This High Fiber Diet is Making Me Sick!!

Hello all,

I don't have Crohn's, but I don't know where else to put this. After my colonoscopy, the doctor who performed it gave me a pamphlet with instructions, and also spoke to me for a while before I was released. He put me on a high fiber diet. I've been doing everything he said to do, eating high fiber. The thing is....it's making me very sick. All it's doing is giving me extreme intestinal cramps, and diarrhea all the time. This has been going on for a week now. I called the GI office but they haven't returned my call, and their message says not to leave multiple messages, so I've not called back.

I don't know what else to do, but the high fiber diet is making me miserable. Is there anything I can do? :'(

I agree with Zanne . When I think of high fiber I think of cattle feed . I dont have four stomachs to process all that roughage so I dont eat that much of it . Give me low fiber and I do better . As for no return call from the doctor , call again . If the dont like it , tough .

Our nurse line always goes to the voicemail message. If I REALLY need to reach the doctor, or at least figure out if/when the doctor/nurses are in, I press the #option to speak to the receptionist. Typically, this option is for appointments only, so I reserve how often I do this, and I am overly nice to this person whose job is to primarily keep track of the appointment book.

From this person, I can at least find out if the doctor or nurse is in the office this week, and which days. Possibly even the best time to call. Once I called my son's doctor, and she was fairly close to the phone at the time. The receptionist put me on directly with the doctor.

No one should ever jump right into a high fibre diet....fibre is to be introduced slowly since it can ause gas/bloating (but it shouldn't cause D since it's fibre and fibre bulks up stool). It's important to include fibre in your diet, preferable both soluble and insoluble but many people with CD cannot handle both, they have to figure out which one they can handle since it's the only hope in forming stools when you have issues with D.

It's key to drink plenty of water especially when you eat fibre daily (or with fibre supplements). It will take time for your system to adjust but it will adjust just be sure to start with a small amount and wait until the symptoms (gas/bloating) have subsided BEFORE increasing fibre.

Before I had the Crohn's dx I was prescribed high fibre diet and fibogel sachets as they thought I had IBS. It was hell, I was in so much pain and was in bathroom so often that I couldn't get downstairs as would need to rush back in. I was never great on fibre even when they found out it was Crohn's and on all sorts on meds for it.

I would speak to your dr again, keep phoning til someone has decency to call you back. Reduce the fibre down until you speak to them and see what they say. If they say to persevere then gradually increase it up. If still causing problems then they need to do some more tests.

It took my system 3 months to adjust to just one fibre pill/day, and trust me, it was killer for those 3 months but sooooooooo worth it, it's different for everyone....and those with stricturing CD need to pay special attention. I have inflammation issues, have never been in full remission and was flaring quite bad when my GI (Dr. Remo Panaccione----google him, lots of excellent info, he's a great GI and researcher for IBD) suggested I start using fibre supplements daily and indefinitely and it has helped tremendously for me, but of course it took it's time, well worth the wait, no more excessive gas and all bloating completely gone, no mucous either and I can tolerate eating all fibreous foods without getting gassy or bloated, beans, popcorn, cabage, salads, you name it.

Fibre can definitely be your friend, you just have to take is slow is all.

Thank you so much for all the advice, input, and suggestions! :) The odd thing is...about two hours after I posted; they called. lol! They sure took their time. :/ She said to cut back on fiber. See, the doctor told me to 'consume' 30 to 40 of fiber daily. So...I was eating all sorts of veggies for lunch, veggies for dinner, veggies for snack (and oatmeal for breakfast). O.o

She (the nurse who called) said to cut it down to 10 of fiber for a week, then try 15 the following week...and gradually work my way up until I find a happy medium that works for my digestive system.

In other words..she said the same thing a lot of you have said; gradually add it, not all at once like I was doing. He (the doctor) didn't explain...but I know now at least.

Oh...and they ruled out IBS too. They (the docs) have no idea what's wrong with me still...it's very frustrating.


Thank you again everyone...very good advice given here. :')