[raynor21]

Hey all, I've known that I've had Crohn's disease for about 8 years, and, in those 8 years, it was extremely rare that I would run in to another Crohn's patient. Now that I've been introduced to the MMJ world, it seems like a ton of patients suffer from Crohn's disease. So, in short, how many of you here are Crohn's patients, and, when were you first diagnosed?

Thank you!
-Justin

[Crohnie]

Hey r21, I was first diagnosed with IBS in '95, and then Crohn's in 2002, and had surgery in '06. I think I have had Crohn's alot longer, but it got really bad within the last 10 years. Since I have been diagnosed I have met alot of people with Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis, both in and out of the MMJ world. There are more of us than you think!

[SmallAxe]

Hey, I WAS diagnosed with IBS and Crohns, then I went under more tests and they said the diagnosis was wrong. I have gone through MRI, CT Scan, Small Bowel Series, endoscopy, colonostapy, ultrasound, numerous x rays, blood tests, etc etc. They haven't found what's going on. They said I have a bunch of small irritations in my colon, and it spazz's out constantly too. It seem's like no doctor can help me and I am just beyond the point of frustration. I try not to even eat until it's a necessity because it's not worth the pain. I am also one of those 20 something year old's that the DEA stereotypes against and would say look's healthy . Without MMJ I would be in abdominal pain constantly.

EDIT: I also despised cannabis until I found out the truth. I would call all my friends "stupid stoners", I even went so far as to throwing out a gram of my friend's weed because I felt like I was doing a good thing (yes I was that brainwashed, and im not afraid to admit it). I did not smoke in high school or college either. A doctor recommended MJ to me, and it changed my life. Live and learn.

[how4]

I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago. But that was 2 years after my problems got really bad. I have probably had it for a lot longer (I was surprised to find out not every one had to shit 30 times a day)

I know one person with UC but have never met anyone else with Crohn's. I'm a bit of a shut in. I have a ton of stupid questions and no one to ask.

[Crohnie]

Originally Posted by how4

I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago. But that was 2 years after my problems got really bad. I have probably had it for a lot longer (I was surprised to find out not every one had to shit 30 times a day)

I know one person with UC but have never met anyone else with Crohn's. I'm a bit of a shut in. I have a ton of stupid questions and no one to ask.

Have you checked the ccfa.org website? There is a ton of useful info there. They also have support group meetings that can be very helpful. I would also recommend checking out healthtalk.com, they have webcasts every so often that you can listen to that are very useful as well. You could always PM me and ask any questions, I would be glad to help if I can.

[how4]

Originally Posted by Crohnie

Have you checked the ccfa.org website? There is a ton of useful info there. They also have support group meetings that can be very helpful. I would also recommend checking out healthtalk.com, they have webcasts every so often that you can listen to that are very useful as well. You could always PM me and ask any questions, I would be glad to help if I can.

Thank you so much for the info.

Just a few more posts before I can PM.

I was thinking about going to one of the ccfa support meetings.

But a room of strangers can be intimidating.

[Crohnie]

Originally Posted by how4

Thank you so much for the info.

Just a few more posts before I can PM.

I was thinking about going to one of the ccfa support meetings.

But a room of strangers can be intimidating.

I haven't been to one of the meetings in a while, but they helped me tremendously when I was first diagnosed. I live in OC and they have their meetings the third Wed. of every month. I felt sooo much better after the first time I went, just to know other people are dealing with the same issues as I am. The first meeting I went to there was only 5 people, but now they usually have at least 10 people at every meeting.

[12onin]

I'm probably posting in a dead thread, but I have been diagnosed with IBD and my current doctor is learning toward a diagnosis of Crohn's. It was all very shockin, as im only 24, but this is apparently a young disease. Cannabis has been a great relief for me when my colon just wont STFU and stop gurgling.

It slows down my colon, and helps me relax. Without it i'd probably be in a lot more pain and discomfort. I'm glad to see i'm not alone in this.

I hope everyone is doing well.

[Absynthe]

I was diagnosed with IBS 4 years ago along with all my other diseases after an accident, that crushed my discs and smashed the back of my neck and head, and back, hip, left foot. Anyway, They seem to be gunning for Crohn's on me of late, but I do disagree, according to symptoms.

I do wish everyone well - I've spent last few days cramped over, drinking "mystery brew tea", because I can't smoke anything until the house painters go home for the day.

[hotpipe]

Originally Posted by how4

I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago. But that was 2 years after my problems got really bad. I have probably had it for a lot longer (I was surprised to find out not every one had to shit 30 times a day)

I know one person with UC but have never met anyone else with Crohn's. I'm a bit of a shut in. I have a ton of stupid questions and no one to ask.

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS THREAD!

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was fifteen and have had massive flare-ups every year, usually lasting eight months, until discovering the culprit: Gluten. I have not been officially diagnosed with Celiac's, but any minor flare since reducing my gluten intake has been during the times i tend to cheat more. I love cake and sweets! They can't stay away from me...

Since getting my mmj recommendation, I find that my general well-being has greatly improved. I don't feel as stressed and I guaranteed a good night's sleep, which has also helped my weak immune system a lot!

I have a close friend who has crohn's but is not a mmj patient. It's good to see that so many other Crohn's and UC patients are benefiting from mmj!

I am always receptive to questions...

[12onin]

Since i have crohn's.. it seems if i smoke too much at a given time it seems to exacerbate my symptoms. I have a feeling that even though they say nicotine is a harmful agent for crohn's, i tend to feel that carcinogens are just as bad.

I ordered a Vaporgenie and plan on finding out if it makes a difference.
Anyone have experience with this particular portable vaporizer?

[JBD>PHX]

I was diagnosed with crohns disease just after I turned 14, and now being 22 have had crohns for a significant portion of my life. I was always fascinated by medical marijuana even as a young teen although it wasn't until I was 18 that I decided MMJ could possibly be very beneficial for me. When I got my recommendation I thought I was going to be a "pioneer" for crohns and UC patients in the MMJ world, simply because I didn't think anyone else out there thought the way I did about herb, but I guess it turns out there are a lot of us! But it truly is remarkable after all the doctors i've seen, pills i've taken and cameras i've had shoved up my ass that at the end of the day there is only one medicine that I find brings me REAL long lasting relief... marijuana.
Without it I have NO apetite, have debilitating stomach pain and shit upwards of 20x per day. But whenever I feel rough I just have to snap a load or two of some crypto and that all goes away... the cramps subside, I can leave the bathroom and I just wanna eat everything in sight, not to mention the mood lift (which can be a real life saver when you just feel like you want to die). Anyway, I just signed up for the forum and had to put my in 2cents, its good to know other people are finding relief thru MMJ :)

[Bangi-Shaman]

Just wanted to enlighten any Chron's patients who might not know, that PROBIOTICS are a key weapon for you in that fight. If any of you are not taking a probiotics supplement, you are overlooking something extremely important.

Seriously, please get your ass to Whole Foods or whatever health store, and get some immediately. :)

For anyone unfamiliar, probiotics are benefical bacteria found in the intestines and stomach (different types in each though). I'm not a doctor, but I have a very strong suspicion that Chron's is simply a near-total, chronic depletion of beneficial gut flora (probiotic bacteria). I believe IBS is often a case of pretty bad, but not total depletion of same.

I had bad IBS/possibly Chron's several years ago, and cured myself of it using probiotics, digestive enzymes, and fiber. Trust me folks, that combo is like the holy trinity of GI wellness. If you do these three things daily (enzymes with each meal, probiotics twice daily and fiber once daily), I GUARANTEE you that you will see dramatic improvement, and I'm talking about like overnight, or within a few days at most. And in severe cases, I would suggest taking probiotics several times (like 5+) a day until improvement is forced.

You see, these beneficial bacteria go in and repopulate the gut, where they eat the putrefactive, bad bacteria that have overrun the tract of the Chron's/IBS patient. Those bad bacteria cause inflammation and cellular dysfunction, and until you send an army to go vanquish them and restore order, they are going to stay and get more and more entrenched and cause increasing bowel distress and pathology.

Any doctor who prescribes weird drugs and gives colonoscopies and runs expensive tests, etc. first, without even trying this natural regimen, failing to see the overwhelming primary importance of the role of probiotic bacteria, is irresponsible and uninformed in my book. Yet that's what a lot of them do.

I hope this info helps some of you. I've been through it, and cured myself by the method I describe here. You can do it for yourself too, better than an M.D. can.

[Knottyone]

Originally Posted by raynor21

Hey all, I've known that I've had Crohn's disease for about 8 years, and, in those 8 years, it was extremely rare that I would run in to another Crohn's patient. Now that I've been introduced to the MMJ world, it seems like a ton of patients suffer from Crohn's disease. So, in short, how many of you here are Crohn's patients, and, when were you first diagnosed?

Thank you!
-Justin

Hi Ive had crohns for 8 years too, im 27 and have been on remicade a couple years now and it has helped greatly - currently im looking into stem cell therapy as there have promising results in other countries for IBD patients - Nice to see this sub-forum is still around...

[medicalmanta]

Originally Posted by Bangi-Shaman

Just wanted to enlighten any Chron's patients who might not know, that PROBIOTICS are a key weapon for you in that fight. If any of you are not taking a probiotics supplement, you are overlooking something extremely important.

Seriously, please get your ass to Whole Foods or whatever health store, and get some immediately. :)

For anyone unfamiliar, probiotics are benefical bacteria found in the intestines and stomach (different types in each though). I'm not a doctor, but I have a very strong suspicion that Chron's is simply a near-total, chronic depletion of beneficial gut flora (probiotic bacteria). I believe IBS is often a case of pretty bad, but not total depletion of same.

I had bad IBS/possibly Chron's several years ago, and cured myself of it using probiotics, digestive enzymes, and fiber. Trust me folks, that combo is like the holy trinity of GI wellness. If you do these three things daily (enzymes with each meal, probiotics twice daily and fiber once daily), I GUARANTEE you that you will see dramatic improvement, and I'm talking about like overnight, or within a few days at most. And in severe cases, I would suggest taking probiotics several times (like 5+) a day until improvement is forced.

You see, these beneficial bacteria go in and repopulate the gut, where they eat the putrefactive, bad bacteria that have overrun the tract of the Chron's/IBS patient. Those bad bacteria cause inflammation and cellular dysfunction, and until you send an army to go vanquish them and restore order, they are going to stay and get more and more entrenched and cause increasing bowel distress and pathology.

Any doctor who prescribes weird drugs and gives colonoscopies and runs expensive tests, etc. first, without even trying this natural regimen, failing to see the overwhelming primary importance of the role of probiotic bacteria, is irresponsible and uninformed in my book. Yet that's what a lot of them do.

I hope this info helps some of you. I've been through it, and cured myself by the method I describe here. You can do it for yourself too, better than an M.D. can.

I have IBS but since you posed a link to that info over in the IBS thread...I've heard about probiotics from a bunch of people, tried the pills but am not good at remembering to take such things and usually don't get much down...I found some stuff at the store however, that is basically drinkable yogurt but listed as a probiotic drink (yogurt has the same beneficial bacteria), its fairly pleasant and not hard to get down when I need to put something in my stomach urgently. Haven't been on it long enough yet to say. Are the other two supplements that I could get at whole foods as well?

[12onin]

Originally Posted by medicalmanta

I have IBS but since you posed a link to that info over in the IBS thread...I've heard about probiotics from a bunch of people, tried the pills but am not good at remembering to take such things and usually don't get much down...I found some stuff at the store however, that is basically drinkable yogurt but listed as a probiotic drink (yogurt has the same beneficial bacteria), its fairly pleasant and not hard to get down when I need to put something in my stomach urgently. Haven't been on it long enough yet to say. Are the other two supplements that I could get at whole foods as well?

I can tell you that although they help, it may not necessarily work for everyone 100%. I take probiotics daily, and I personally don't notice a difference. But i certainly recommend them because they may help you more than they have for me. I wish you the best.

[pushinweight]

the only good probiotics on the market are custom probiotics...don't take probiotics if your taking medication, its a waste of money. the whole point of probiotics are to plant good bacteria in a colon that has all toxins removed from it after you have been on a diet of saturated fat, animal protien(organic only) and green veggies. antifungal herbs such as pa de arco,black walnut, wormwood,neem leaf and the supplements - vitamin c from twin labs(corn free) jarrow b right, calcim citrate, magnisium citrate, jarrow vitamin e, and jarrow vitamin d3, carlsons cod liver oil, are going to get you better quickly.and god forbid don't drink soda at all !!!

[Nailhead]

Originally Posted by 12onin

Since i have crohn's.. it seems if i smoke too much at a given time it seems to exacerbate my symptoms. I have a feeling that even though they say nicotine is a harmful agent for crohn's, i tend to feel that carcinogens are just as bad.

I ordered a Vaporgenie and plan on finding out if it makes a difference.
Anyone have experience with this particular portable vaporizer?

I've been using a V-tower Extreme Vape for about a week now and have noticed my BMs are formed. Things haven't been this way for months when I was smoking cannabis through a pipe. I wish more research would be done on vaporizers, especially for us Crohnies, but for my unscientific test so far I'm noticing dramatic improvements. Have your symptoms gotten better?

[VaderDog]

My son was diagnosed with crohn's disease in 1999, but we're sure he had it for at least 5 years before that. He had surgery in 2002 and has been doing well since.

[medicalmanta]

Originally Posted by 12onin

I can tell you that although they help, it may not necessarily work for everyone 100%. I take probiotics daily, and I personally don't notice a difference. But i certainly recommend them because they may help you more than they have for me. I wish you the best.

Well, I've been using this stuff http://www.glenoaksyogurt.com/1-products/products.aspx "Glen Oaks Drinkable Yogurt" pretty regularly for a few weeks now. Its hard for me to say if the probiotics themselves are helpful. However, (I don't know what GI aliment I have, although its likely not to be chrones) I do find it is very important for me to not let my hunger get out of control because that causes immediate problems. This stuff goes down really well in the morning when I don't really want to eat and is nice and filling, I'm not really a huge yogurt fan but this stuff is actually alright. I find that its been easier for me to eat later on in the day if I get some of this down in the morning...just thought I'd pass that along

[CrasHG]

I was 21 at my doctor's office in Bakersfield, CA after having my appendix and gallblatter taken out and still had pain...they thought it was Ulcerative Colitis at first...im now 25.

[12onin]

Originally Posted by Nailhead

I've been using a V-tower Extreme Vape for about a week now and have noticed my BMs are formed. Things haven't been this way for months when I was smoking cannabis through a pipe. I wish more research would be done on vaporizers, especially for us Crohnies, but for my unscientific test so far I'm noticing dramatic improvements. Have your symptoms gotten better?

Yes! much better actually. I really appreciate the concern. Since the vaporgenie i have had much more success with MM and i think it should be something everyone should look into in regards to crohn's or ulcerative colitis.. Not only have i noticed that i dont feel as tired and run down after coming down, but i also tend to feel the benefits longer. If im having a bad day, i medicate before bed and the next day i see immediate improvement, sometimes small, sometimes drastic. I definitely recommend the vaporgenie if you're someone who wants to vape on the go. It's pricier than some of those DIY vapes, but you get a lifetime warranty and free replacement screens and cleaners, so i think its worth it. And definitely get the Exotic one, much easier to use than the original.

Originally Posted by medicalmanta

Well, I've been using this stuff http://www.glenoaksyogurt.com/1-products/products.aspx "Glen Oaks Drinkable Yogurt" pretty regularly for a few weeks now. Its hard for me to say if the probiotics themselves are helpful. However, (I don't know what GI aliment I have, although its likely not to be chrones) I do find it is very important for me to not let my hunger get out of control because that causes immediate problems. This stuff goes down really well in the morning when I don't really want to eat and is nice and filling, I'm not really a huge yogurt fan but this stuff is actually alright. I find that its been easier for me to eat later on in the day if I get some of this down in the morning...just thought I'd pass that along

I too have Glen Oaks yogurt in my fridge right now! I don't notice any benefits but i do take a daily probiotic pill and have some yogurt from time to time. But definitely keep doing what you do if you see benefits.

And to everyone:

I've just started taking a Curcumin supplement for the past month, and it has honestly done wonders for me. Not to say it would work for everyone, but its so cheap, it might be worth a try to anyone willing.
Curcumin is the active ingredient in curry powder. I have an inclination that it may work in much the same way as a 5-ASA compound, sort of like a topical treatment for the inside of your small and large intestine. It really started helping me right away and i saw immediate results.
Its important to get a 95% extract with no Bioperine in it. Im taking Jarrow's Formula 95 500mg. I take 1 pill twice a day. and with 120 pills per bottle for $20 a bottle, it's not bad. basically $10 a month.

If anyone is interested, give it a shot, i hope it can help you as much as it helped me.

[Knottyone]

hey guys, ive had very positive results with Solaray Multidolpholous 12 - available at Whole Foods or online....

http://www.allstarhealth.com/f/solar...ophilus_12.htm

[zutnick]

thanks Knotty Pine I will loook into

[12onin]

I was just wondering if anyone else is having this issue.
After medicating i often feel bloated and gassy, often worse than before i smoked. I have stopped smoking for a few days now because its something that obviously has to do with the MMJ.
As a crohnie, i know the plant can be very beneficial, and when im high, i definitely feel a million times better. But as i'm coming down, the bloating, gas, and discomfort begins. This often causes me to have to use the rest room, or spend the rest of the night on my stomach trying to ease the gas out.

I have spoken with other people in other forums, and they seem to experience similar things, usually to a lesser extent.
If anyone has heard anything about this, or also experiences this, i would love to hear about it.

Its unfortunate that the benefits of the plant are outweighed by this problem im having.
Tell me your thoughts on it.
-B