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What do you eat during a flare?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/28/2011 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
I've been in a flare for a couple of weeks, and I've been eating really bland stuff. Basically beige and white foods, with the occasional salmon, sauteed spinach and sunflower-seed butter, since they're supposed to be anti-inflammatory. I'm so sick of rice! rolleyes It's complicated by the fact that I'm mostly a vegetarian (I do eat fish). I'm really bored of what I've been eating, but I just don't feel like my digestive system can handle my usual diet (lots of whole grains and veggies). Any suggestions?
Posted 8/28/2011 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I know exactly how you feel. When in flare, I have to eat almost completely opposite of what I typically eat. Normally, I eat lots of broccoli and apples, etc. (fruits and vegetables) really healthy. When flaring: applesauce, rice, crackers (saltines/ritz), honey grahm crackers, chex cereal (gluten free), after workout recovery drink (lots of L-glutamine, etc-) limited choices makes it really boring. I'm getting so tired of everything, especially applesauce. [When choosing crackery things, I choose the things that when you put it in your mouth and sip water, it practically turns to mush in your mouth. I think it helps the colon. It's soft, yet binding] 

Both during flares and in remission I eat lots of protein-chicken/turkey only

And I NEVER have dairy.; and I LEAN towards being gluten free (I don't eat breads, tortillas, crackers for the most part that have gluten in them. But I don't worry about it being in condiments, etc)

I'm kinda strange..hehe it makes me sad and mad when I can't eat my apples, and steamed broccoli, etc. I can't wait till I can have them again. 

Posted 8/29/2011 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
MmeMulot,

The BRAT diet would be enough to send me into a flare: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast - woa!

I've played around with diets alot.

When I was flaring, the ONLY thing I could tolerate was proteins: grilled fish, grilled chicken, canned sardines - as soon as I added some steamed veggies or fruits or carbs, my bleeding would go way up.

I would recommend you look into the SCD diet - specific carbohydrate diet. And at the very least stay away from  wheat, gluten, dairy.

Also, start a food journal to see what correlations arise.

You could also try to add: slippery elm bark powder - it is nature's mesalamine.

BTW, are you on any good probiotics?

Posted 8/29/2011 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
I just avoid caffeine and oranges, those seem to aggravate a flare for me.
Posted 8/29/2011 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
This is going to sound strange, but I find sweet potatoes and cake are the easiest things on my system when I'm flaring. I suspect it's different for everybody. Grilled chicken is probably about the only protein I can tolerate. I definitely cut out broccoli and beans; they give me gas, which hurts like a sunofagun during a flare.

I am surprised that applesauce made the list. From what I've read on the list, a lot of people have problems with fruit during a flare.
Posted 8/29/2011 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies! It's certainly tough. I've tried gluten-free several times, because I think it SHOULD help, but I've never noticed any difference. I'm taking Align probiotics, and I just added slippery elm bark into the mix. I feel like I might be getting a bit better, but I don't want to rush it. I have a vacation coming up in two weeks, so I'm crossing my fingers and babying myself in the meantime.

I've been SOOOO exhausted through this flare. I haven't been able to muster the energy to exercise in two weeks, and all I want to do is sleep. I've been a giant slug. I'm not getting much protein (occasional salmon), and on top of the fatigue that goes with UC, I just don't have any fuel for energy.

I've had sweet potatoes a few times in this flare, and that seemed to go OK.

Posted 8/29/2011 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Ask your doctor about slippery elm bark if you are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant. At least one resource list it as having abortive effects.
Posted 6/8/2017 8:53 AM (GMT 0)
Aloe vera and vitamin water "revive" seems to sooth my flaring. Anything with electrolytes and potassium works wonders and some good ols medical cannibus not the garbage in the streets. And smoked clean with a water bong not with tobacco or any other form of roll up..
Posted 6/8/2017 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Bananas, plain toast, chicken broth, mashed carrots, boiled chicken
Posted 6/8/2017 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
I like eggs, grilled chicken, rice, applesauce, white crackers, white bread and peanut butter. It's boring, but it works for me. A banana here and there is good, but not often because of the natural sugars in it which may disrupt the colon/intestines.
Posted 6/9/2017 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
It's hard isn't it. Do you eat eggs? I have eggs & avocado on GF plain toast, soups, smooth peanut butter & banana on plain GF toast, rice cereal, mash potato & easy to digest protein like stews

I know what you mean about GF. I'm also not sure I notice a difference but I've seen loads of dietitians nutritionists etc over the years & they all say to avoid. I don't actually mind GF toast so doesn't bother me to avoid it.
Posted 6/12/2017 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thank for everyone sharing their flare up dietary routines. This is our initial flare-up and just want to hear from others how long does your flare up restricted diet usually take? A few weeks? A few months? Would you consider the flare up under control if your bathroom visits are normal? Those have gotten better but excruciating pain constantly and we are thinking that may mean we are still in a flare :-(
Posted 6/13/2017 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
CHICKEN BROTH!! With chicken and carrots, sometmies rice in it. Winter squashes also seem to be okay. So good. Protein is good and low fiber foods.
Posted 6/13/2017 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Carbs and junk food. But nothing fried. I know it might sound strange, but I guess I tolerate it well since there's very little fiber in more junky stuff. Bread, pasta, and the like. I can also do smoothies with frozen fruit and coconut milk. Other than the liquefied frozen fruit, no raw veggies or fruits. Good luck!
Posted 6/14/2017 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
My new one is an omelette, I just have it with eggs, tiny bit of cheese, parsley and salt+ pepper. Plus it takes only a few minutes to make and minimal clean up which is great when you're exhausted. I also have tinned salmon on rolls and that seems ok. I used to have salmon fillets but I noticed sometimes it would give me D afterwards, must be the unreliability in buying perfectly fresh fish and my super sensitive bowel. Same things happens to me with steamed chicken breast. And surprisingly Fillet-o-fish from McDonalds is good lol, I think the steamed bun and the fact that it is processed within an inch of its life with no fiber helps. I avoid raw foods or anything too fatty and stick with protein-heavy meals.
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