Can you eat any food once you get in remission?

[prettyflowers]

I am recently diagnosed with Crohn's and have started a biologic.

I keep reading on here and other places about people saying that they can't eat certain foods with Crohn's.

My question: Are people experiencing symptoms from eating certain foods because they aren't in remission yet, or are they experiencing symptoms from certain foods after still being in remission?

Does this mean that if I get into remission, there may be certain foods that cause me to have issues (such as, diarrhea) and that I won't be able to eat those foods any longer?

I don't know if foods bother me or not. I just assumed my symptoms are from not being in remission. I also assume that if I get in remission that my symptoms will disappear. Yes or no? (My only symptom is diarrhea more days that not and an increase in stool frequency).

 

[Scipio]

Yes, I can eat more or less any food in remission, but I never was able to identify any specifically troublesome food in the first place. There were no "trigger foods" for me as far as I could tell.

But one thing I've learned about food and Crohn's is that every case is different. Just because I or any other given patient can get away with eating pretty much anything in remission doesn't mean that you will too. And while there may be some common themes among patients who do have trigger foods, the complete list of trigger foods differs from one patient to the next as well.

In all things Crohn's: "Your mileage may vary."

 

[prettyflowers]

Yes, I can eat more or less any food in remission, but I never was able to identify any specifically troublesome food in the first place. There were no "trigger foods" for me as far as I could tell.

But one thing I've learned about food and Crohn's is that every case is different. Just because I or any other given patient can get away with eating pretty much anything in remission doesn't mean that you will too. And while there may be some common themes among patients who do have trigger foods, the complete list of trigger foods differs from one patient to the next as well.

In all things Crohn's: "Your mileage may vary."

Ah, yes, I'm learning that ("your mileage may vary").

Thank you for providing some insight. I am encouraged that you can eat most/all foods while in remission and hope that is the same case for me.

I'd like to determine if my biologic is working or not. Probably too soon to tell (finished third loading dose a little over a week ago) and might need tests done to really determine anyway.

I am trying to remain hopeful that I will get into remission and was thinking that maybe my continued symptoms are from certain foods. I suppose I will just need to wait longer to know if it's working or not, rather than trying to analyze it all the time. And also I should probably take it as a good sign that I have seen some slight improvement.

Thank you again.

 

[Jo-mom]

Hi, my son also is on a biologic and is able to eat pretty much everything. He doesn't seem to have any trigger foods. Even with the possibility of a narrowing small intestine, he doesn't seem to have problems, although he now does hold back on popcorn, and celery. Although he is 24, he never did drink alcohol, smoke, or drink pop or coffee, so that's something that can be irritating to some, but since he has never tried any of these products, it's a good thing for him!

With time, you will figure it out. As Scipio said, mileage does vary.

 

[Andersen007]

I had similar symptoms as you OP, when diagnosed last December, they determined I have fairly mild Crohn’s in my terminal ileum. Was encouraged to go on steroids and try biologics, but instead I decided to give diet a try. I failed miserably on enteral nutrition, which usually brings relief to most - likely due to the intact milk proteins but even elemental formulas didnt feel great. Around February my fecal calprotectin was 1200. I then started Specific Carbohydrate Diet, further excluding other foods even ones that the diet permits, and have gone from 5 liquid stools per day and annoying pain few times a week, to 1-2 fairly solid (Bristol 4/5) stools per day. Pain is very occasional, and normally related to when I “cheat” on my diet, e.g. drink alcohol or eat a kebab plate. My fecal calprotectin went down to 130, which prompted my IBD specialist doctor to change his mind, and he is now fairly supportive that I continue on this road and we occasionally check my blood levels for potential malnutrition (so far all good on that front) and we will also do a control MRE. He says I am his only patient who was open to “sacrifice” so much and willing to go all in on the diet. Now as pointed out above, just because it works for me its no guarantee whatsoever that it would work for anyone else. Enteral nutrition is supposed to be a much more effective nutritional approach and it didnt work well for me, my calprotectin actually skyrocketed on it as well as symptoms. But I also want to point out that until I had significant inflammation, and ate a fairly free diet, I couldnt really identify foods that worsen my Crohns either. Sometimes it took quite a few days. Those that caused symptoms immediately were not neccessarily foods that made inflammation worse, simply foods that my inflammed gut wasnt able to process well. So I guess what I am trying to say is, until you do a supervised elimination diet, reduce symptoms, try to reintroduce foods slowly, and periodically measure inflammation levels, its hard to really say if specific foods actually worsen your Crohns. I am personally not against biologics, but I have gained a lot of knowledge this way in what foods I should eat, and will probably stick to it even if I will go on biologics one day. But I prefer not to exhaust the therapeutic arsenal until I can keep the inflammation in control.

 

[prettyflowers]

Hi, my son also is on a biologic and is able to eat pretty much everything. He doesn't seem to have any trigger foods. Even with the possibility of a narrowing small intestine, he doesn't seem to have problems, although he now does hold back on popcorn, and celery. Although he is 24, he never did drink alcohol, smoke, or drink pop or coffee, so that's something that can be irritating to some, but since he has never tried any of these products, it's a good thing for him!

With time, you will figure it out. As Scipio said, mileage does vary.

Thank you for responding. I get so excited when someone replies to one of my questions. The more input the better!

I'm glad for your son that he gets to enjoy what he wants to eat. I have seen people mention that they can't eat raw veggies or even some cooked vegetables which has concerned me because I have always filled up on those foods as part of my weight loss regimen, plus I just really enjoy them.
I also drink coffee and I am pretty confident that it's not bothering me.

I am still surprised at receiving this diagnosis in the first place, and then to discover there's no rhyme or reason to how it behaves has been mind blowing. As you said, with time I will figure it out. Thank you again!

 

[xmdmom]

My adult son has been in remission on Remicade/ inflectra and can eat most anything. The only foods he avoids are black pepper and very spicy foods. He eats salad and raw and cooked veggies. He just started eating some nuts and sunflower seeds and so far so good. His Crohns was in his small intestine.

 

[prettyflowers]

I had similar symptoms as you OP, when diagnosed last December, they determined I have fairly mild Crohn’s in my terminal ileum. Was encouraged to go on steroids and try biologics, but instead I decided to give diet a try. I failed miserably on enteral nutrition, which usually brings relief to most - likely due to the intact milk proteins but even elemental formulas didnt feel great. Around February my fecal calprotectin was 1200. I then started Specific Carbohydrate Diet, further excluding other foods even ones that the diet permits, and have gone from 5 liquid stools per day and annoying pain few times a week, to 1-2 fairly solid (Bristol 4/5) stools per day. Pain is very occasional, and normally related to when I “cheat” on my diet, e.g. drink alcohol or eat a kebab plate. My fecal calprotectin went down to 130, which prompted my IBD specialist doctor to change his mind, and he is now fairly supportive that I continue on this road and we occasionally check my blood levels for potential malnutrition (so far all good on that front) and we will also do a control MRE. He says I am his only patient who was open to “sacrifice” so much and willing to go all in on the diet. Now as pointed out above, just because it works for me its no guarantee whatsoever that it would work for anyone else. Enteral nutrition is supposed to be a much more effective nutritional approach and it didnt work well for me, my calprotectin actually skyrocketed on it as well as symptoms. But I also want to point out that until I had significant inflammation, and ate a fairly free diet, I couldnt really identify foods that worsen my Crohns either. Sometimes it took quite a few days. Those that caused symptoms immediately were not neccessarily foods that made inflammation worse, simply foods that my inflammed gut wasnt able to process well. So I guess what I am trying to say is, until you do a supervised elimination diet, reduce symptoms, try to reintroduce foods slowly, and periodically measure inflammation levels, its hard to really say if specific foods actually worsen your Crohns. I am personally not against biologics, but I have gained a lot of knowledge this way in what foods I should eat, and will probably stick to it even if I will go on biologics one day. But I prefer not to exhaust the therapeutic arsenal until I can keep the inflammation in control.

Thank you for all of this! I read about the SCD and considered it myself. If I get into remission with the biologic I'm on and still have an issue, I am going to revisit the idea of trying it myself along with my biologic. It will definitely require me to have some serious self-control though, as will an elimination diet if I ever need to try that. I'm happy you have found something that works for you. Thank you for responding and sharing a little bit of your journey.

 

[prettyflowers]

My adult son has been in remission on Remicade/ inflectra and can eat most anything. The only foods he avoids are black pepper and very spicy foods. He eats salad and raw and cooked veggies. He just started eating some nuts and sunflower seeds and so far so good. His Crohns was in his small intestine.

Thank you for replying. That's good news for your son. It's nice to hear that some people don't have too many food restrictions, if any.

 

[Pug Gamer]

I am in remission and unfortunately can't eat alot of foods. I have crohns in my terminal ileum, which has caused ibs and lactose intolerance.
So for me it's anything with fibre, fruit, veg, oats, wholegrain, caffeine etc.
I can take potatoes, sweet potato (smaller amounts) and onions with zero problems.
I also have lactase enzyme which works perfectly, and means I can eat lactose with no problems now.
I had large strictures so I don't know if it is that or the ibs, but my ibd nurses have told me itll never go away, even in remission.