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Any tips on easing off of low-residue diet?

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Posted 8/9/2010 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have any tips on how to ease back into a regular diet after spending a week doing low-residue?

I am currently fighting a flare which sent me to the hospital for IV prednisone for about a week. After a week at home on 60mg pred daily and a low-residue diet I am feeling much better. Still not completely out of the woods but a drastic improvement from a couple of weeks ago. After doing low-residue for a week I was just wondering if anyone has some insight on how to re-introduce a normal diet. Thanks!
Posted 8/9/2010 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I would stick with water soluble fiber, especially at first, and add it slowly to see how it affects me. Stuff like steamed carrots, bananas, psyllium powder (Metamucil) and oatmeal works for me.
Posted 8/9/2010 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
I was on low residue diet for over a year - I think.  Then when off prednisone and in remission (no bleeding/mucous little, etc.) I added a few things but found some I could not tolerate so I stay away from them.  Still cannot eat many grains - wheat bread or wheat cereal - like granola.  I eat a little raw veggies - small salad maybe once to twice a week is all.  If I overdo I simply have left side discomfort and sometimes loose BM.  You have to find out what works.  I tried Metamucil 3 times and all it did was give me tons of gas - could not tolerate it.  Bananas give me reflux and I tolerate tomatoes well.  So, you just add like well cooked carrots, squash, etc. for fiber.

ElaineNY

Posted 8/9/2010 4:27 PM (GMT 0)

I was able to go back fairly quickly, but it's good to take precaution.

I started off by re-introducing things like red meats and cooked veggies in small portions in one meal a day. Still stayed completely away from raw fruits/veggies and skins, dairy, and spicy. After a few days, I increased the amount of regular foods and continued to do so each day. After a week, I was back to a basically normal diet (still a little precautious with minor things).

That's when I did the same process with spicy and dairy (slowly increased amount). If I had a problem, I backed it down again. Took about another week to get those re-introduced. Now I'm pretty much eating whatever I want in whatever quantity.

I've been symptom free for about 3 weeks but I'm still avoiding the very abrasive stuff (corn, skins, etc). I want to be 100% healed before I touch that. I think those are the biggest enemies, but of course we all have our specific problem foods.

Good luck and glad to see you're feeling better!

Posted 8/9/2010 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, we celebrated our 49th anniversary and I decided to have pinneapple sundae - you know the topping is cooked - however, lots of fiber.  Told my husband I felt find next day but pinneapple was floating in the toilet LOL! 

ElaineNY

Posted 8/9/2010 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
what do you normally eat patkage?

Where in your colon is your UC?

Welcome to the forum!


Elaine..congratulations on your anniversiary!!

I love pineapple sundaes....floating or not..lol.
q
Posted 8/9/2010 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for all the suggestions!

I usually can eat everything, except broccoli and apples. Pretty lucky, I guess. And its pancolitis, all over. I have been laying off the lactose too, under my doctor's orders.
Posted 8/9/2010 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
just eat small meals but often, enough protein, maybe well cooked veggies. Peel any fruit or eat it cooked or sauced/canned if you want some.
Chew well...
Salads...maybe just soft leaf lettuce...if you can eat anything, trial and error. Broccoli is so gas producing, I can only eat a small amount, very well cooked and even then I get gas. Not my friend. The same goes for bananas...oooo, lots of gas no matter how ripe or not. Oatmeal is another culprit on the discomfort level for me...time of day makes a difference, however. most of those types of foods I'll consume for supper...

Yeah, lactose can cause gas and discomfort...yogurt and ice cream are the worst for me...

All trial and error....all for comfort, none will make your UC worse.

Fibre supplements such at metamucil will help bulk the stool and sometimes help lessen the frequency. Small amounts...I perfer the capsules.

q
Posted 8/10/2010 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried lactose-free dairy products? The milk works fine for me, & it is great for calcium intake. Also, some brands of natural yogurt (w/o additives) can be very helpful to the colon by providing beneficial bacteria. RE easing back to a wider variety of foods, I agree with Juju-- try things in small amounts to see how you tolerate them. Take care especially with skins, seeds, & spices. It always helps to avoid high salt, sugar, & fats, too, coloring agents, & other chemical additives that turn up in fast foods & heavily processed items like deli meats. I do well with banana, blueberries, & melon, but apple skins have bothered me since my last flare in 3/2009 so I don't eat them. Steamed or sauteed broccoli florets seem to help my colon function better & baby lettuces are o.k., but raw carrot or coleslaw do not agree. I also benefit from combining cooked veggies with plain boiled white rice-- that combo digests well for me. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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