HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Please help: Newly diagnosed and currently in a flare

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/5/2022 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I just had a colonoscopy on Thursday, and I have not had any direction from my gastroenterologist at this point. I'm writing and researching all I can, but I'm in need of guidance and support.

All I know is that it looks like I have Crohn's disease, a fistula, and I had more blood work done right after the colonoscopy. I am waiting to hear back from the doctor to schedule a follow-up appointment. I believe I am currently in and out of a flare, and I'm at a loss on what to eat. I had oatmeal with cooked berries yesterday, which I think made things worse. I've been going to the bathroom quite a bit yesterday and today, and my fistula is bleeding, so I'm doing sitz baths and putting calmoseptine on it.

What foods I can eat over the next several days too help calm this flare? Meal plans, recipes, and any guidance at all would be greatly appreciated.

So far, I've eaten white bread, English muffin, applesauce, plain non-fat Greek yogurt cooked carrots, cooked green beans, salmon, skinless/boneless chicken breast, smoothies (oat milk, oats, almond butter, banana, and Orgain protein plus 50 superfood powder), Morning Star veggie burger, white rice, pierogies, chicken soup with country vegetables, and and a few other items.

It's 3:00 p.m., and I'll be in today is a piece of toast, applesauce, and an English muffin. I know I need more calories, but I'm not sure what to eat that won't make things worse.

I'm overwhelmed and looking for support and some answers. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Post Edited (Beefaith) : 9/5/2022 2:51:29 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 9/6/2022 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
First of all, welcome to HW. You've come to a great place for advice and support, and you will get plenty of help with your questions.

Being newly diagnosed can be extremely confusing and daunting. To get things under control somewhat quickly, I wouldn't be surprised if your GI contacts after reviewing the results of your scope(s), and prescribes Prednisone. This will work quickly, but isn't used nearly as much as it used to be, as it comes with a lot of negative attributes, but mostly with long term use. After that, he will discuss a treatment plan, based on findings symptoms, severity etc.

Most GI's are opting for what's known as a top down approach now. He will likely go with an anti-TNF, and likely Remicade or Humira. Don't let this scare you, but more on this later if this comes about.

In the meantime, with diet you should definitely be following a "Low Residue Diet". Plenty of info on this via the internet, and just do some basic research. Some of what you're already opting for qualifies, some doesn't.

As I mentioned, when first diagnosed, it can be very intimidating and scary. It might help to take someone with you as an advocate to your next appointment. Your mind might be racing, and forget to ask alot of the questions that you might be curious about.

Hope you get to feeling better soon. Please post your updates, and keep asking questions.
Posted 9/6/2022 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
You can try Ensure, Boost, Slim Fast types of nutrition. It will put the calories in but they tend to cause some people some stomach discomfort. It's a total shock at first but now that you know what the problem is and you can address it, things will come together for you. Day by day you will improve.
Posted 9/6/2022 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
The waiting after the scope is always dreadful. Do not be surprised if you have to wait 7-10 days for an appointment with the dr.. The gastroenterologist will want to see the results of the your biopsies taken during the scope, for an accurate diagnosis. As another member pointed out, the doctor may start you on prednisone to help calm things down.

Low residue diet is often recommended, I never eat berries of any kind during a flare. Even today I only eat a few once in awhile. Veggies need to be thoroughly cooked, almost mush like. To this day I cannot tolerate oats, but I can eat cream of wheat.

Take care of yourself the best you can until you see the doctor.
Posted 9/9/2022 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Healing Well. It's very frightening to be going thru everything you are. (I have both UC/Crohn's, a rectovaginal fistula, and almost all the extra intestinal symptoms. They arent there all the time but pop up for short periods of times frequently. Almost like they are taking turns.,,)

For me... When I am flaring I revert back to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I mainly use the bone broth chicken recipe and the homemade yogurt. I also keep a food journal to see what foods cause issues with this particular flare. (It changes for me sometimes) If it starts to settle down I eat low residue. While flaring I seldom eat fruit of any kind and stuck to green beans for veges. I avoid sugars, milk products - except the SCD homemade yogurt with honey in it for sweetner--and breads.... I drink a lot of water.

Don't be afraid to call your doctor and see if they can share information sooner.

We are all here to try to help..
Clo
Posted 9/9/2022 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Reishi Mushroom capsules worked for me taking me out of a flare if I didn't have prednisone.
Posted 9/14/2022 8:13 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome, Beefaith! (Love the name)

I echo everyone's comments about a low residue diet. When I'm flaring, my go-to foods include any kind of broth, chicken soups, grits/cream of wheat, mashed potatoes, white rice, eggs, and lean meats (chick breast, ground turkey). Juicing fruits & veg is also a good way to sneak in nutrition sans fiber.

Also... keeping a food diary of things that aggravate your tummy - as well as"flare-safe foods" that do little to no harm - will help you start learning which foods are friend vs. foe.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply