You guys, I'm a complete idiot

I have been completely flare-free for almost 10 months and now it looks like I'm going into a flare.

I wanted to ask if the stupid thing I did last Friday could have anything to do with it. You know those candies called "Hot Tamales"? They're like jellybeans only they are really highly spiced with cinnamon.

I ate a bunch of them.

I don't have an eating disorder. I am a healthy weight and my fat percentage is about 22% (and my skeletal muscle is about 35%) and my fancy scale that tells me all of this information and more says that my body age is 34. I'm 51. So I just want to be clear that this is not a cry for help in that regard.

But I ate a BUNCH of those Hot Tamales. I really like them and I ate a whole box of them. The size of theatre candy, you know?

My tongue is still kind of burned from it. That's what makes me think they caused the flare.

Has anyone else ever OD'd on hot tamales or other hot candy & gotten a flare?

I was doing so well, too.

I can't say I actually flare from eating too much sweet stuff, but I usually get more bm's or even d from it plus a rumbly tummy. It could just be from IBS more than anything. The worst candy I can eat is gummy savers; I too eat way more than I should which causes problems for me, lol. Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks, Lonie -- I thought about increasing the probiotic dose but I take that RenewLife 80billion probiotic, which is $50 for 30 and I was hoping I could just wish this away instead. LOL it wasn't so much the sweetness that I was concerned about, but the cinnamon. I also had some stress that I was hoping could be part of it because the stress has now been alleviated (Good results on a medical test), but that might be too much to ask.

Marianne, I know in theory that's true, but these things are hot enough (with the cinnamon) that three days later, my tongue is still burned. I keep thinking that had to have an effect on my poor little colon.

Foods can 100% cause you to flare, to state otherwise is what scientists lie to call "Wrong". Keep a journal, experiment with foods and see what kind of effect they have on you. I will flare 100% of the time after I eat popcorn, without fail.

I suppose I should ask what symptoms you are having...maybe I'm in a flare when I get too many bm's. But those are usually the only symptoms I have, and then it's only a day or so until I return to what I consider as normal!

I don't usually get the blood, but do get cramping. I know it's the sugar and whatever else is in those darned gummy savers. Funny, I don't eat a lot of sugar, but certain things will really trigger the ole' gut.

That could be true! Just like eating tomatoes or beets, ha.

**** I did ask myself whether it was candy remains at first. I think it's blood now, though. :-(

Michele I'm going to put it on the Do Not Eat In Large Quantities list but I hope to still sometimes be able to eat a rational amount of it.

God, I feel like SUCH an IDIOT.

I am sorry you're feeling bad. I am having a rough day today as well. Hoping it is something I ate and not an impending flare. I am going to go heavy with the rectal medications for the next couple weeks and hopefully get back on track.

nososicklygirl, that's exactly my plan. I need to pull out the corticosteroid enemas I have and be sure they're not past their expiration date and then get crackin!

How many days ago did you "OD" and how many days have you been having symptoms? It could just a bad day due to the candy, and not an actual flare. Maybe you have an internal hemmie or two the extra poop is irritating, which is causing the blood.

I had the Hot Tamale Episode on Friday afternoon. Saturday morning I thought I might be seeing traces of blood, but it really got going on Sunday and today. Yes, I'm really hoping it's not a full on flare but just a Big Warning about Moderation.

ByeByeUC said...
Foods do not cause a UC flare. It would certainly aggravate a flare if you were in one, but not bring one on.

I couldn't disagree more. Myself and many, many others have been in states of remission completely reversed by eating the wrong things. Diet is critical for lots of UCers.