Any IBD-ers out there(or anyone )-could do with some advice!

comptonelizabeth
comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
I have ulcerative colitis and recently lost weight (more than I was happy with )partly due to poor appetite and partly restricted diet. I'm currently on entyvio and in remission so thought it was a good time to try and gain weight. So far I'm doing OK and gaining weight at around 1 lb a week but ...I feel so damn bloated! I'm eating things that I normally avoid,such as nuts,dried fruit and granary bread. My gut seems to be tolerating it but I am finding it hard to cope with feeling so bloated.
Should I cut back on fibre? Is this temporary?I started about 5 weeks ago. Thanks for any tips!

Replies

  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    Take one of the things you started eating out and see what happens. If nothing changes, then take something else out. You need to do some troubleshooting to determine which food (s) is/are causing the bloat. Also, are you drinking enough water?
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Wow my gut can't tolerate any of those things :(
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Also I feel horrible being the only non underweight Crohn's patient here. I am 5'8 131 and trying to lose but it's crazy hard :(
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Hamsibian wrote: »
    Take one of the things you started eating out and see what happens. If nothing changes, then take something else out. You need to do some troubleshooting to determine which food (s) is/are causing the bloat. Also, are you drinking enough water?

    You know what -I don't think I am drinking enough water! I used to aim for 2 litres a day but the problem is that it seems to stop me from getting hungry.
    I suspect it could be the granary bread so I'll switch back to white for a few days - thanks!
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    Wow my gut can't tolerate any of those things :(

    Neither could mine until entyvio -it really has been a miracle!
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    Also I feel horrible being the only non underweight Crohn's patient here. I am 5'8 131 and trying to lose but it's crazy hard :(

    To me you don't sound overweight! My goal is 128 and I'm only 5'3! It's my arms and legs that look skinny.
    I'm on a Facebook group for ibd and most members complain of being overweight so you're definitely not alone :smile:
  • canadjineh
    canadjineh Posts: 5,396 Member
    edited October 2016
    Well, not Crohn's or Colitis here, but IBD as a part of Fibromyalgia dx'd. Too many carbs for me in dried fruit, bloats me up, and Seriously no Gluten or I will be in awful GI & joint pain for weeks. Not sure if that helps you any... Best solution was @Hamsibian's - elimination diet. Are you better off with good fats like avocado, or nut butters as opposed to nutmeats? Try choosing lower carb nuts like walnuts or pecans or macadamias, maybe? Good luck @comptonelizabeth !
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    canadjineh wrote: »
    Well, not Crohn's or Colitis here, but IBD as a part of Fibromyalgia dx'd. Too many carbs for me in dried fruit, bloats me up, and Seriously no Gluten or I will be in awful GI & joint pain for weeks. Not sure if that helps you any... Best solution was @Hamsibian's - elimination diet. Are you better off with good fats like avocado, or nut butters as opposed to nutmeats? Try choosing lower carb nuts like walnuts or pecans or macadamias, maybe? Good luck @comptonelizabeth !

    Thank you. I have found in the past that limiting wheat helps but I find it hard to get carbs from things like rice and potatoes as they just fill me up to quickly. I didn't know that about different nuts - that's helpful ;thank you. Do you mean you have IBS? Not the same as IBD but still pretty unpleasant !
  • VividDawn
    VividDawn Posts: 111 Member
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    You know what -I don't think I am drinking enough water! I used to aim for 2 litres a day but the problem is that it seems to stop me from getting hungry.
    I suspect it could be the granary bread so I'll switch back to white for a few days - thanks!

    I assume you want to drink that much water to stay hydrated. And partly to help the bloating too.
    Could you try 100% fruit juice? I drink that and whole milk. Since I struggle so much to gain (or even maintain) weight, my cardiologist and dietician say anything that I swallow has to have calories. I do have soda pop ever so often - twice a month, or so, on a rare craving...mostly avoid it because the carbonation stings my throat, and I don't like the sensation.
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    VividDawn wrote: »
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    You know what -I don't think I am drinking enough water! I used to aim for 2 litres a day but the problem is that it seems to stop me from getting hungry.
    I suspect it could be the granary bread so I'll switch back to white for a few days - thanks!

    I assume you want to drink that much water to stay hydrated. And partly to help the bloating too.
    Could you try 100% fruit juice? I drink that and whole milk. Since I struggle so much to gain (or even maintain) weight, my cardiologist and dietician say anything that I swallow has to have calories. I do have soda pop ever so often - twice a month, or so, on a rare craving...mostly avoid it because the carbonation stings my throat, and I don't like the sensation.

    Hi. I try to drink a lot of water because I'm on regular infusions for the colitis and we're advised to stay well hydrated,plus it's important with ibd as the symptoms (diarrhoea )are dehydrating. But I do find that drinking a lot of water suppresses my appetite.
    That's a good tip about fruit juice though I find too much upsets my gut (I suspect the sugar/fructose ) - guess I could dilute it!
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Ps 2 litres is actually only around 4 (uk)pints which is around the recommended amount, ie,8 glasses.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    No I didn't mean I was overweight as my BMI is 20. something just feel overweight
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    canadjineh wrote: »
    Well, not Crohn's or Colitis here, but IBD as a part of Fibromyalgia dx'd. Too many carbs for me in dried fruit, bloats me up, and Seriously no Gluten or I will be in awful GI & joint pain for weeks. Not sure if that helps you any... Best solution was @Hamsibian's - elimination diet. Are you better off with good fats like avocado, or nut butters as opposed to nutmeats? Try choosing lower carb nuts like walnuts or pecans or macadamias, maybe? Good luck @comptonelizabeth !

    Thank you. I have found in the past that limiting wheat helps but I find it hard to get carbs from things like rice and potatoes as they just fill me up to quickly. I didn't know that about different nuts - that's helpful ;thank you. Do you mean you have IBS? Not the same as IBD but still pretty unpleasant !

    I'm guessing ibs too as ibd is crohn's, uc and indeterminate colitis
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Oh,right!
    I have realised since starting this (about 5 weeks ago )that I'm not underweight and probably don't look it either. But,I have skinny arms and legs (for which I have prednisolone to thank -it leads to muscle wasting )so probably need to start a structured lifting programme.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    Oh,right!
    I have realised since starting this (about 5 weeks ago )that I'm not underweight and probably don't look it either. But,I have skinny arms and legs (for which I have prednisolone to thank -it leads to muscle wasting )so probably need to start a structured lifting programme.

    It didn't help I gained 20 lbs in a month on Remicade. Needed it but it was just so quick. You're right about pred. I was deadlifting over 200 lbs and squatting 170 lbs a few weeks before pred and couldn't even get up from squatting down to pick up something without assistance
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    It somehow destroys your muscles -don't know how or why :(
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Corticosteroids are nasty
  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    Oh man prednisone is the root of all evil. Losing hair, moodiness, muscle loss, swelled feet. It's probable less attractive than ibd itself :P
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Hamsibian wrote: »
    Oh man prednisone is the root of all evil. Losing hair, moodiness, muscle loss, swelled feet. It's probable less attractive than ibd itself :P

    Definitely is!I'm so glad to be finally getting off it but it's done a lot of damage -loss of muscle and osteoporosis, but hey,I'm still here!

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