Flare triggers?

Hi Everyone, I'm still relatively new to Crohn's because even though I've been diagnosed for 5 I've only had one major flare since then, just this past summer when I was 5 weeks post partum.  The first flare went undiagnosed and the second flare got me to a rheumatologist and GI and they broke the news to me.  Anyway, I'm still on prednisone, my 17th week on with 2 unsuccessful tapers.  One time I tried to taper, I ate some carpaccio the day before and my movements went from 1 (it was holding steady there for a week) then to 3 the next day, then to 6+ with cramping.. it was such a rapid decline and I got bumped back up to 40mg/day. It took me almost 3 weeks to get back to one BM/day. 

My question is this - does everyone know what their triggers are?  I mean the GI doesn't believe that food will cause a flare if you're in remission, but I think it can certainly increase inflammation if you're not already completely healed.  So I'm thinking rare red meat might be one of my triggers.  Does anyone keep a food diary or anything like that?

Any advice on how to potentially avoid another backslide would be greatly appreciated!

I THINK I have discovered that ice cream is a food trigger for me.
Also extreme physical or mental exhaustion or stress. Coffee will give me a round of toilet trips lasting perhaps 3 hours or more.

Many here will say popcorn and spicy foods tigger them. I can't say how the above is affected by remission. Perhaps our GI tracts can handle more of these things when we are in real remissions but I think that what hurts you when your sick may indeed hurt you when you are well. I don't keep a food diary

Food is my biggest trigger, flaring or not. I kept a food diary at first and it was extremely helpful! My biggest triggers are Soy (in any way shape or form), additives/preservatives (MSG, etc.), High Fructose Corn Syrup and Artificial Sweeteners (all types). If I avoid all of those, I'm good to go for the most part. If I don't it's big trouble!

The ancient poet Lucretius said: "What is food to one man may be fierce poison to others"

Some doctors don't believe food has anything to do with IBD disorders of the digestive system. And there are still some doctors who don't believe that probiotics are beneficial for IBD. Many people have found relief with special diets and one of the most popular diet is the SCD.

I am gluten sensitive. Food allergy testing did not work for me, the only way to determine if a particular food causes problems is to avoid it for a couple of weeks and see if things improve. Trial and error. That is how I found out that gluten is no good for me but that I can tolerate dairy. However I am sensitive to an eclectic list of other foods such as shellfish, kale, plums, and high fructose corn syrup. Many of the foods that cause flares for me are SCD legal. On the other hand many of the foods that are illegal under SCD such as non-gluten grains are perfectly fine with my body chemistry.

Crohn's is a chronic condition that demands vigilance at all times. Even though I have been in remission since March, 2010, I find that indulging in verboten foods can still cause problems for me. For example I had lobster for lunch last week (shellfish!) and that evening experienced bloody diarrhea

I am sure that if I continued with verboten foods such as shellfish or soda then I would once again be in a full blown flare. As you know it is very hard to escape from a flare. But 24 hours later I once again had solidly formed stools with no blood or urgency. Besides avoiding foods that are poisonous for me I find that supplements help me to recover. The last time I had a full flare it took months for me to recover, and that was with the help of antibiotics.

When I feel the beginning of a flare coming on I increase my probiotics. I take VSL#3DS every day but will double my dose and add Culturelle and S. Boulardii. For me mixing VSL3 with psyllium seed and apple sauce works wonders. Other popular supplements are getting your blood levels of vitamin D checked and taking fish oil. I take other herbs listed in my signature. But I have found out the hard way that supplements are powerless as long as I indulge in triggering foods.

I can eat a little bread such as a slice of toast. It takes a lot of gluten to cause problems for me, but it will eventually. But shellfish or a hot cocoa from Starbucks will give me symptoms almost immediately. That is why I don't consider myself cured of IBD, only in remission.

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 11/14/2011 9:05:53 PM (GMT-7)

I can tolerate different foods and meds at different times depending on my inflammation..I am currently on predisone as well..At my worst, all food caused me grief along with coffee..Eggs, diary, and fiber can give me trouble..I tend to flare when I catch another illness(flu ect), am under stress, and when I was having menstrual cycles..I am extremely sensitive to food additives--msg and sodium nitrates are my big no-nos!! There are foods I can never tolerate like popcorn, nuts, and corn..I am currently giving gluten free a whirl..Gluten sends some people into a flare..Greasy and spicy food can give me trouble as well!

Cindy