Crohns, dairy as a trigger?

crohns, dairy as a trigger?

Hi, I am joining as I feel it is about time to get clarification on possible triggers for my children. Crohns is common in my husband's family, he has it badly himself, since a young age. My youngest child(5) was diagnosed allergic to dairy and egg at 8months (symptoms major external swelling but not affecting her airways).

However the doctors in their wisdom have now done a "food challenge" for the dairy and declared her no longer allergic and insisted that we give her dairy every day. I am majorily concerned that her body does not want it, and that we are risking triggering crohns.

I've seen a couple of articles that suggest a link. I think it also aggrevates her - appetite not as good and more susceptible to eczema.

I would be interested in other peoples experience and/or opinions.

Hi tjmjcp and welcome to the forum.

When I was about 12, I got referred to a children's hospital in London. As soon as I saw GI there, she put me in a milk and egg free diet. I ended up being on it for a year for nothing, because it didn't do anything for me. grrr. But still, this shows that some GI's do believe in the egg and milk thing.

If egg and milk aggravates your child, then it's only common sense not to give it to them.

thanks, that's my "mother's instinct" but my husband doesn't believe.........

I was told by our nutritionist that the enzyme needed to digest dairy is in the lining of the bowel...the part that is inflamed while you are symptomatic. She also told me that it can take up to 3 months for the colon to heal (after symptoms have subsided).

Isn't it something to do with MAP bacteria from cattle that is prevalent in milk. Pasteurization doesn't eliminate the bacteria & it attacks us Crohnies. Was advised by my specialist years ago to only ever use UHT milk on low fibre cereal's that I have.

Rgds
Grant

1st symptoms 1983
Diagnosed 1985
1997 Right Hemicolectomy & Resection
2002 Laperotomy & Resection
2010 Laproscopic Ileocolic Resection

Been on Azathioprine & Pred

Currently on Entocort 3mg every other day
Humira 40mg every two weeks
Calcichew
Pentasa 4gm daily
3mthly B12 Jabs

Hi tjmjcp,

I did just write quite a long reply, but its all disappeared! argh, lol

Anyway, short version of what I said:

I was watching a really interesting video about dairy just a couple of hours ago, by a doctor. As I'm new here its not letting me post the url, so if you search on youtube for "Dairy: 6 Reasons You Should Avoid It at all Costs" it should come up.

Also, I've read a LOT about how dairy isn't very good for most people. There's a lot online about it, and its quite easy to find. I don't think I've come across any good reasons to eat dairy - other than as a calcium source, but then there are better sources of calcium than dairy, such as broccoli!

Lastly, there definitely seems to be a link with cows milk and eczema. I've heard a number people say that their, or their childrens eczema disappears or improves when they switch to goats milk instead.

Hope thats helpful!

lilchan xx

I had a problem with dairy when I was a kid and my GI (who was from Stanford's children hospital here in Ca.) said that milk does not onset Crohn's symptoms and more than likely I was simply lactose intolerant. As we get older our bodies don't produce as much of the enzyme lactase which helps break down lactose in milk causing us to have symptoms like pain, gas, diarrhea etc. There are plenty of alternative milk choices out there such as Lactaid which is what I drank as a kid, because not only do we have a hard time digesting lactose as we get older but we weren't raised on cows either and cows milk contains proteins that are harder to break down (if you can break them down at all and if you can't then that's a milk allergy).

I wouldn't worry about it triggering the Crohn's (because food brings on symptoms but does not cause flares), I'd be more worried about anaphylaxis (which can be life threatening) from a milk allergy if she is in fact allergic to milk.

Welcome to the forum!

thanks everyone for your messages. Seems to me dairy is a no go for just about everyone. Not a view that is popular of course. I'm making appointments with the Crohns specialist here - we'll see if he will support me!

Hey there, first off welcome to the forums and secondly when I was diagnosed I was told due to Crohn's I might be slightly lactose-intolerant as well. I have noticed though that heavy dairy is a trigger for me. I don't usually do too well with ice-cream.

Found a link for the MAP bacteria thing I was on about earlier.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3663336.stm

Rgds
Grant

1st symptoms 1983
Diagnosed 1985
1997 Right Hemicolectomy & Resection
2002 Laperotomy & Resection
2010 Laproscopic Ileocolic Resection

Been on Azathioprine & Pred

Currently on Entocort 3mg every other day
Humira 40mg every two weeks
Calcichew
Pentasa 4gm daily
3mthly B12 Jabs