Possible Colitis...Afraid to eat

I am in the middle of getting tested for colitis. There was nothing definitive on the colonoscopy and I am now waiting for the biopsy results. These issues have been going on for months but this week has been particularily bad. Every time I eat something it turns out to be a disaster. My calories have been super low and I was starving this morning so I made a breakfast burrito. That gave me a much needed boost of energy but now I feel really sick. The fatigue from whatever is going on combined with the low calories is really starting to weigh me down. And I won't have a diagnosis until next week.

About the only thing I can eat without negative consequences is oatmeal and I'm just about oatmealed out lol Does anyone have any suggestions besides oatmeal and rice as a "safe food"?
«1

Replies

  • Pearsquared
    Pearsquared Posts: 1,656 Member
    I found this article: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/digestion/what-to-eat-if-you-have-crohns-disease-or-colitis

    It looks like yogurt, fish, or walnuts might be good. Do you know if these trigger you as well?
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Most people have different trigger foods with Colitis. It's best to start with the bland basics and gradually add foods one at a time to see what works. The most common trigger is alcohol. Also, if it's possible, cannabis is an excellent medicine for GI disorders. The THC helps the symptoms, while the CBD heals the gut lining. My husband has Crohn's and has been in remission for the last decade. Best of luck to you. :flowerforyou:
  • My son has UC and his "safe foods" are Potatoes, Squash, Oatmeal and Rice. His "bad foods" are Milk, Lettuce and Cheese products. Since he determined this type of categorization it has helped him tremendously.
  • Gizziemoto
    Gizziemoto Posts: 430 Member
    If you have colitis, you will find some foods agree and others do not. It is a learning process. My husband has ulcerative colitis and some days things bother him and then a week later the same food may not.

    If he is feeling weak, he drinks an Ensure to help get him nutrients and energy. I recommend researching the internet and they even have a website for people with colitis. Check it out and look for some ideas. Good luck.
  • jess6742
    jess6742 Posts: 146
    Thanks for the advice and article. Diary is a major trigger as well as nuts. Meat doesn't seem to settle to well either. It does seem like everyone has different trigger foods and so many articles online contradict each other! All of it is getting a bit overwhelming, but that's probably just because my brain is starved. I'm having a hard time finding a source of protein that doesn't cause issues.
  • smiley245
    smiley245 Posts: 420 Member
    Although I don't have UC, I hear how many patients are suffering from my mom, She runs a GI clinic for a Dr here in our city.
    Your specialist may have recommended you keep a diary, not only of what you eat on a daily basis but also how you reacted. It helps in identifying triggers as well as food combinations that might set you off.

    Generally to be avoided, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, fats (fried foods, greasy foods), dairy, (and more)
    Usually safe (but everyone is different) Potatoes, rice, bananas, vegetables that a well cooked, white pasta (not whole wheat) chicken, healthy fats.

    Also suggested, eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day and possibly look into a low residue diet. Some people see benefits from it.
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    My mom has this, and what a torture! Like you, she cannot tolerate dairy, and high fiber foods are a no-go for her.

    Definitely agree on keeping a food diary. And branch out, cautiously. Maybe certain kinds of non-dairy milks will work for you, with a protein powder mixed in. Do vegetables go down easily? Try a green smoothie. Etc., etc.
  • palmerar
    palmerar Posts: 489 Member
    I don't have colitis but I do have digestive issues. Some days it seems like anything I eat upsets my stomach, and other days I can eat almost anything. Today my stomach is upset because of something I ate yesterday. I find that while it can be scary to eat when you don't know what is going to happen afterwards, that if I go too long without something that it makes matters worse. Eating a smaller meal every few hours helps things but certainly doesn't prevent anything. Maybe try boiled potatoes, applesauce, crackers, or maybe even some chicken broth to at least get some sort of substance in there. Good luck with your testing, and I hope you feel better soon!
  • jess6742
    jess6742 Posts: 146
    Thanks for the support and advice! I didn't even think about potatoes I will try them tonight. Meat and veggies don't settle well. I have been eating apples because they are filling but those aren't the best either.

    I am trying to branch out but everything keeps backfiring. I'm keeping a food diary but it seems like anything I eat causes issues. I've been having GI issues since January but there are definitely good weeks and bad weeks. Hopefully this period of bad weeks doesn't continue for much longer.
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    Thanks for the support and advice! I didn't even think about potatoes I will try them tonight. Meat and veggies don't settle well. I have been eating apples because they are filling but those aren't the best either.

    I am trying to branch out but everything keeps backfiring. I'm keeping a food diary but it seems like anything I eat causes issues. I've been having GI issues since January but there are definitely good weeks and bad weeks. Hopefully this period of bad weeks doesn't continue for much longer.

    I hope your doctor will help you figure this out... Maybe something is wrong with your intestinal flora.
  • jess6742
    jess6742 Posts: 146
    Thanks for the support and advice! I didn't even think about potatoes I will try them tonight. Meat and veggies don't settle well. I have been eating apples because they are filling but those aren't the best either.

    I am trying to branch out but everything keeps backfiring. I'm keeping a food diary but it seems like anything I eat causes issues. I've been having GI issues since January but there are definitely good weeks and bad weeks. Hopefully this period of bad weeks doesn't continue for much longer.

    I hope your doctor will help you figure this out... Maybe something is wrong with your intestinal flora.

    Thanks! I hope so too. He collected the biopsy samples on Monday and said it will take about 7-10 days to get results from pathology. So hopefully it will be closer to 7 and not 10 days.
  • diamondrose26
    diamondrose26 Posts: 7 Member
    I've had ulcerative colitis for 10 years but my new doc is suspecting it could actually be Crohn's. Been having a couple month-long flare up and started Humira 6 weeks ago - seems to be helping but not quite back to normal yet, it takes awhile.

    As for foods, when I've been in remission periods I can eat pretty much anything but I've noticed greasy fast foods can make me sick, so I avoid those -- for general health reasons as well. Right now in the flare I'm avoiding high fiber foods (all those fruits and veggies I was trying to eat to be healthy!) and fatty meats (which I don't eat much of anyway).

    I haven't been able to tell if things like dairy set me off, but I may experiment when I'm back to normal functioning. Right now my movements are not good no matter what I eat. I'm getting enough calories based on what I'm trying to achieve on here, and actually lost weight (finally) once I was put on steroids again since I got more serious about the calorie counting, eating healthy and trying to avoid weight gain on those drugs.
  • kazsjourney
    kazsjourney Posts: 263 Member
    My mum had colitis. She saw a dietician and was put on a low fibre diet. It was like the complete opposite of what is normally recommended..I cannot remember exactly everything she ate but she had to be really careful with vegetables and could only eat white bread etc. If you do get diagnosed with it....dig your heels in about getting to see a dietician...my mum really had to fight to get one but she felt a lot better after seeing them as she had guidelines. She also used to drink a special drink you could only buy from a chemist (at least here in australia)
  • Crohns2013
    Crohns2013 Posts: 57 Member
    I have Crohns, and the foods you'll be able to eat are different for everyone. I have very few "safe foods", even though things are "under control" right now. But there are others who can eat anything they want with no issues. It's all experimentation at the beginning. Lots of people swear by the SCD diet.

    Www.crohnsforum.com is a great place if you want others to chat with. There is a colitis group there too.
  • JanAlyssa825
    JanAlyssa825 Posts: 43 Member
    I have colitis, and during a flare, I'd eat almost exclusively plain, beige foods... mashed potatoes (or however you like 'em, but not fried), plain pasta, white bread toast, oyster crackers. Maybe a scrambled egg. My triggers were oily or fatty things, high fiber stuff like veggies or whole grains, dairy stuff, spicy stuff, certain meats, and nuts. Hope you feel better soon!
  • Tatonka_usn
    Tatonka_usn Posts: 433 Member
    I was diagnosed with a microscopic form of colitis (called lymphocytic colitis) in June 2012. For years I'd gone through periods of being "clogged up", only to be hit with lengthy episodes of anything/everything running right through me. The ran me through a battery of tests/bloodwork, but it was only after the colonoscopy did the biopsy results show the condition (which is "less severe" than UC or Crohn's).

    To date, I've tried several different methods of weaning out trigger foods, with limited success. I was never a big dairy person, so that was easy to discard (switching to almond milk). I've also tried decreasing gluten intake, with no measurable success. I seem to go into remission for 3-6 months, followed by a "flare" for 3 months (ish). While in the latter, I just try to get as much nutrition and calories into me as possible, since I really don't keep food in me for long). As such, my biggest concern is actually losing TOO MUCH weight, which is quite frustrating (and unhealthy).

    I know everyone is different, but it's re-assuring to know there are others out there who understand what this is like.


    Alan
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    If you have colitis, you will find some foods agree and others do not. It is a learning process. My husband has ulcerative colitis and some days things bother him and then a week later the same food may not.

    If he is feeling weak, he drinks an Ensure to help get him nutrients and energy. I recommend researching the internet and they even have a website for people with colitis. Check it out and look for some ideas. Good luck.
    Wow, I could have written this very thing about my own hubby. :smile:

    He always did well (I say this in past tense - he is still with us, his colon is not :tongue: ) with salmon, applesauce, cream of wheat, rice, winter squashes - many of the things mentioned already. Dairy was always no-go, still is for the most part, although he can eat yogurt.

    Hang in there - I hope you find some foods that agree with you, and that you get some answers soon.
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    Been there! Gut is super delicate, and when irritated, it reacts to EVERYTHING. My suggestion is to go on clear liquids for a couple days, just to allow the gut a break from the food passing over that irritated lining. My personal fix for it was to water-fast for a few days, but often people are afraid/unfamiliar with that.
    Sorry you are experiencing that, it's really not fun, I know that!
  • chad_phillips1123
    chad_phillips1123 Posts: 229 Member
    I've had UC since I was a kid. Everyone has similar/slightly different triggers and sometimes it's just what your body can handle (eg sometimes I could drink a glass of milk and be fine, other times milk in cereal would have me in knots). Common triggers for me (again at times) are: processed foods, diary, caffeine, fatty/oily foods, etc. The past year or so though I've felt much better eating whole wheat breads, adding veggies (boiled or steamed...raw can be difficult), and probiotics (greek yogurt), and eating smaller meals through the day. Stress can also lead to a flareup as well so try to work off any pressure.
  • salladeve
    salladeve Posts: 1,053 Member
    Sorry I haven't read all the other responses yet, but my dh had colitis for many years and for the longest time he only ate very bland things like:

    canned chicken
    rice cakes
    white rice
    cream of wheat
    white potatoes
    white bread
    soda crackers

    Stay completely away from milk and milk products. He could not even eat anything that had whey in it he became so lactose intolerant. The doctor told him that most people with colitis are also lactose intolerant.

    This went on for years, but he is cured now and doing fine, except he is still lactose intolerant.

    Good luck
  • 1longroad
    1longroad Posts: 642 Member
    My daughter thought she had colitis, but is gluten and dairy intolerant. An elimination diet helped her tremendously.
  • jess6742
    jess6742 Posts: 146
    It's getting frustrating trying to figure out what this is. I got the clonoscopy results back and it's not crohns or colitis. I am going to have some blood work done to test for celiacs.

    My GI is leaning towards it being IBS that is diarrhea dominant. But I'm really worried because doesn't explain the bleeding episodes I've had.

    Thank you everyone for your responses. I definitely think I will try the elimination diet. I just hope this resolves soon!
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    My daughter thought she had colitis, but is gluten and dairy intolerant. An elimination diet helped her tremendously.
    Oh yeah, this is true, sometimes you don't realize what's bothering you.
    For me, I thought was allergic to dairy or wheat. I tried all kinds of diets, avoiding this or that, it was insane.
    Then, by accident, I guess, I discovered I was allergic to the prevalent food ingredient carrageenan...."allergic" applied loosely, because carrageenan is a GI irritant....if you are already irritated, this one will really getcha.
  • Kimberrh6
    Kimberrh6 Posts: 77 Member
    My fiance's dad has Crohns and my fiance most likely has it as well. His dad likes to eat yogurt and handles it well. I seen where someone said walnuts? NO. Nuts are not a good choice because if you are having inflammation, nuts can get stuck in the folds in your intestines and cause issues. My fiance's dad is not supposed to ever eat nuts (but he doesn't listen).
  • JanAlyssa825
    JanAlyssa825 Posts: 43 Member
    Is it possible you have a fissure? That would explain the bleeding.
  • jess6742
    jess6742 Posts: 146
    Is it possible you have a fissure? That would explain the bleeding.

    Nope I don't have a fissure. My doctor said he has no explanation for it.

    I wish I could eat yogurt. A lot of people have recommended it. Unfortunately it makes things worse. I have to stay away from dairy in general :(
  • lcfairbairn74
    lcfairbairn74 Posts: 412 Member
    I have atypical IBS. No constipation, just diarrhea and bleeding from ulcers in my bowel. The only way to find out what I could tolerate was by eliminating everything and starting from scratch. Go for low fibre, bland (beige and boring) foods. White bread and pasta; lean meats etc. I have to be careful with dairy, I can only tolerate low fat, heat treated milk. You can build it up from there. It will be difficult to find your trigger foods at the moment though because you sound like you're in a flare up phase so everything is going to irritate your bowel at the moment. It took me about a year to figure out my triggers. It takes time, but you will get there.

    The one thing that does help my symptoms and keep things ticking over daily is peppermint oil capsules. All the prescription medications never helped, but peppermint oil has been my saviour! I would discuss that option with your doctor. Best of luck :flowerforyou:
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    You will likely need to become your own research project. You should keep records of what you eat. MFP will help with that since you're tracking all of your foods anyway. Then make yourself a blog, chart, or diary, and note how you feel after eating XYZ. If you have digestive upset after eating X, avoid it for a while, and try it again. If you keep on having a negative experience with X, eliminate it.

    I was once diagnosed with colitis, but never ulcerative anything. The colitis diagnosis was accompanied by tranquilizers. I had a roomie from Saudi Arabia at the time who'd gone to school with several women whose symptoms matched mine. She said they were allergic to milk. I quit taking tranquilizers and quit drinking milk. My symptoms improved. Now I know I am lactose intolerant, not allergic. I can have moderate amounts of cheese because the enzymes that turn milk into cheese solve my digestive problem for me. Butter is my enemy. This took a long time to understand. Later I developed another digestive problem and was advised by a doctor to avoid nuts. More experimentation on my part led to the conclusion that I can eat nuts, but need to limit the quantity.

    Medical understanding of digestive intolerances has increased over the years, and you may find a doctor who can help with your situation. Your own body will be the final arbitrator on many things. Good luck.
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    Also there is a mental/emotional side to gut problems. Did you know that in the womb as the body forms, cells that make up your brain also became the cells that make up your digestive system? here's a link with some info in case you had never heard of that http://www.connectwc.org/what-is-the-gut-brain-connection.html

    Anyway, regarding the mental/emotional, bitterness toward a person, for example, can really mess up the gut. May be worthwhile to consider the mental/emotional things that may be affecting you.

    Hope you feel better!!
  • leena31
    leena31 Posts: 14 Member
    Are you taking birth control? I had the same issues last year and was about to get tested for Crohn's until I went on vacation and forgot my pills. All of the symptoms (diarrhea , inflammation, bloody and mucousy stools and weight loss) went away.