What foods do you find help you when flaring

Hi all

I am just starting a flare and I am hoping not to go back on the pred to get through this.
what advice can you give me to help me avoid the pred, or am I just fooling myself that it is possible, and I should give in now and phone the doc.
At the moment I am sticking to white bread, toasted, chicken soup and plain mashed potatoes.
Any other foods I can eat to help heal my colon and avoid the pred

Thanks in advance

Imac Girl

Imac Girl said...
Hi all

I am just starting a flare and I am hoping not to go back on the pred to get through this.
what advice can you give me to help me avoid the pred, or am I just fooling myself that it is possible, and I should give in now and phone the doc.
At the moment I am sticking to white bread, toasted, chicken soup and plain mashed potatoes.
Any other foods I can eat to help heal my colon and avoid the pred

Thanks in advance

Imac Girl

Actually, I found the foods you named to be very helpful, but did not try mashed potatoes. Stay away from highly acidic or spicy foods, nuts, foods with seeds, very gassy foods, etc. Stick to the plain, and easy to digest. Ginger tea helped me as well.

Imac Girl said...
Hi all
At the moment I am sticking to white bread, toasted, chicken soup and plain mashed potatoes.
Any other foods I can eat to help heal my colon and avoid the pred

Thanks in advance

Imac Girl

Hi Imac Girl,

Try adding turmeric to the chicken soup and mashed potatoes. Ginger teas are also good. Both turmeric and ginger are anti-inflammatory. When I'm flaring I'll drink tea without added milk and sugar. It's easier on the digestive system that way.

BTW, white potatoes are pro-inflammatory for some. They are a nightshade. But if you aren't having any issues with them, then I don't see any reason to give them up.

I haven't found any foods that really help me. I do avoid greasy, spicy foods and all alcohol when I am flaring, because those things make matters worse, but I have never had luck with foods having much of a positive impact, though I have tried to eliminate things and such.

What I find helps me more than food is upping my probiotic, getting rest, reducing stress and the pysllium seed powder has been helping me as well. I may not be taking enough for it to help as much as some of the others who are using it, but it definitely helps me.

This is such an individual thing. My acupuncturist swears up and down to me that I need to go gluten, sugar and dairy free because her daughter, who also has UC, did and it helped get her into remission. But I have tried those (with the exception of gluten) and thus far have noticed no difference at all. I am only sensitive to certain foods when I am flaring, otherwise, I can eat and drink whatever I want. But with her daughter, what she eats has a HUGE impact.

Something else I would consider is getting on a rectal (sorry quicy! You haven't jumped in yet, so I had to suggest it!). Last year when I started having a flare, I went on a rectal mesalamine and immediately had some relief. I highly recommend it-they really help a lot, even if they are less than pleasant. (they really aren't that bad)

Good luck-I COMPLETELY understand wanting to avoid pred. I hate that drug with a passion and would do whatever I could to avoid it as well. I hope you can find some relief!!

I try to eat as little as possible when I am flaring. Excess food = excess dumpage.

If your medications are working like desired then you should be able to eat anything. While on prednisone I can eat enchiladas, tostadas, salsa, hamburgers, etc all day long without any ill effects but even though i was happy satisfying my taste buds I didn't feel great knowing I should be eating healthier.
I've been successful stopping the bleeding of flares by my diet alone. See what works for you and try your best to stay strong. Read books about the gut and special diets for all types of bowel problems. Good luck.