Sorry all- I should have quoted the people I was responding to ... hopefully you'll figure it out

I am glad I found this group! I was diagnosed with mild Ulcerative Colitis in 1998. At that time the only diet recommended was stay away from salad bars. Physician treated me with Rowasa, Asacol, and Prednisone over the years. In 2006 I started working for a University Medical Center. I started seeing the GI physician there. He found that I make -0- IgA, did an EGD and Colonoscopy and said I didn't have Ulcerative Colitis. He took me off all my medicine. I still had GI issues and every CT scan I would have for kidney issues showed inflamed bowel. So I'm thinking I don't know what to believe. I definitely don't want another colonoscopy.

I plan to fight this through diet this time. I plan to start the low-residue diet. If I don't have Ulcerative Colitis, I definitely have some other type of inflammatory bowel disease.

I do both food and medicine to treat my UC. I was already vegan long before diagnosis. My doctor says that is probably why it took so long for the disease to present itself. So I'm still vegan but now I also have to avoid gluten, corn, and oats. I'm also on Apriso, Canasa, and hydrocortisone enemas once a week. The enemas seriously changed everything.

When flaring I need to eat a low fiber diet but now that I'm better I can eat lots of veggies. It does help if they are cooked. I still haven't worked up the courage to eat lentils and split peas but black beans and pinto beans are fine.

@ckdprevent - It took 2 years of symptoms before my UC was actually visible in my colon so I don't know that diagnosis is all that simple. By the time they went and did a 2nd colonoscopy on me I had progressed to severe pancolitis.

I am so glad I have found this group. I was diagnosed with Crohn's for 23yrs. I went 10yrs without any flare ups. Then 3/4yrs ago, starting having flare ups. Now I was hospitalized twice this year in May and June and the Dr have told me there's no way I can continue unless I start taking Humira, which I have been avoiding due to the side effects. Anyway, I've resigned myself to start it next week. I'm currently on steroids and my weight since May has gone up over 50lbs. What really annoyed me was that I wasn't having ANY symptoms, none at all. then I ate something that obviously didn't agree with me and flare up followed. Even though I am going to start Humira, I still am looking to getting help myself through diet and exercise so one day I can come off the meds and avoid flare ups. I'm going to stick to non processed diet, with no dairy, grains and nuts and seafood which seem to be my issue.

I have IBS, and am on a chemical elimination diet, which is an ever stricter diet than the FODMAP diet. As FODMAPS was still an issue for me.

It's not meant to be a permanent diet, but because it takes me so long to get back on track after trialing certain food groups, it's been over 3 months since I have been on the diet. Still it has helped me heaps. No more nausea ( I was getting it everyday), and getting closer to understanding which foods really affect me.

No medication, I just don't think it teaches your stomach to function probably and just suppresses the issue, so I decided against them. Plus I wouldn't really know what the real food triggers were if I took medication.

I don't even take probiotics, because I got a huge, huge reaction to them that made my IBS ridiculously worse. I am too scared to try to reintroduce them.

I still have a way to go, but I am getting there. I still get brain fog, and flu symptoms with certain foods.

I am lactose intolerant, unsure yet if I am gluten intolerant for sure, not too bad with salicylates but noticed some fatigue/flu issues. I don't eat any gluten anyway, because it always makes me feel too full. Eggs are a big 'no, no' for me.

I now suspect my lactose intolerance, made me more intolerant to other foods, but have a feeling if I keep lactose out I may be able to introduce those foods back without issue.

I've been on 2.4g mesalazine per day for about a year now for my UC, doubling the dose when I get a flare up. This seems to be working well, but I'd love to get off them because I'm wondering what the long term effect of them would be. Trigger foods for me include corn, cabbage, cream, fizzy drinks, caffeine, excess fat and excess carbs, etc. Strangely (and thankfully), curries, alcohol, milk, eggs and animal protein are all good for me. Most veg is good too as long as I prepare it properly by removing the skins and seeds.

So thankfully, there aren't many things I need to steer clear of and I'm sure the mesalazine has a lot to do with it. Diet-wise, it's been more a case of making sure I eat light but often, and make sure it's prepared properly. Using the MyFitnessPal app on my phone has definitely helped to picture what I've been eating over the last couple of days, so I can make sure I don't go overboard on a particular food type. Variety and smaller portions seem to be the key avoiding flare ups for me.

I applaud you if you are able to manage your disease with diet alone. I cannot.
I am currently taking 2 Colestid one hour before breakfast to tighten things up and 400 mg of Cimzia every 14 days. This makes the CD manageable.
Since your diary is private, will you share some of the foods that are on your specific diet?

AmyMoenae - I'm curious. Have you had any colonoscopies or any medical evidence of the food limitations helping your disease? I'm completely on board with the evidence for most people being their sense of wellness. I get that. But for me I'm looking to see if it's reasonable for me to expect an improvement in my colonoscopy, or at least some evidence to suggest to a doctor that, yes, diet does impact actual health. I never heard of the ALCAT. I want to look into that.

Jaime

AmyMoenae wrote: »

I was following the SCD diet but it wasn't working for me. I was making my own chicken soup, pureeing everything and drinking my diluted Welch's grape juice. I had gone completely off grains and gluten. Everything was organic; sugar and dairy were limited and yet I was in the ER every 2-3 weeks!!! This way of life for me was not working.

I finally met with a homeopathic doctor and he gave me the ALCAT food sensitivity test I realized why... My body was irritated by chicken and especially grapes and garlic and many other things I considered healthy! I have since learned to eat off the foods on my okay list and I am doing really well. I found out I also suffer Adrenal Fatigue. Now that I know how to manage my stress, altered my daily routine and eat what does not upset me and am taking many supplements to combat and support everything, I feel great. The worst part is knowing I cannot get it all done in a day that I would like. I still feel this route was the best for me.

I take both meds and diet, but I hope in time to get off my meds. I don't have any strictures or fistulas, but a lot of inflammation in the colon. I have been through every med, and they saved my life on numerous occasions, but the only time I noticed significant difference in my symptoms were when I changed my diet. I am on the Autoimmune protocol, which emphasizes on eating nutrient dense foods, and to temporarily avoid foods that may aggravate the immune system (I can add them in later if there are no reactions). I have to cook everything, including veggies and fruits, and I still have to avoid some healthy foods like broccoli, cauliflower, and grapes. I love how I feel, and I am starting to become a decent cook, but every once in a while I wish I could dive into a pizza without feeling like crap the next day.

I was finally diagnosed with ibs in 2016 (more consipation now) had my gallbladder removed in 2006 and my bowelmovements were all over the place from not being able to get off the toilet to going weeks without going. They told me to just change me diet, and learn what works, it’s been a long road and I know some triggers but I feel like I still don’t fully have it down still learning. I’ve cut out cows milk and gone to coconut and almond. Also told to increase my fiber when I got told I had IBS, that’s been hard because I hate pills I’m horrible at remembering to take them.

What kind of stuff do y’all do for more fiber?