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Hey everyone, I am 17 years old and I was diagnosed with crohn’s last week, and i was curious about remission. A couple years ago, I think had a flare up but i had no idea it was crohn’s, i thought it was an allergy so we left it untreated. I went into remission for about a year after that, and i could eat just about anything i wanted, I ate fast food, hot foods, nuts, pizzas, you name it, and i had no problems with stomach issues. It felt great! Then i started having another flare starting a couple months ago. We went to the doctors office, and we figured out that I have crohn’s. Now that it is officially diagnosed, I am starting Remicade within the next month. I am also on the EEN diet which is helping my flare as well. I am currently on prednisone, which i will be weaning off soon because i am starting remicade. My question is, once i go into remission again, am I allowed to eat whatever I want again? I love fried chicken and pizza, but i’m sure it’s ok to eat it maybe once a week or so right? It was fine the first time I was in remission but will it be worse this time because it is my second flare? And now that the crohn’s is actually being treated, will remission last for longer due to the meds i am starting? I am all about eating out, and I really don’t want to give that all up, it’s a thing i like to do. i’m just curious if I can go back to eating whatever again once i’m in remission. Thanks. Also posted this on another forum :)

Reply posted for FiveOh.

Reply posted for FiveOh.

Hi! I have suffered from Crohn's diease for 14 years. I was also missed diagnosed with Ulceractive colritis. I have been in remission for the past 5 years by making simple changes to my diet. It's crazy what a few food swaps can do to help control my flare ups and symptoms. There's no specific diet it's all about knowing your food intolerances. I just shared a video on my YouTube on food swaps i made that helped me control my symptoms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MWksa0kM4o&t=88s  I go in depth about why i made each swap. When i was going though my flare i wish i had someone to make it easy for me to know what i should and shouldn't eat. I hope this helps you. 

Reply posted for FiveOh.

To answer your question in short - no, you can't just eat whatever you want.

Who am I? Not a doctor, not in the field at all. But I am a patient. I was diagnosed at 19 years old. I am now 47. And I spent 27 of those years in remission, and unmedicated. So many times I have watched Crohn's patients think that they can do whatever they want once in remission, and then, low and behold they flare. I have no resaerch background, just my experience and what I was told long ago. I was told to avoid triggers to PREVENT a flare. Known triggers (from research) are stress, use of NSAIDS (I only use Tylenol), and caffiene (including choclate). I haven't had a caffineited drink in almost 30 years. But then you also have to get to know your triggers from food. That can be very different for everyone. Once you know them avaiod them as they can still give you symptoms. When I was diagnosed it was understood that if you kept irritating or "triggering" your gut it will most likely then inflame. 

I understand that for some it can be more complicated. But I also understand when I see people never see remission or never lessen their meds beause they always  do and eat "whatever they want". I was treated with steroids at frst then weaned off of them once I had a resection in 1992. I did not use any other medication. I eliminated the triggers and my own food triggers and that worked really well for me. Unfortunately my resection site formed a scar tissue stricture over the eyars and this winter it completely closed and infalmation returned and I had another resection. Though there is no way of telling why or how it happened, I do know I was more lax on my food triggers in the last few years. Did this do it? Who knows but you can bet I will be going back to the stricter diet! What I went through is NOT worth it.

Trust me I know how hard it is to give up things you love. I have been where you are! But a symptom free life is more than worth it. Do whatever you can to get to remission and STAY there and enjoy life! You will find that Giving up a few food choices is not what defines you, or your life, or makes you happy. Best of luck to you!!

Reply posted for FiveOh.

My son is 13 and diagnosed 8 months ago with Crohn's. We are currently trying to get him healthy, again. But I will say in December he was the healthiest he had been in almost a year. With that being said, he did not eat anything he wanted. He did eat chocolate (his favorite) but his dr told him to slowly add food in. Eat one thing and give it 1-3 days, if there is no problems slowly add something else. I would be very cautious with the main triggers.... fiber, caffeine things like that. Good luck and let us know.