Good diet for Crohns?

Hi. I was recently diagnosed with Crohns Disease. I just saw a Gastroenterologist and he talked a lot and very fast, so I didn't get everything. He also has an accent. I tried to concentrate on all that he said. I will see him again next month. Basically, he told me to eat 5 to 6 small meals a day instead of 3 large ones. He also said to stay away from gas producing foods such as beans and avoid lactose and to make sure I was drinking plenty of fluids. He also said to avoid wheat and gluten which I don't understand. We are testing me for Celiac but I don't think I have that. I've always ate wheat or whole grain breads because I like them better than white and feel they're healthier. Now I don't know what to eat!
I'd also like to lose some weight. I don't want to be stuck with a bland diet for the rest of my life, but I do tend to get upset stomachs a lot from things I eat.
He also said to take a chewable childrens vitamin instead of an adults vitamin because I can process it better?? I don't understand that one. He said to take Folic Acid too.
I guess I'm wondering if anyone here has Crohns or any other digestive problems like ulcers who can give me some ideas of things to eat.
I want to eat healthy. I want to lose weight and I want to have more energy, all without upsetting my stomach. Any ideas?

[Med Help]

Hi April2,

We have a registered dietitian answering questions in our Ask-an-Expert forum at http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/143. Seeing how this is a specialized diet question, she can probably give you some good tips. Hope this helps.

MedHelp

[April2]

Thanks! :)

[gchurch4]

Hi April, it's interesting that you just recently posted this because a couple weeks ago I was hearing about a lady who had Crohn's disease. I know this doesn't have much to do with your diet but this lady started taking the Essentials from Usana, and after about 2 weeks of taking them her health turned completely around, just because she was getting what she needed. I know it sounds kind of weird and I don't claim that it's some sort of miracle vitamin, I just thought I would at least let you know since it worked for another lady who had Crohn's also! I really do hope it helps! I'm not a nutritionist or anything but if you have any questions I don't mind answering them no matter what they are.

[April2]

Hi! Thanks for writing. What exactly is Essentials? Is it a multi-vitamin? Someone else recommended a digestive enzyme and I also heard the Cell Foods is good.
My gastro said to take a childrens chewable vitamin. At first I couldn't understand why, but I guess because the body processes it better.

Btw, what does your name stand for? Just curious!

[gchurch4]

The Essential's are a complete multi-vitamin from Usana. It's really good stuff. I'm not an expert or anything. The only reason I posted that was because I knew of a lady who had Crohn's disease but she took the Usana Essentials and it helped her so when I read your post I thought, "Man, she needs to know about the Essentials!" My name actually has no significance other than the fact that "g" stands for Greg and "church" stands for my last name! Haha it's perfectly alright. You're defintely not the first person to ask me that. Church is just my last name so... yeah!