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Low Residue Diet. PLEASE help!!!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/8/2009 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I am desperate!!  Just about everything I eat is still causing problems.  I need to update my signature. The only think I am currently on is Colazol (9 a day).  I also use some hemmroid cream as necessary, which seems to be frequently anymore.  I have got to get control.  The urgency is driving me crazy.

I have read from several of you about a low residue diet.  Can you please share with me what types of things you eat that are low residue.  I am basically sick of trying to find things to eat.

Posted 9/8/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Risan,

A low residue diet is essentially a low fiber diet. I (and a lot of people on this forum) find it helpful when in a flare and coming out of one. You can GRADUALLY re-introduce the fiber back into your diet when you are finally in remission.

If you google "low residue diet" you'll find a lot of good resources. A dietician once told me to "think white" as in white bread, eggs, potatoes, rice, well cooked meats. Avoid uncooked vegetables and fruits.

Hope that helps.

Jen O
Posted 9/8/2009 6:59 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on a dietician lead strict low residue diet at the moment, but I've had a bit of a set back with the urgency (I think because of a tummy bug) and am back on steroids now, my diet has to be monitored because of the amount of foods I can not eat.
Basically, as Jen O said, think white, nothing with whole grains in,
no raw fruit or veg
no fruit or veg with pips or skins
no nuts or seeds

You can have unlimited well cooked meat
tinned fruit
root veggies
white bread, pasta, rice

I was told I could have unlimited dairy but that obviously depends on how your body responds to it.

If you are struggling, maybe it would be worth contacting the docs, if the urgency is due to inflammation would it not be worth asking if your meds are still appropriate?
Also I'm being very closely monitored on this diet and my fruit and veg intake has been greatly reduced maybe it would be worth seeing if you doc has someone you can contact to walk you through it properly, I tried to cobble a diet together from information obtained from the internet, alot of it is conflicting. I used the information that seemed to be universally agreed on and the dietician still disagreed with alot of it.
Good luck
Posted 9/8/2009 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
Keep your fluids up, take your vitamins, and stay easy on your tummy. My daughter lived on peanut butter(maybe try the sunflower butter for the magnesium), white everything, baby foods, and Ensure. Replace your electrolytes. Easy on the fiber for now.
There is an antispasmodic for the urgency. Most docs don't want you on Immodium, since the risk for Toxic Megacolon is greater, but an occasional use is probably safe. Have you tried the Cortifoam enemas? They helped a lot during a flare.
Goodluck
Posted 9/8/2009 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
You might like to click on the diet link in my sig, as it contains a discussion about low residue diets. Obviously it's Crohn's-focussed, but you still might find it helpful.

All the best,

Ivy.
Posted 9/9/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)

Here I am again with my words about Imodium.  I have two GI docs - one specialist who has 30 years experience.  Both of them prescribe Imodium as part of treatment.  It is good to ask your doctor about it and take only as prescribed!  I take it when needed to get out of the house, etc.  It is a lifesaver at times!

ElaineNY

Posted 9/9/2009 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Risan - I have found a low residue diet to be helpful when bleeding. As others have stated, "think white". I liked to make muffins for breakfast - those little pouches that make 5-6 at a time were good. (Stay away from the new whole grain ones!) Pasta (once again, no whole grains) is easy on the guts. You'll have to experiment with which sauces work for you. Sandwiches - w/o lettuce, tomato, etc - I preferred PBJ. The peanut butter got me some protien. Mashed potatoes - careful with the milk if lactose intolerant. Lean protein is good - although some people have problems with red meat - I tend to stick to turkey or chicken breast. White rice. I did a lot of dry cereal - I could snack on it continuously and it was easy to keep on hand. Iron fortified is good if you are bleeding.

You may also want to try staying away from lactose containing foods - I found that when I flare, I become intolerant to lactose - which is extremely difficult as I love milk - I can eat small amounts of cheese though.

Fruits and veges should be cooked to "fork tender" - test by squishing with a fork.

The baby food suggestion is good. I've used that in the past.

My doctor has prescribed Immodium as well - but only after my stools were more formed, but too frequent. Bentyl is another great med - for me. It helps to quiet the spasms in my guts that would send me running to the bathroom.

I hope that helps :)
Posted 9/9/2009 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on a low residue diet for 10 years. See my sig (had my sigmoid removed due to cancer). My husband jokes that my diet is the white diet. A lot of the foods I eat are white - bananas, plain rice, Sara Lee bread (or your local bakery's white bread is the best), not Wonder bread though (that is too white, it doesn't even seem like bread to me!), plain english muffins (I prefer Bay's, found in the dairy aisle near cream cheese), plain bagels, cottage cheese, applesauce, chicken, turkey, fish, mashed potatoes, plain noodles, mac/cheese, iceberg salads, etc. These are all examples of how I have to eat now. A LRD saved my life (after my surgeon first saved it from cancer)! If not for the LRD, I'd still be taking meals near my bathroom, I was having 3 bm's during one meal (and eating whole wheat products, fresh fruit, etc.). I was a mess before going on a LRD. I was on it faithfully for 2 years. After that I could stray a bit from it. Now I'm on it about 75% of the time. My doctor approves of it also. I just explained that I could not live the remainder of my life at age 43, near my bathroom. I had daughters that needed me to return to being the active mom they knew before cancer. He said it was okay to go on it. To be honest, eating this way is just so second nature for me. I never cared for spicy foods so it's no big deal if I eat plain food. I do eat smaller portions though, not 3 huge meals. I have less colon trouble if I eat smaller portions.
Posted 9/11/2009 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Plain boiled white rice is my biggest help. I have a serving every evening & also eat an unsalted rice cake at the end of lunch. Colazal is not as effective at stopping D as it was when it 1st came on the market 6-7 yrs ago; I feel pretty certain that Salix altered some of its components more recently-- because a no. of patients suffered dizziness from the original formula, including me. So I take it for its anti-inflammatory property, but rely more on low fiber diet these days to slow peristalsis & control bms. Beware of white pepper that can turn up in restaurant mashed potato, etc. I'm doing better laying off sauces & any foods where I can't be sure of the spicing. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 9/11/2009 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
I tried the low residue diet after my first hospital stay. It didn't agree with me at all. I went to China and ended up in the er in Beijing. The doctor told me I was extremely sensitive to all wheat products even in shampoo! It is a major flare trigger for me. He had me keep a 6 month diet journal and how I felt after each meal/snack, ie cramping, bleeding etc. I still have flare-ups triggered by stress but at least the diet triggers are controllable. UC seems to have extremely individual triggers. The more you know about your own body's reaction, the more control you will have back in your life. The book that helped me the most was "Eating Right for a Bad Gut." I wish you a speedy recovery.
Posted 9/11/2009 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
     I find that baked salmon is very gut friendly.  While flaring I eat it about three times a week.  I put some olive oil, tumeric (anti-inflammatory condiment), salt and pepper.  I eat that along with a baked sweet potato (I know it isn't white but it agrees with me) and well cooked carrots.  I cannot tolerate salads while flaring.
Posted 9/11/2009 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
When I was flaring I ate low residue.

Some of my staples were applesauce, bananas, rice, noodles, well cooked chicken, canned carrots, canned fruit, baked fish, soups, and Naked brand juice smoothies. I think I've also eaten plain turkey sandwiches.

There are lists up in various places, including wikipedia. Check those out as they're good reminders.
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