elemental diet - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

AbstractDonut · 05-17-2008, 03:39 PM

Does anyone know whether doctors will prescribe an elemental diet? I mean could you get it through the pharmacy at a discount the online ones I've seen are pretty expensive.

I guess I wonder what the cheapest way to get the stuff is?

Kev · 05-17-2008, 03:52 PM

I'm not sure... I 'thought' (past tense) doctors could only 'prescribe' drugs. My understanding was changed when someone I knew had their doc prescribe a 'pillow'.. The pillow (hypo allergenic outer liner with a liquid filled core) was for whiplash associated pains following an auto accident. Thing of it was, as a doctor 'ordered' it, the insurance company was obliged to pay for it. Then, a short time ago.. a doctor prescribed 'orthotic' shoe inserts... Again, the private health insurance the person subscribed to paid for it. I guess it depends on the doctor, and any insurance one has, whether this would/could work or not. Best bet is to ask your local doctors.

vickyoddsocks · 05-17-2008, 04:01 PM

When i was on the elemental, i got it like any other prescription - from my doctor.

soupdragon69 · 05-18-2008, 02:43 PM

Hi AD,

Your doctor is the only one that can prescribe elemental properly. You should have a dietitian that specialises in gasto problems to work out what your daily requirements are, they send the requirements to the doc and he does the prescription. Dont try and guess you could do yourself out of vital nutrition!

Mine is now on repeat on my script so I can request what I need any time. I stay in regular contact via email, phone and clinic appointments with my dietitian and gastro team.

AbstractDonut · 05-19-2008, 08:46 PM

Hmmm, good info. Mainly hoping its cheaper to go through the doc, but they have brands of it listed at walgreens.com. I'm thinking that I would drink two meals and eat fish or chicken for the other.

soupdragon69 · 05-20-2008, 02:37 PM

Be aware that different types of elemental may have different levels of the same components. Hope that makes sense? I checked the site you mentioned and dont know any of the types mentioned on it.

I use 028 extra. At the minute I have it breakfast and tea time, then sometime between 1-3pm I will have chicken or fish with mashed potato and my veg that I am allowed to eat. So yeah what you are thinking may help you but also be aware the elemental may cause diahorrea during the initial commencement and you need to introduce it slowly and take in extra water.

Hope that helps.

Kev · 05-20-2008, 02:41 PM

Hmm. I'm wondering if elem. diets are of universal nutritional consistency?. I mean is the naming conventions, caloric content, nutritional value the same in the US, UK, Canada, etc., etc.? Course, prescriptions aren't transferable from country to country; so it wouldn't matter even if one was a travelor/visitor.

soupdragon69 · 05-20-2008, 02:52 PM

I dont know Kev thats why I said they may have.. just thought it was worth flagging up.

Kev · 05-20-2008, 03:00 PM

No, it's a very good point.. I don't know how folks on elemental diet travel.

soupdragon69 · 05-20-2008, 03:39 PM

Wellllll mine comes in 250ml cartons or 100g sachets of powder. Have taken the sachets home in a suitcase but there is no way I could manage purely on that alone - have had to be eating as well - as I just wouldnt physically have room for anything else in my case!

The 250ml cartons come in blocks of 18 and are a pain to carry as heavy and bulky and just plain too heavy for a suitcase.

I also had to get my GP to write a cover letter in case I was stopped carrying white powder ;-) I actually had more trouble airport wise LEAVING northern ireland than getting into it which is hilarious. Sort of ooh we are more worried what you are taking out as bringing in!! ha ha ha Thats what I call irish!

Kev · 05-21-2008, 12:24 AM

Don't get me started on airports. Maybe it's my size, maybe its the way I like to dress casually when traveling... jeans, tee shirt, cowboy or biker boots that are comfy, utilitarean, can be worn to casual or semi casual functions, or that.. when my hair N beard get a little too long.. I look like a stereotypical member of Hell's Angels.. But every trip thru airport security is a nitemare.

Now that I've got crohns, i've toyed with the idea of deliberately acting real suspicious next trip thru the airport. But I guess I'd need a mirror to see the look on the customs agent who drew the short straw and got the "pleasure" of doing my cavity search.. I mean, for us crohnies, its nothing new... but I'm betting it would be a search he/she not soon forget. ;-)

05-17-2008, 03:39 PM	#1
AbstractDonut Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 235	elemental diet Does anyone know whether doctors will prescribe an elemental diet? I mean could you get it through the pharmacy at a discount the online ones I've seen are pretty expensive. I guess I wonder what the cheapest way to get the stuff is?

05-17-2008, 03:52 PM	#2
Kev Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 3,886	I'm not sure... I 'thought' (past tense) doctors could only 'prescribe' drugs. My understanding was changed when someone I knew had their doc prescribe a 'pillow'.. The pillow (hypo allergenic outer liner with a liquid filled core) was for whiplash associated pains following an auto accident. Thing of it was, as a doctor 'ordered' it, the insurance company was obliged to pay for it. Then, a short time ago.. a doctor prescribed 'orthotic' shoe inserts... Again, the private health insurance the person subscribed to paid for it. I guess it depends on the doctor, and any insurance one has, whether this would/could work or not. Best bet is to ask your local doctors. __________________ KEV

05-17-2008, 04:01 PM	#3
vickyoddsocks wears odd socks Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lincoln/Leeds Posts: 134	When i was on the elemental, i got it like any other prescription - from my doctor. __________________ Vicky OdD SoCkS!

05-18-2008, 02:43 PM	#4
soupdragon69 ele mental leprechaun Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Leicestershire UK Posts: 1,358	Hi AD, Your doctor is the only one that can prescribe elemental properly. You should have a dietitian that specialises in gasto problems to work out what your daily requirements are, they send the requirements to the doc and he does the prescription. Dont try and guess you could do yourself out of vital nutrition! Mine is now on repeat on my script so I can request what I need any time. I stay in regular contact via email, phone and clinic appointments with my dietitian and gastro team. __________________ Jan IF YOU DON'T JUMP YOU WONT EVER LEARN TO FLY Brittle asthma 1996, Hypothyroidism 1998, Severe Crohns ileitis 2006 , Severe IBS 2007, Inflammatory/Rheumatoid Arthritis 2008, Sebhorreic Eczema and Folliculitis 1992, Roseca, steroid induced acne and Hidradenitis Suppurativa 2008, Multiple allergies and food intolerances diagnosed from 2003. Newly diagnosed fibromyalgia Dec 2009. Newly diagnosed calcific tendonitis Jan 2010.

05-20-2008, 02:37 PM	#6
soupdragon69 ele mental leprechaun Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Leicestershire UK Posts: 1,358	Be aware that different types of elemental may have different levels of the same components. Hope that makes sense? I checked the site you mentioned and dont know any of the types mentioned on it. I use 028 extra. At the minute I have it breakfast and tea time, then sometime between 1-3pm I will have chicken or fish with mashed potato and my veg that I am allowed to eat. So yeah what you are thinking may help you but also be aware the elemental may cause diahorrea during the initial commencement and you need to introduce it slowly and take in extra water. Hope that helps. __________________ Jan IF YOU DON'T JUMP YOU WONT EVER LEARN TO FLY Brittle asthma 1996, Hypothyroidism 1998, Severe Crohns ileitis 2006 , Severe IBS 2007, Inflammatory/Rheumatoid Arthritis 2008, Sebhorreic Eczema and Folliculitis 1992, Roseca, steroid induced acne and Hidradenitis Suppurativa 2008, Multiple allergies and food intolerances diagnosed from 2003. Newly diagnosed fibromyalgia Dec 2009. Newly diagnosed calcific tendonitis Jan 2010.

05-19-2008, 08:46 PM	#5
AbstractDonut Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 235	Hmmm, good info. Mainly hoping its cheaper to go through the doc, but they have brands of it listed at walgreens.com. I'm thinking that I would drink two meals and eat fish or chicken for the other.

05-20-2008, 02:41 PM	#7
Kev Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 3,886	Hmm. I'm wondering if elem. diets are of universal nutritional consistency?. I mean is the naming conventions, caloric content, nutritional value the same in the US, UK, Canada, etc., etc.? Course, prescriptions aren't transferable from country to country; so it wouldn't matter even if one was a travelor/visitor. __________________ KEV

05-20-2008, 02:52 PM	#8
soupdragon69 ele mental leprechaun Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Leicestershire UK Posts: 1,358	I dont know Kev thats why I said they may have.. just thought it was worth flagging up. __________________ Jan IF YOU DON'T JUMP YOU WONT EVER LEARN TO FLY Brittle asthma 1996, Hypothyroidism 1998, Severe Crohns ileitis 2006 , Severe IBS 2007, Inflammatory/Rheumatoid Arthritis 2008, Sebhorreic Eczema and Folliculitis 1992, Roseca, steroid induced acne and Hidradenitis Suppurativa 2008, Multiple allergies and food intolerances diagnosed from 2003. Newly diagnosed fibromyalgia Dec 2009. Newly diagnosed calcific tendonitis Jan 2010.

05-20-2008, 03:00 PM	#9
Kev Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 3,886	No, it's a very good point.. I don't know how folks on elemental diet travel. __________________ KEV

05-20-2008, 03:39 PM	#10
soupdragon69 ele mental leprechaun Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Leicestershire UK Posts: 1,358	Wellllll mine comes in 250ml cartons or 100g sachets of powder. Have taken the sachets home in a suitcase but there is no way I could manage purely on that alone - have had to be eating as well - as I just wouldnt physically have room for anything else in my case! The 250ml cartons come in blocks of 18 and are a pain to carry as heavy and bulky and just plain too heavy for a suitcase. I also had to get my GP to write a cover letter in case I was stopped carrying white powder ;-) I actually had more trouble airport wise LEAVING northern ireland than getting into it which is hilarious. Sort of ooh we are more worried what you are taking out as bringing in!! ha ha ha Thats what I call irish! __________________ Jan IF YOU DON'T JUMP YOU WONT EVER LEARN TO FLY Brittle asthma 1996, Hypothyroidism 1998, Severe Crohns ileitis 2006 , Severe IBS 2007, Inflammatory/Rheumatoid Arthritis 2008, Sebhorreic Eczema and Folliculitis 1992, Roseca, steroid induced acne and Hidradenitis Suppurativa 2008, Multiple allergies and food intolerances diagnosed from 2003. Newly diagnosed fibromyalgia Dec 2009. Newly diagnosed calcific tendonitis Jan 2010.

05-21-2008, 12:24 AM	#11
Kev Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 3,886	Don't get me started on airports. Maybe it's my size, maybe its the way I like to dress casually when traveling... jeans, tee shirt, cowboy or biker boots that are comfy, utilitarean, can be worn to casual or semi casual functions, or that.. when my hair N beard get a little too long.. I look like a stereotypical member of Hell's Angels.. But every trip thru airport security is a nitemare. Now that I've got crohns, i've toyed with the idea of deliberately acting real suspicious next trip thru the airport. But I guess I'd need a mirror to see the look on the customs agent who drew the short straw and got the "pleasure" of doing my cavity search.. I mean, for us crohnies, its nothing new... but I'm betting it would be a search he/she not soon forget. ;-) __________________ KEV