Malabsorption - What You Can Do

As you know, with an IBD comes intestinal inflammation. During times of flare-up, or if you have had a resectioning surgery, chances are you are not properly absorbing the vitamins and minerals from food that your body needs to stay healthy.

After we eat, the small intestine (SI) is responsible for processing and passing nutrients into the blood stream. Depending on which portion of the SI is inflammed - or missing - directly corresponds to which vitamins and minerals you will have the most issues with. For example, if you are required to take B12 shots, it's because the terminal 4' are damaged or nonexistent. The easiest way to thwart malabsorption is to take daily supplements. IBD patients must typically take 1.5 - 2 times the recommended daily requirement to compensate for the shortfall.

Here is a common list of symptoms and what they could mean. Of course, only your doctor can identify with certainty what you are missing and why:

- Chills, poor complexion, fatigue, anemia = low iron and folic acid
- Sore mouth, cracks in lips, sore tongue = B-complex vitamins and folic acid
- Loss of taste and smell, slow healing cuts, acne = zinc
- Mild depression, confusion, irritability = B-complex vitamins and folic acid
- Muscle aches, lower back pain = calcium and magnesium
- Muscle weakness, spasms, numbness, tingling = electrolytes
- Bruises = Vitamin K and C
[source: The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut by Dr. James Scala]

The two major signs of malabsorption in adults are failure to maintain weight/weight loss and fatigue. Secondary symptoms include depression, irritability, headaches, and changes in your skin (cracking, dryness). This can be remedied by increasing calories through protein, carbohydrates, and omega oils (specifically olive and flax). How hard can that be, right?!

Keep in mind the average IBD sufferer is sensitive to certain foods...so eating is a challenge to begin with! Some things to consider:

- Avoid or limit red meats (they are harder to digest); eat fish, fowl and eggs for protein
- Eat rice, potatoes, and pasta for carbs
- Avocados, olive oil, and flax oil are GOOD fats that even help prevent flares/inflammation

On a (Re)Mission

When I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 2007, I was overwhelmed between trying to find helpful resources, support from people who understood what I was going through, and mentally adjusting to a life-changing medical need. I would search for certain symptoms, medication side effects, books, recipes - anything I could get my hands on to help cope. My goal is to pull everything together into one site, and even if I help just one person, I've accomplished something. I want people to know that they aren't alone and to hopefully share what works for some people, and what hasn't worked. In NO WAY do I have any medical training, nor do I claim to be a Crohn's Disease expert. Everything on this site is opinion...based on experiences, stories, advice, trying to find the humor within the battle, interesting articles I've stumbled upon, and helping others feel calm when your body feels out of control. I want this blog to be what I wish I had access to when I didn't know where to turn.