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Blood, arg! From an orange?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/24/2010 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday evening I had 2/3 of a small orange. I was craving one really badly, and have been doing alright so didn't really think about it. I woke up a couple times in the night though, and today have been passing more blood than I have in weeks, since I was in the hospital.

Has anyone else had that bad of a reaction to an orange? I generally avoid raw fruits and veggies (except bananas and small amounts of blueberries and cucumber) since I find they set me off, but have never had this severe of a reaction to a piece of fruit.

I didn't think such a small amount could set me off like that. Maybe it's because I'm still recovering from a bad flare...
Posted 4/24/2010 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
If you didn't eat anything else "different" you may have hit on an intolerance. Could be citrus or possibly fructose.
I can't eat either citrus or any fruit except blueberries and I was a fruitoholic before UC.
Listen to your gut.
Posted 4/24/2010 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
OMG.. last time I ate an orange, I was sick for 3 days... lol... I haven't even tried to eat one now in about 3 years... NOOOO Citrus for me!!
Posted 4/24/2010 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
doubt it was the orange.

Seems you're flaring,however
q
Posted 4/24/2010 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
     Yup, I think it was the orange too.  One time, at the very beginning of a flare, I ate half a grapefruit.....BIG mistake.  It sent me over the brink.  I stay away from oranges and grapefruit now.  I can drink the juice as long as there is NO pulp.
Posted 4/24/2010 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
I love oranges. Can't drink OJ though. It doesn't bother my UC but the acidity gives me indigestion. Sometimes you just bleed no matter what you do. It's pretty easy to test though, just pick a day you are doing well and eat an orange... if the next day you are bleeding bad then take note. Do it again, and if you get the same results then you can relate it to an orange. UC is so unpredictable you can't really rule out anything until you try it and get same results a couple of times.
Posted 4/25/2010 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Oddly, there's a variety called a blood orange, which I love, but like you, can no longer eat. I really don't miss citrus all that much. Hope you feel better!
Posted 4/25/2010 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
     Speaking of indigestion..ugh...I put tumeric on my fish tonight.  It usually doesn't bother me, but tonight it is giving me heartburn.  No wonder the Indian lady at the drugstore said they mix it with milk.  Can't imagine how awful that must taste though. smhair
Posted 4/25/2010 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback. Guess I can't know for sure whether the orange caused this, but I'm definitely going to avoid oranges for the next while!
Posted 4/26/2010 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
What you report does NOT surprise me! I noticed early in my UC career that raw citrus fruit disagreed. One reason, I think, is because of the acidity. There may also be some interaction with the 5-ASA med. (When I took Dipentum in the late 1990s, I read a warning on the label against consuming large amounts of vitamin C while on that med!) I do fine with 4 oz. of orange juice (1/2 cup) daily with breakfast and limit my raw fruit consumption to apples, pears, bananas, blueberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey dew, plus some occasional mango or papaya. Here's hoping you'll get back on track to remission quickly. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 4/26/2010 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
During some flares my doctor will recommend a "low residue" diet, which means nothing with seeds, skins, strings, or membranes. I remember oranges are on that list. Maybe it is the membrane that is bothering your colon. I never have trouble with small amounts of OJ so I have assumed this to be the case.
amy
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