LOW fiber diet?!

LaurenAOK
LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I went to a gastroenterologist today and received a bit of a surprise. I had the appointment because for several years, I have been periodically experiencing stomach pain so severe I pass out. I have seen several doctors and finally got in with this specialist. I was excited, but what he told me surprised me!

He said based on what I told him of my history, he thinks I've been experiencing severe abdominal distension... which is just a fancy way of saying I get really bloated. He said when the bowel bloats (expands) it can cause excruciating pain for short periods of time, which is what I've always had.

He put me on an over-the-counter drug for the next couple of months but he also mentioned dietary changes. As far as my diet, he said I should try to keep my fiber levels low! I thought this was soooo weird because I've always heard how healthy it is to have a diet high in fiber. But he told me to limit my amounts of leafy greens, etc. because fiber can irritate my bowels and cause extra bloating since I'm sensitive to it. I'm a little freaked out by this because I've really been eating healthier over the last several months, and now it seems like I need to decrease a lot of the healthy foods I eat. I like to eat salads (leafy greens), fruits and veggies, whole grains, etc. All of those are high in fiber, which I always thought was a good thing!

So I'm not sure how I can really keep eating so healthy and also have a diet low-ish in fiber? I know the obvious answer is to start doing low-carb since lots of carbs are good sources of fiber, but I really can't see myself doing that long term. In fact, I've tried low carb before and was absolutely miserable. I also passed out on the third day of it. Is anyone else out there eating healthy but not eating much fiber? How do you do it? I feel so weird haha.

Replies

  • dewgirl321
    dewgirl321 Posts: 296 Member
    wow, that is interesting news! maybe that's why you felt better when you stopped being vegetarian? how low is low? did the doc give you a number to try to stay below?
  • choochoobell
    choochoobell Posts: 147 Member
    bump
  • pupcamper
    pupcamper Posts: 410 Member
    Maybe you will be able to add it back into your diet gradually to figure out your tolerance! I can't offer healthy low fibre advice but I hope you can get things figured out! :drinker:
  • Miguel_29
    Miguel_29 Posts: 19 Member
    How much fiber were you averaging.?
  • RoanneRed
    RoanneRed Posts: 429 Member
    While I'm definitely no expert and you should probably follow the specialist's instructions, I would be inclined to reduce grains before I reduced salad/vegetable/fruit intake. The bacteria in your digestive tract feed on sugars and fibre and the by-product is gas - this is why reducing fibre would reduce bloating and flatulence (I found).
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    Just to clarify, he didn't think a high fiber diet was the CAUSE of my issues (I've been having this since high school and I ate pure crap back then). He just said eating a lower amount of fiber may help reduce my episodes.
    wow, that is interesting news! maybe that's why you felt better when you stopped being vegetarian? how low is low? did the doc give you a number to try to stay below?

    You know, I didn't even think of that! You're so smart! I was definitely eating more fiber when I was vegetarian. That could've contributed to the issues I was having.

    He didn't recommend me a certain number, he just said to try to "reduce my portion sizes of things that are high in fiber." I'm also not sure how much fiber I was even getting before. Probably somewhere around 20g, which isn't anything ridiculous.
  • Jill_newimprovedversion
    Jill_newimprovedversion Posts: 988 Member
    I just resumed a *normal* diet after having to be on a low fiber diet. I had the beginning flare up of diverticulitis...the first in many years.

    I do understand the frustration- but it's VERY likely it's a temporary thing- often just 2-3 days, maybe a week...to give the colon a rest...then SLOWLY add the fiber back in.

    Just keep track of your intake...you'll do fine.
    You are welcomed to peruse my diary - 5/25 thru 6/2 ( I didn't log everyday) to see what kinds of low fiber food items held me over.


    Best wishes-
    Hope you heal up quickly....
  • Jill_newimprovedversion
    Jill_newimprovedversion Posts: 988 Member

    I know the obvious answer is to start doing low-carb since lots of carbs are good sources of fiber

    If I'm understanding his instructions, what you're wanting to avoid is complex carbs such as whole grains- FOR NOW...while your innards *rest*....
    Just stay within the guidelines MFP gives you here for daily carbs...
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    I just resumed a *normal* diet after having to be on a low fiber diet. I had the beginning flare up of diverticulitis...the first in many years.

    I do understand the frustration- but it's VERY likely it's a temporary thing- often just 2-3 days, maybe a week...to give the colon a rest...then SLOWLY add the fiber back in.

    Just keep track of your intake...you'll do fine.
    You are welcomed to peruse my diary - 5/25 thru 6/2 ( I didn't log everyday) to see what kinds of low fiber food items held me over.


    Best wishes-
    Hope you heal up quickly....

    Thank you, I'm glad to hear someone else has done something similar! I'll take a look at your diary :)
  • eclong
    eclong Posts: 12 Member
    I have Crohn's Disease and was put on a low fiber diet to help manage the pain. It is EXTREMELY difficult to find foods to eat. While I was on it I just uppped my protein a lot (lots of boiled eggs, fish, and chicken) and ate a lot of bland foods. Mine was only for a few weeks but it did help with my stomach issues while my meds were adjusted. If you are doing this long term I would ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist, and would even suggest getting tested for Crohn's or Colitis. If you need anymore information feel free to message me. Best of luck to you, I know it sucks.
  • dewgirl321
    dewgirl321 Posts: 296 Member
    Just to clarify, he didn't think a high fiber diet was the CAUSE of my issues (I've been having this since high school and I ate pure crap back then). He just said eating a lower amount of fiber may help reduce my episodes.
    wow, that is interesting news! maybe that's why you felt better when you stopped being vegetarian? how low is low? did the doc give you a number to try to stay below?

    You know, I didn't even think of that! You're so smart! I was definitely eating more fiber when I was vegetarian. That could've contributed to the issues I was having.

    He didn't recommend me a certain number, he just said to try to "reduce my portion sizes of things that are high in fiber." I'm also not sure how much fiber I was even getting before. Probably somewhere around 20g, which isn't anything ridiculous.

    :smile:
    Yeah I looked at your diary and it doesn't look like your fiber intake has been all that excessive. I read that for low fiber diets you should make sure you look for foods that have no more than 1 gram of fiber in a serving. So I guess the total isn't so much the issue. Shouldn't be *too* difficult. Hope it helps you feel better.
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    I'm sorry to bother you when you're asking about diet changes, but can you tell me where you feel the pain? I have (and have had) a problem that is kind of similar and doctors have never been able to be much help. When I have it, I'm often in too much pain to eat and I have come very close to passing out from the pain (browning out and grabbing a chair).

    It's always severe, SEVERE pain in my lower stomach. The way I describe it is like someone lit a furnace in my stomach, or like I'm being stabbed in the abdomen. I will usually pass out or at least black out temporarily (this is particularly concerning if the pain sets on suddenly while I'm driving).

    I've been seeing doctors and having tests done since I was 17! And no one has been able to give me a straight answer until today. Even this doctor did say that without further testing he couldn't confirm anything, this was just his best guess at the time. I swear this is like the mystery illness! It doesn't seem to be caused by eating anything in particular... it just comes out of NOWHERE.
    I have Crohn's Disease and was put on a low fiber diet to help manage the pain. It is EXTREMELY difficult to find foods to eat. While I was on it I just uppped my protein a lot (lots of boiled eggs, fish, and chicken) and ate a lot of bland foods. Mine was only for a few weeks but it did help with my stomach issues while my meds were adjusted. If you are doing this long term I would ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist, and would even suggest getting tested for Crohn's or Colitis. If you need anymore information feel free to message me. Best of luck to you, I know it sucks.

    Ugh, sorry to hear you have to deal with Chron's. I definitely hear you with it being difficult to find foods to eat!! That's why I'm concerned :/ I love protein so that's not a problem, but like I said I have tried a low-carb diet before in which I mainly ate the things you just described (I did eat SOME veggies, just not a lot) and my body didn't tolerate it well (passed out on day 3, and just felt cruddy the whole time). Fortunately the doctor didn't think it seemed like Chron's or anything at this time. He said if I wanted we could to a colonoscopy to check everything out, but he didn't think it was necessary. He said since this has been going on for several years and I have yet to have any truly serious complications, it probably wasn't anything that severe. Especially since the episodes occur pretty rarely nowdays (2-3 times a year, mostly. I'll get stomachaches way more often than that, but not pass-out level).
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    It's always severe, SEVERE pain in my lower stomach. The way I describe it is like someone lit a furnace in my stomach, or like I'm being stabbed in the abdomen. I will usually pass out or at least black out temporarily (this is particularly concerning if the pain sets on suddenly while I'm driving).

    I've been seeing doctors and having tests done since I was 17! And no one has been able to give me a straight answer until today. Even this doctor did say that without further testing he couldn't confirm anything, this was just his best guess at the time. I swear this is like the mystery illness! It doesn't seem to be caused by eating anything in particular... it just comes out of NOWHERE.

    Thanks for the info--I'm sorry you have to go through this. I don't think we have the same thing--mine is in my upper abdomen (they have ruled out gallbladder issues). Good luck in your mission!!

    I'm assuming they've looked into acid reflux, right? The doctor I saw had me clarify like 6 times that it was lower pain, not upper, because he said if it was upper he would almost definitely diagnose it as acid reflux.
  • Jill_newimprovedversion
    Jill_newimprovedversion Posts: 988 Member
    I found another thread about this subject:
    https://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/896802-low-fiber-diet-help?hl=low+fiber+diet#posts-13558670
  • KimLee76
    KimLee76 Posts: 89
    Wow Lauren! I think the most difficult part for me would be retraining my brain to select low fiber foods. Before calling your doctor a quack lol, I did take a moment to visit my go to site for authoritative health info: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/low-fiber-diet/my00744 and want to take a moment to say thanks for starting the thread because it sounds like this diet may address some issues my mother has been having.

    I'm a wimp when it comes to pain so I'm sure I'd try whatever changes were recommended, but I don't think a low carb diet is really what you're looking for. I am low carbing now, but I only consume high fiber carbs (ex: mustard greens, flax seed) so my diet is still not low fiber. Also, it seems the high fat may increase residue.

    First, I think you should ask your gastroenterologist to be more specific with the diet changes. Break it down with "eat this/not that" details and for how long. (Make him earn that co-pay lol.),

    Just from reading, it seems that you need to select easily digestible foods: starchy veggies (peeled and cooked well), no/low fat or lactose-free dairy, white rice, white bread, and lean proteins (steamed/stewed/poached).

    Good luck!
  • cals83
    cals83 Posts: 131
    Have you been tested for Celiac disease or anything else that might make you intolerable to certain foods? I'm just wondering because an intolerance to a specific food that you maybe eat every day (i.e. gluten, soy, corn, etc) could mimic those exact same symptoms.

    It could be an issue with fiber too I am just curious how he came to the conclusion that it was the fiber and what was ruled out.

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