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"Low-residue" diet... issues?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/25/2017 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hey friends --

While I'm still on the steroids they have me on a low-fiber diet. Luckily I cook a lot, so I've been making things like stew w/ mashed potatoes, roast beef dinners, breakfast sandwiches w/ white bread, seared tuna and sushi rice etc...

But low-residue, while no longer suffering from bloody diarrhea, is not my favorite -- as someone used to a diet rich in vegetables and quinoa and fiber meals.

Anyone have any good advice on foods or ways to "keep things moving"?

Thanks --
Posted 10/25/2017 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
my advice would be to eat what works and not put much emphasis on what "they" recommend -

tho if you are on pred, it can be difficult to know what actually is working -

is pred the only med you are taking ?
Posted 10/25/2017 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
Add what you want....adjust as needed.
q
Posted 10/25/2017 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
When I am on a low fibre diet (not quite the same low residue but similar) I manage to sneak in boiled carrots, steamed zucchini, bananas, cantaloupe, and white rice without ill effect.
Posted 10/25/2017 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
low-residue is not a therapy, it is an adaptation.

when you have rivers of D, low-residue makes less flow in the river. it is just a way to have less undigested mass to pass.

as your D improves, you can eat higher-residue
Posted 10/25/2017 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hey sorry what is D? Thanks all
Posted 10/25/2017 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
D = diarrhea.
Posted 10/25/2017 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone have any good advice on foods or ways to "keep things moving"?

Include healthy oils as much as possible, olive, coconut, etc.
My gut hates insoluble fiber so I'm fine with cooked carrots, spinach, green beans, just not higher fiber veggies or whole grain anything. I'd stick to what your doc suggested so you are doing everything possible to get your gut better.

After that then try my version of low fiber and then add in higher fiber gradually.
Posted 10/26/2017 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
I just got diagnosed with ulcerative pancolitis and I'm on the low residue diet too. My plan is to stick with it until I'm done tapering off of prednisone and then reintroduce different food items back in and see how it goes; presupposing that the pantasa and mesalamine enemas keep me in remission.

You might want to limit fats too as they don't digest very well. Lean meats only is what I've seen for the low residue diet. So seafood and skinless chicken.

I am also keeping a food diary. I am keeping track of my weight, BMs, bed time and wake time. Everywhere I look I see that sleep is really important for UC people.
Posted 10/26/2017 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
I was a former vegetarian and going on low residue always sucks for me. I made the mistake the first few times of trying to push adding fiber back in before I was done with my taper. I found the following foods ok for me while flaring: butternut squash, well cooked zucchini, fresh green beans, yams, carrots.

Towards the end of my tapers I add in high fiber pastas, wheat breads and couscous. But very slowly. Everyone is different sonexperiment and adjust accordingly.
Posted 10/26/2017 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I'm not even close to done with my taper and I'm definitely tempted to introduce more fiber. I'll keep waiting it out on the exact diet the recommended.

I'm also ulcerative pancolitis.

And I'm also hoping this first run w/ mesalamine oral works. They said I shouldn't have to try any of the other medications mentioned unless these meds don't work and I suffer another bad flair-up while on them...

Though I'm seeing a lot of folks here weren't able to just stop w/ the mesalamine pills and ended up needing something more robust, but we'll see.
Posted 10/26/2017 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Flare...not flair.

Are you not on rectal meds?

q
Posted 10/26/2017 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Haha right. No, not yet. They didn't prescribe them -- just the oral delay-release pills and pred taper right now.
Posted 10/26/2017 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Request them....and yes, you do need them. You're already worried about more robust meds....like what?

q
Posted 10/26/2017 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Believe me, the initial thought of taking enemas isn't high on any of our "want to do" lists. However, results are what we're after and they're highly effective at treatment of our rectum, which is an area the delayed-release pills just don't treat well. Our rectum always has our most severe inflammation and it is the very last to heal. That rectal inflammation causes the very worst of our symptoms. Therefore, it's a no-brainer to ask for a prescription for rowasa/pentasa/salofalk enemas and use them. UC symptoms are crappy and we all want to heal quickly and be rid of symptoms.
Posted 10/26/2017 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice. I will keep this in mind, 100 percent (and thanks for the med names). I have a checkup after the prednisone is tapered in eight weeks. The enema spray thing doesn't look so awful, particularly if it works.

I'm annoyed though that they wouldn't have mentioned or suggested this to me at the GI doc. Is it just that they are trying the oral first and starting in a latter of engagement?

I just know I do NOT want to have to go back to the ER for this, or go through the miserable mess that was the entire last 6-8 weeks of my life... I finally feel normal again since getting out of the hospital, minus fatigue. Even went on a video shoot today for work.
Posted 10/26/2017 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
A lot of gasteroenteroligists do not initially mention the Rowasa enemas as most new patients expectations are that a pill will solve all of their problems, do to the initial eww factor of enemas, and the subsequent poor compliance. The bottom line is UC is a pain in our behinds both figuratively and literally and the last thing anybody wants is to deal with those symptoms any longer or more severely than is necessary.
Posted 10/26/2017 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
if you want to stay out of the ER, request some lovely rectal meds - TODAY - they work for pretty much everyone that uses them -
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