Newly Diagnosed: Question about Elemental Diet During Flare?

New poster here! Not an ideal situation, but I'm very happy I found this community.

I have recently been diagnosed with UC (June 20th) after being in a flare for ~6 weeks. I would like to learn more about what to eat while flaring. I'm currently consuming 2,250 calories/day of the "Physician's Elemental Diet" (this one: http://elementaldiets.com/physicians-elemental-diet-df/) and 3 cups of a rice porridge dish called "congee", both of which were recommended to me by my nutritionist.

I'm open to any and all suggestions! I have read a number of threads about the elemental diet, but most of them were over 5 years old, so I wanted to see if opinions had changed. My nutritionist is planning to keep me on the Elemental Diet for another 1-2 weeks, followed by a "Bone Broth Diet" for another 1-2 weeks, and then finally followed by the SCD.

Although the blood in my stool has ceased, I am still experiencing fatigue, liquid stool, inability to regain weight, and, less frequently, stomach cramps. I'm concerned that my diet could be aiding these problems, especially the liquid stool and my inability to gain weight. I've read quite a lot about the Elemental Diet helping SIBO/IBS/Crohn's patients but have seen little about it helping UC patients.


Additional Information
I have lost about 40lbs over the last 7 weeks since my first symptoms. For reference, I currently weigh ~138lbs, down from a rather healthy 6'2" 175lbs.

In addition to my diet I am also taking the following
-For 1 Week: 4g oral Mesalamine (Pentasa)
-For 1 Week: 1g enema Mesalamine (Rowasa)
-For 1.5 Weeks: Prednisone (weekly taper: 40mg, 30mg, 20mg, 10mg)
-For 3 Days: EnteraGam (dietary supplement used to form stool)

Thank you!

Hi Weyward,

It is all a bit confronting and confusing in the early days. Sorry for your struggle so far...

The elemental diet is meant to give complete bowel rest. As long as you are consuming other food (congee), then you are not getting complete bowel rest. Elemental formulas should be used without any other food, or else it defeats the purpose.
Elemental diets are very hard to comply with, particularly for adults!

Has your gastro specialist recommended this diet?

wish you well

Are you continuing Pentasa and Rowasa longer then 1-week each?

Weyward said...
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what "remission" is. Does it essentially mean 0 symptoms?

Yes, a remission for me is 1-bm a day that's formed, without urgency, without blood, without discomfort.

Weyward said...
How long after taking prednisone do most people go into remission?

Pred can work and provide significant releif in days, a week, or two-weeks it varies. Depends mostly on whether the dosage is correct for your severity and extent of inflammation. You should be on pred a minimum of 2-months to provide the best results. Shorter courses often do not produce lasting results. Good luck!