Weight issues.

I am currently trying to alter my diet, as it has come to a point where medication is not working for me, and my diet had gotten quite bad where i am eating lots of refined sugars like biscuits and cake, and no fruit and veg as they seemed to irritate my colitis.

I have been reading Jini Patel Thompsons book Listen to your gut, and i have now ordered the aloe vera juice she recommends, and also a tub of absorb plus, which is ment to help you gain weight.

My problem is since i cut out the biscuits and cake and bread etc, my weight has dropped to 6.5 stone, which is not a good place to be. I feel so weak all the time and tired. My colitis has been flared here and there over the last 6 months, but presently i would say i am more constipated, going every few days, but with no blood and no mucus, and i have some gas and a little discomfort on my left side. When i do have a BM i would only go once maybe twice in the day.

So what can i do to gain some weight? I am seriously worried.

Consider foods high in monosaturated fats such as salmon and sardines or food cooked in olive oil (in general, a Mediterranean diet with a good deal of fatty fish or equivalent). A good resource for this kind of diet is "The Omega Diet" by Simopoulos and Robinson. The value of an omega-3 based cuisine is that it is also anti-inflammatory - plus it is delicious (I think so anyway).

You may also want to include whole milk yogurt (preferably organic) or kefir, as well as fish oil and flax oil (preferably with lignans) supplements. The fish and flax oils will provide valuable calories as well as having anti-inflammatory and cholesterol benefits.

Thankyou for the ideas I shall give them all a try. I have been trying to eat fruit but it just seems to irritate my bowels as does most vegetables.

I have just ordered some george's always active aloe vera juice and some absorb plus which is a shake which can help you put on weight you can also go on an elemental diet with these shakes. I am just worried as I can loose weight so easily but have a really hard time putting if back on. Seriously 6.5 stone or around 96/97Ibs is not a good place to be.

I have been considering surgery but as I am only 28 I want to try the diet and suppliments first. My diet is rich in meat and potato and bread and I have been weaning myself off the biscuits and chocolate. If I want something sweet I now make it myself like a muffin or jelly. Is what I am eating bad? Why can't I eat fruit and veg?

Mercury28 said...

I have been considering surgery but as I am only 28 I want to try the diet and suppliments first. My diet is rich in meat and potato and bread and I have been weaning myself off the biscuits and chocolate. If I want something sweet I now make it myself like a muffin or jelly. Is what I am eating bad? Why can't I eat fruit and veg?

Alot of folks with IBD have problems with gluten. Since you say your diet is "rich" in bread, gluten could certainly be a factor. Try going gluten free for a couple of weeks and see how you respond. You may also want to be tested for celiac disease, if you haven't already.

What fruits and veggies are you trying to eat and how are they cooked? When flaring, there are certain ones you should avoid - like high fiber, cruciferous veggies, beans - and those you do eat should be peeled and well cooked to the point of softness. Veggie soups and stews are good and can even be blended to help digestion. Fruits can be baked or try very ripe bananas. The book The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut is a great source of information on foods generally well-tolerated by IBDers and foods that are generally problematic.

Hello Mercury!
I understand your pain.
But I'm in Canada now and I can help you find a docotor or tell you how's the health system here.
Where are you going to land?
I'm in Montreal but i'm seing my doctor on august 28th. He's one of the top in the hospital and you know how doctors are all connected. So if you tell me where you are going I can ask him a GE in the city.
The Health system here is good but tricky. To have a GE you mostly have to see a general doctor, then do a series of tests. But I'm sure you can take your doctor's card. And he can refear your file to the new doctor. That's what I did when I moved to Ireland a few years ago.
You condition seems serious and you need a follow up. I remember I could ask asacol to a general doctor in ireland but here i don't think it's possible. You need a specialist.
Also take an insurance that covers your hole year. I remember paying about 450 dollars for the year in Ireland and I would have my money back. It's really mendatory you do so. And take the best insurance for you as being hopsitalised here and having to pay for your medications can be costly.
Are you going to be resident? Do you have insurance through a job?
Just tell me. I'll be glad to help you.
Stefanie