The enteral nutrition via NG or G tube works well in part because they are finally getting enough protein and nutrients that their bodies so badly need to start healing inflammed intestines and tissue.  The nutrition goes through the tube with a pump and can run all night while they sleep.  These kids need more calories than normal kids and get less than normal kids due to lack of appetite and easy to satiate (fullness).  Why no diet, that has to be consumed during the day via mouth, will provide enough calories and nutrients needed for remission.

 Reply posted for Brock's mommy.

Ben (age 7, Columbus, OH) started this treatment on Thursday, we were admitted to the ped GI unit for a couple of days/nights to start...the enteral feeding is via nasogastric tube (no big deal for a kid who has to endure frequent lab draws and swallowing many large pills daily) and his pediasure runs in at 115 mls per hour for 14 hours.  The home care provided a small backpack that holds both the enteral nutrition and the pump so it is no big deal for him...he is mobile or can sleep with it going.  He is getting 90% of his caloric needs met this way, and can eat whatever else he wants...usually just a popsickle or juice during the day...or he can have a bit of lunch at school...what relief in no longer coaxing to finish dinners....

He has tremendous energy and happiness....I know it is working already!

 Reply posted for ecsmit.

Has anyone tried the Enternal on a 4 year old?  I am interested in possibly being an additive to his daily diet.

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

There have been numerous studies that have proven enteral nutrition to be effective as a treatment that gets folks into remission for several years in many cases.  This has been a proven therapy especially in pediatric crohns all over the world for over 40 years. The same cannot be said for Specific Carb diets.  No studies, or published research that documents known remission in patients.

 Reply posted for ecsmit.

my son was diagnosed with crohns last june.  He had failure to thrive he is 10 years old, but a body and weight of an 8 year old.  We tried to get his weight up on our own but sadly after 4 months I could only get him up 4 lbs and then he leveled off.  We started a NG tube in November and he has gained 10 lbs to date and has grown oa inch and a half.  It is not the most pleasant experience, but we are doing well and the outcome far outweighs the method we need to go through.  He has energy, his coloring is great and he feels good.  We are on peptomen junior 1.5 and we administer 4 cans per evening, which is 1500 calories per night.  The last 2 months he has not gained or grown so we may have to go on a pro-kinetic, because they think his stomach is not emptying properly.  Overall, I have to say the enteral nutrition has been very helpfull.  Good luck

 Reply posted for ecsmit.

We did enteral feeding with an NG tube for my 15 y/o son for 6 weeks.  He is now in remission.  He was only 98lbs. at the time and his gastroenterologist gave this to us as one of the options vs Remicade.  The hardest part was not being able to eat anything except Italian Ice.  He also missed 6 weeks of school, but was able to keep up due to the school providing a tutor.  Good luck with everything!  I hope it works for your child also.

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

There are a lot of formula choices out there....my son is not lactose intolerant so we may just go with Pediasure, but via the tube, cuz he will get sick of drinking it :)