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Flare-up and weight management

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/7/2014 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
What do you recommend for all the weight that is lost during a flare-up?

When I'm having a flare-up...I feel like such crap that I don't want to eat. Let alone scared to eat for the fear of it coming right back out the other end. My appetite just isn't there during that time. So I end up losing a lot of weight in the end.

Posted 1/7/2014 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
You have to eat...seems that's the only way. There are some liquid preparations that others try...I think one is made by Nestle, but I don't remember exactly.

What, basically do you eat?

q
Posted 1/7/2014 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
I find myself eating once a day during a flare. Usually salads, a sandwich, or fruits. I just recently switched GI dr.'s. When I was diagnosed my GI dr. didn't tell me much about UC...he just gave me a pamphlet. I feel like I'm still learning what I should and shouldn't eat.

When I'm not flaring...I eat everything except spicy foods. It seems to set it off.
Posted 1/7/2014 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
i drink a lot of Absorb Plus shakes. they are like my main flare/hospital food. i do three a day. all the flavors are really good- there's chocolate, vanilla, and berry. you can only get them online though so when i buy them, i order a few canisters.
Posted 1/7/2014 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hey banana,

I found this as the headline pretty much on their site: "Exclusive nutritional therapy shows a more rapid effect than steroids in inducing clinical remission and is markedly more effective than steroids in producing healing of mucosal inflammation."
- Dr. Robert Canani, MD

That's quite the endorsement. Have you ever tried Absorb Plus exclusively and found it to help your flare?
Posted 1/7/2014 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
I've been doing well with avocados...I think a few other people have as well. Alone they wouldn't do much, but I'm sure the calories and fat would be good. Is easy to mix with whatever else you can handle...I did them with ground turkey or potato for awhile.....a lil lemon juice if thats something you tolerate. even in rice or eggs.

My DH was putting honey in applesauce for me too, but it looks like some people have trouble with sugars so not sure if that is helpful to you.
Posted 1/7/2014 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Well, first off you are not going to regain any weight until you are mostly healed. And by that I mean pooping 3 or less times a day. So don't try before that or you'll be wasting your time. Once you are healed enough, you got to pound down the extra calories in order to gain weight and it will be a very slow process. Eat an extra helping with each meal, eat snacks. Just choose nutritious snacks and foods, as you want to make up for all of the nutrients you lost when you lost during the uc flareup.
Posted 1/7/2014 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
levi, i think that headline is pushing it haha i've never been able to use Absorb Plus in place of steroids. i just use it for calories when i have no appetite. the shakes have the consistency of water but have a lot of calories so they are very easy to drink. they definitely have the most nutrients and protein out of any other elemental shakes i've seen.
Posted 1/7/2014 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
hey nana girl -

so what do you get from the absorb plus shakes have that you can't get from real food ? is it that they just digest weller than some food ? cuz they don't appear to have that many calories ? how many total calories do you consume on a normal day ?
Posted 1/7/2014 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Im with mars on the avocado. I've been adding it to almost everything and have been losing weight slower. At this point im pooping 6+ times a day so im still losing. I agree its HARD to put food in my mouth. I fear the all mighty toilet and would rather avoid it... but if I do that then im in bed all day. And that sucks too!
find some safe foods and just keep trying to get calories in :)

I like a chicken breast with avocado. Mmmm.
Posted 1/7/2014 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
lonnie, they are just perfect for when i'm so sick that i can't cook. i love that they have no fiber and are predigested so the nutrients get into your bloodstream fast. that's great for me since i have terrible absorption problems when i am going to the bathroom so much. basically, it's a lot of liquid calories for when i know i have to eat but just can't eat real food.

on the website, it tells you how to get the most calories from the shakes. i just follow those directions:

4 scoops of the shake (360 cals)
add 1 Tbsp of oil (i use coconut oil- 120 cals)
1 cup of coconut milk or kefir (almost 400 cals)

so that's 880 calories per shake. if i do three a day, that's 2640 calories. i'd say that's pretty good for me when i need to get calories in as easy as possible. it's better than TPN.

as a side note on the avocado recommended above, it's LOADED with fiber so if you are having problems with high fiber, cut out avocado. i cut it out a while ago when i realized one avocado has a whopping 14 grams of fiber. ouch.
Posted 1/7/2014 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
But its mooshy! Lol

If I add it to other fiber foods... bad idea. But as long as I add just a tablespoon or two to something like chicken I seem to tolerate it well.

Im really liking this shake idea you've got banana girl. I seem to tolerate slim fast type shakes pretty well too. :)
Posted 1/7/2014 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Banana,

Thanx for the suggestion. I'll order some of the Absorb Plus shakes a try.

Wifeofmars,

I'm also going to give the avocados a try....I love them so that shouldn't be to hard.

Katie,
I'm in bed as well when I don't eat as I should. But, like you stated the all mighty toilet never fails to call me once I eat anything during a flare.

Thank you for all the advice...you start to get a bit discouraged when your weight starts to drop and you're scared to eat. Then it's hard trying to explain to people that don't understand the ups and downs of your weight. At times they assume your just a sickly person.
Posted 1/7/2014 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sure you've got this covered bgirl, but yest in quesadilla, here's one comment on maltodextrins:

Although no scientific proof has been found, research has shown that over use of food products that contain maltodextrin can produce the following side effects. Abdominal bloating and flatulence can be experienced; other problems relating to digestion can also become a problem such as constipation and diarrhea Anyone suffering from a starch intolerance could experience wheezing, itching skin rashes or asthma. The danger that can affect body builders is a sudden drop in blood sugar levels if they work out to excess.
Posted 1/7/2014 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
I just ordered my Absorb Plus shake....I can't wait for it to come in the mail.
Posted 1/7/2014 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
yeah, the tapioca maltodextrin is used to make it into a powder. i'm not sure what else they could use to have the same effect. obviously, it's not perfect because meal replacements aren't great, but it serves it's purpose for people with digestive diseases.

angee, what flavor did you get?? vanilla might be my number one pick because it tastes like a mcdonald's milkshake. the chocolate is like a wendy's frosty pahaha
Posted 1/7/2014 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
"really need help with gas, bloating and constipation "

so you don't think all that maltodextrin could be contributing ?
Posted 1/8/2014 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
reread above posts, lonnie. i only drink them when i can't eat or cook for myself- so when i'm flaring or in the hospital.

it was the magnesium i have found once and for all that gives me horrendous gas and bloating. so i stopped that and can finally live with myself. that stuff is like poison in my poor gut. the constipation is either inflammation again or just too much starches. probably a mixture of both unfortunately
Posted 1/8/2014 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
well you just keep on malto dexter'n bgirl - I wouldn't touch that stuff with a ten foot pinky toe :-)
Posted 1/8/2014 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
haha more for me!!! they taste so good!
Posted 1/8/2014 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Banana,
I ordered the French Vanilla. I just need something for when the flare - up starts. Thanx again for the recommendation.
Posted 1/8/2014 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
Wow...I had no idea on the avocados! The doc had them on my list of low fiber foods! Good to know..
Posted 1/8/2014 7:20 AM (GMT 0)
Pretty sure if I avoided all unpronounceables (additives) right now I would die... unless I found someone to come take care of me, go to the grocery store, make me food... I can barely get out of bed some days so I gotta take what I can get!

and generally do pretty darn good. But no one is perfect mr pinky toe! :D
Posted 1/8/2014 8:00 AM (GMT 0)
LOL :D
Posted 1/8/2014 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
I ordered some French vanilla too. I use to love Swiss Miss French vanilla hot chocolate when I was young.

It's tapioca maltodextrin...so to me that's a heck of a lot better than corn maltodextrin, we'll see.

Yeah, I'm 30 now so I can say "when I was young" since I'm 30 now...
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