Artificial sugar in everything is making me miserable
I recently became very sensitive, almost allergic to anything with artificial sweetner. They are putting it in almost everything packaged. Even soup! I have ditched all my jelly & jam. If the label says No Sugar it means fake sugar. Soon as I eat the item, I have stomach pain & diarrhea. Buying the simple things is difficult. The makers hide artificial with funny names. Some items have 2 or more types in one package. Shopping is a research deep dive. So frustrating. I can't possibly make safer versions of e drugging !
Hi
. I know you are not alone in struggling with artificial sweeteners. Our patient leader Paul wrote about his issues with them here: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/living/artificial-sweeter. He also wrote more here, including on the need to be vigilant in reading the packaging here: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/nutrition/read-the-ingredients. Our patient leader Jenna wrote here about even finding the artificial sweeteners in cold medications: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/living/cold-flu. I wish I had some good answers for making avoiding them easier, but it seems vigilance is the answer. Please know that people here understand. Best, Richard (Team Member) 
And in biologics that is what makes people fat..
Hi
, I'm curious to learn more about your comment. I wasn't able to find any information that artificial sweeteners are used in biologic medications. Did you read this in an article or study somewhere? I know that some people on prednisone do experience weight gain, in fact, we do have an article with some information on weight gain and inflammatory bowel disease that I'll link here, https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/living/weight-gain. I'd love to hear more about the information you shared here and where you learned it. -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member) Hi
. I had previously tried to post this information here, but apparently it didn't stick, so this time I'm also tagging because I know she also didn't have a chance to see it. I found this study that looked at weight gain for IBD patients taking anti-TNF biologics (the most common ones used for IBD): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9652190/. It found that that weight gain was associated more with specific biologics and, also, that some patient specific clinical factors play a role (they specifically note "male gender, high CRP, low albumin" ). If this is a problem you run into with biologics, I wonder if this information might help you and your doctor with treatment decisions. Wishing you the best. Richard (Team Member)
Hi to everyone who responded to me i am in the UK. The biologics i have been i have had loads of surcose in them. There is another new biologic for Crohn's and Colitis out there called Omvah which doesnt cause weight gain. It just came out a few months ago. Doesnt have as many serious side affects as other biologics out there.
Hi
, thank you for sharing this information! Are you hoping to speak with your doctor about Omvah at your appointment? -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)
Thank you Richard it us do hard to chose an medication to take dur to the ingredients or the side effects that comes with that medication. I am on azathioprine at the moment. I hope your Crohn's/ colitis is stable..Wishing you all the very best too.
, it certainly can be tough to weigh the potential benefits to the possible side effects (risks) of any medication. You're definitely not alone in that. I'm glad that you've found something you're comfortable with for now. -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)
