liquid diet for bowel rest?

sore_guts

Regular Member

Joined : Jun 2007

Posts : 186

Posted 3/16/2009 7:10 PM (GMT 0)

I finally broke down and called my Dr because this flare just isn’t going away. I’m very slowly getting better, but losing a lot of blood. So he gave me a rowasa script and says to do a liquid diet for several days for “bowel rest”. Has anyone else had to do the liquid diet? The nurse said I can eat yogurt, soups, cream soups, ice cream, sherbert. Basically anything not solid to help give the colon a rest and heal. I am not thrilled about this and wonder if it will really help or not. Anyone have experience with this?

Rio in Maryland

Veteran Member

Joined : Nov 2007

Posts : 891

Posted 3/16/2009 7:36 PM (GMT 0)

sore_guts,

When I was flaring severely, I tried a liquid diet for almost 2 weeks and it did help rest the gut. However, from what I know, it is not recommended to do a liquid diet for more than 3-5 days, because you may not be getting enough calories/nutrition.

I had clear soups, plain yogurt mixed with water, fresh vegetable juice (spinach and carrot). I avoided unfermented dairy, so I definitely avoided anything with cream/ice cream.

Also, a few days after I started this I began doing Vitamin E enemas twice a day and that seemed to help me a lot.

Peety

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2008

Posts : 2855

Posted 3/16/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)

I don't think it would work for me, because if I skip meals or don't eat enough, my lower gut gurgles and bleeds more. But everyone is different.
I hope the rowasa helps you.

Old Hat

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2007

Posts : 6012

Posted 3/16/2009 8:11 PM (GMT 0)

I don't think that liquid alone is viable for more than a few days. However, an elderly neighbor of mine who developed bleeding colitis in the mid-1940s has told me that she survived for 2 yrs on pureed food + belladonna, which was the standard treatment at that time. She recovered on that regimen! Rowasa tends to liquify the stool-- my experience with it has been that plain boiled white rice most helps with that situation. Good luck to you! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

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