I'm so sorry that you have been so sick, I don't have crohn's , I have UC but when in a flare I usually stick to the BRAT diet, bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Crackers should be fine and maybe eggs but what works for one doesn't always work for someone else.
Best of luck to you!!!

Are you under a GI doc's care yet? 6 month waiting list for imaging... that's crazy. Yeah, I know a lot of folks here, like JeanCarlin, do the BRAT diet when they're flaring or not feeling well. Stick to small, bland meals, soup, etc. I think if it gets really bad and you're getting severely malnourished, then try the Ensure but I wouldn't rely on it. I also am just a big believer in, eat what you can tolerate. Now, I'm not talking stuff that's going to bother your symptoms, but if rice cakes are ok, eat the hell out of rice cakes. If you are able to eat a half a turkey sandwich with no issues, stick to that. It's boring I know but it's temporary.

Iron supplements can be hard on your stomach so just be aware of that. Even when I've been super anemic, I've not take them and my GI doesn't recommend them either. But your doc may think it's fine. If you can, try to eat oatmeal or cereal, or other foods fortified with iron and vitamins. I know it's hard because you don't feel like eating but it's just something to think about. Once you get a diagnosis and things are controlled, fiber is actually important.

If it gets really bad where you are getting scary sick, start being really assertive with your doc about getting you in sooner. Sometimes it can take a while to get in with a specialist or have the test, but it shouldn't take half a year to have a diagnostic test. Not cool at all.

Thanks guys, that's a good start!

The barium swallow is needed for the referral to GI Dr, if it shows something then I'll get in sooner. Ultrasound is 6 months wait, but that's the imaging that my GP says will be the most helpful until I see GI Dr for scoping.

Unfortunately the reality of Healthcare here is that all the good imaging is done at a hospital and the fastest way to get in is through emerge. And you don't get far unless you're actually very ill. I can barely do a day's work and spend most of my time at home resting. I'm hoping that some diet changes will keep me from needing emerge care.

An expert at Mt Sinai in NYC put my son on Entocort. The diarrhesa stopped. Now he can eat. He drinks Ensure 3xs a day. No milk products and he takes calcium, all the B vitamins, zinc and vitamin D He was hospitalized 3 times in the past year because his potassium and magnesium were so low. So scary. He was 137 lbs. at one point. He feels better and is slowly gaining weight and strength. Hang on and I hope you get seen soon.

It's working! My Dr told me that I had to combat anemia and constipation by eating high fiber vegetables and red meat and basically nothing else. What a mess. I've changed to a more BRAT-like diet and guess what? No diarrhea this morning. One Ensure is actually enough to fill me up, but I managed to get in 2 small bananas, 1/2c of applesauce, and 1c of bland pasta with 3 Ensures yesterday. I felt like a blimp by the end of the day.

Also had another blood draw yesterday for an updated hematology profile as well as C reactive protein test. Dr called me to say that wait list for Barium XRay is 4+ months so she's writing an urgent referral to a GI specialist, asking them to order the imaging before even seeing me, as they have more power than a GP.

I can't tell if the iron is bugging me or not, I've made too many changes in the last few days to know for sure!

Oh I'm glad you have some progress. Be may be worried about getting constipated to that's the reason for the high fiber? Dunno. But for now, it's good you are able to eat. I'd still keep the meals light. Smaller meals throughout the day are probably easier on your gut.

I should go back and explain the constipation... I was in a car crash and we've been trying to figure out the best pain meds for me. The last ones we tried were off the shelf muscle relaxants (with acetaminophen... I have known for a long time that ibuprofen does very bad things to me) but those constipated me really badly (as all meds do). So my Dr was worried about that, and because my main complaint was abdominal pain, she did blood profile, occult stool sample, parasite, and liver check. When she got back the blood results she immediately ordered ferritin and told me to increase consumption of red meat (eat it every day) and more fiber. I already eat the highest fiber diet I've ever seen so to increase that meant going off the deep end with kale and beets. I tried metamucil but it causes pain. Anyway, my Dr is on vacation and the relief Dr is the one who jumped straight to crohn's.

In short, constipation is never an issue for me unless I'm on a medication that causes it and then it's all kinds of laxatives and suppositories.