UC and Diet - how did you find out what foods you can/can't eat?

Has anyone here worked with a nutritionist to find specific foods that may bother their UC?  I know that everyone is a little different when it comes foods that may bother them.

Right now my UC is very manageable, but not perfect...some bad gas a couple of times a month, maybe some blood/d a few times a month for a couple days each time.  I'm grateful to have what I feel is mild UC, but am willing to try looking into my diet to help keep symptoms at bay, as I don't feel like it's bad enough for more meds right now. 

I have an appointment to talk to my GI next week.  In the past when I've talked to him about diet, he usually gives me a general answer about how everyone's UC reacts differently to specific foods.  But I would really like some more detailed info on how to properly explore what food items may worsen my UC or make a flare worse so that I can avoid them.

Should I ask for a referral to a nutritionist if my GI can't offer any specific information?

I'm curious about this since my dad called me up all excited because his co-worker printed him an internet article about foods to avoid if you have UC.  He told me not to eat apples and throw out frozen broccoli and never eat salads.  My initial reaction was to laugh uncontrollably at his simple "solution" to my disease    and to tell him that "if it's on the internet it must be true!"

But I'm thinking it's at least worth it to talk to my doctor and get some more info from another specialist...

My GI did the same, nutrition is just not their area of expertise.

I also found nutritionists or dieticians to be useless, they tell everyone the same thing and it just doesn't apply when you have UC. When I told one I knew I had to avoid fiber, she had nothing else to suggest! Had never been challenged to advise on a low fiber diet, it was always the first thing everyone needed more of, in her experience.

I went to a Naturopathic doc and had food senstitivity testing. I don't know that the results had anything to do with UC, in fact I believe they probably do not. (I've also learned he does the testing on everyone, no matter what the ailment they go to him for, whether it be high blood pressure or weight loss or tummy aches or whatever -- he tells everyone if they kill the yeast they will be well again). Anyway, I learned that I was intolerant to gluten (now I know it makes me feel really bloated) and that was valuable information.

You can also do an "elimination diet" yourself, basically testing what makes you feel bad and what doesn't. You can find instructions online, I think. It's a long process, but when something disrupts your gut you usually know very quickly. I discovered I absolutely should not eat iceberg lettuce:  eliminated it, then tried it and woo hoo.

BTW, I could also not eat brocolli or salad, or the skins on anything when I was flaring...so those suggestions were worth considering!

I agree with what BITW said about testing for food--don't believe the tests.
I was tested at my GI's for dairy and celiac, both tests said no problem with either.
Turns out that is dead wrong, but I only discovered it the hard way after years of suffering by keeping a food diary.
Laboratory food tests are worthless IMO.

I've found keeping a food journal is very helpful; adding foods one at a time and tracking my symptoms. I've been to several nutritionists and had expensive stool tests looking for food sensitivities/allergies but did not gain much from the results. It really is a methodical process and the foods that we are sensitive change over time. Foods that once did not bother us, now do. The SCDiet has been very helpful for me. Initially, I would follow a rather bland diet and as my symptoms improved, I would open up my diet to more and more things. I've found this to be a very effective tool for helping me stay in remission. That being said, if you are planning to make changes to your diet or pursue different dietary therapies, I think it may be helpful to discuss basic nutrition with a nutrionist to help make sure you are getting a well balanced nutritional intake.

I have found it helpful to try to keep my diet very simple for a while, then add in a new food for a few days and see what happens.  I write EVERYTHING down.  For example, I have gone about 2 months without eating any gluten at all (that I know of) and absolutely craved my son's leftover mac & cheese tonight at dinner.  Gee, I wonder what I did to myself after eating it.  So I ate some, wrote it down, and now just waiting to see if anything unusual happens.

Some people seem to notice things right away (within 2-24 hrs) if they eat something they shouldn't.   For me the most obvious food reaction is eating popcorn.  Every single time almost immediately after eating popcorn, I feel very gassy and bloated, so I definitely don't eat popcorn.

 

I suppose I am one of the ‘lucky’ ones with an early warning system that alerts me. When I flare my pulse begins racing and my fasting blood sugar spikes. My GI told me to ask my PCP about it and my PCP did not know what to say. I haven’t found anyone on this forum or anywhere on the internet with the same problem. During my last flare my pulse never went below 90 bpm even when resting or waking up in the morning. My fasting blood sugar level inexplicably rises from 85/95 to 105/120 and remains high until I am back into remission.

I measure my blood sugar first thing every morning. I learned years ago that if I had a soda then it would be elevated for a day or two. (Interesting hfcs in soda or candy causes this phenomenon but regular sugar in chocolate or in my tea has no effect). Same with my other problem foods such as shellfish. If I continue with the ‘poison’ then bloody diarrhea becomes the next symptom until eventually it morphs into a full blown flare. And once you are in a flare it is hell trying to escape from it.

So it is very easy for me to watch my diet, I am scared of diabetes. The good news is this is a very effective early warning for oncoming flares. When back in remission my blood glucose drops back to the 85/95 area, my pulse returns to 66-68 bpm, and I once again have well formed stools. I know it sounds crazy but someday someone will have a better explanation than that my guardian angel (or guardian demon) is absolutely determined that I learn to eat right, no excuses! LOL.

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 11/15/2010 9:30:25 PM (GMT-7)

I love those lists of foods that can cause inflammation.  That is all I eat about.  I cannot eat salmon, bananas, etc. etc.  Guess I am backwards.

I eat tomatoes, potatoes, dairy and caffeine with no problems!  Maybe I was made wrong or something!!  By the way I hate veggies and most fruit.

ElaineNY 

It takes trial and error for sure. If one is changing diets, slowly is a good thing...especially if adding foods such as on the list from Subdued that might cause discomfort.  As well, they can be adjusted on a smaller level rather than a bigger one.

The colon eventually seems to adjust somewhat...some foods may never be able to be eaten based on the comfort level.

q