Christmas Lunches and Dinners How Do You Cope ?

[karisue]

Hi Comrades,

How do you cope with all the different invites for Christmas meals, like work, friends and family. I know I have to pace myself because my stomach just does not cope and find myself feeling quite uncomfortable, I tend to know the signs for 'flare-ups' so I need to be careful. I had a right hemi-colectomy about 5 years ago and I know if I over eat I get a horrible dim ache in my lower right side a few hours later and that can last for days. Today I am having a day off from indulging in anything else to give my stomach a chance to settle, and drink buckets of water.

What do you do, and how do you cope ? does anyone else feel this ?

I know we are all individuals and certain foods can affect us in different ways.
I am interested how you cope.

Kareisue

 

[MissCadenza]

I just eat what I feel I can manage - my family doesn't really do 'proper' Christmas dinner because we all hate turkey (vile stuff, we have steak instead) and none of us eat that much anyway. We never have - I've never seen the point of over-eating at Christmas and it makes me wonder why people's brains are wired to trigger this.

Anyway, yes. I just eat what I can. If I'm going out there's usually something on the menu I can eat - if not, I tend to order side dishes only and to hell with the weird looks people give me. This is my health, I'm not jeopardising it just because it's Christmas. And tough nuts if anyone has a problem with it. I don't see why I should put myself at risk just because everyone around me is stuffing their faces and I'm being accused of being boring because I'm not doing the same.

So that's how I cope - with my usual 'stuff you all, I'm doing what I want!' attitude

 

[UnXmas]

If I feel bad, I don't eat. People thinking I'm weird for not eating (or, more often, thinking I'm anorexic because I'm thin and not eating) concern me a lot less than forcing down food that's going to make me ill.

People close to me understand my eating problems, and since they are the only ones around me on Christmas day itself, that dinner won't be an issue. Though even if I'm not having a good day, I'll eat a bit. I have to eat something even if I'm feeling bad to keep my weight up, and turkey is a fairly safe food, I'll probably also be ok with some very soft, well cooked veg and gravy.

 

[QueenFox]

Everyone I know loves Christmas and that means a truck load of food anywhere I go during this time of year, I am sure my poor stomach & jpouch trembles in fear at the first hearing of Chritsmas carols.

I have learnt that when going to a friends place I will bring some food and drink with me for everyone to enjoy and also gives me a 'safe' food which I know I won't regret. If a am starting to feel a bit icky I just tell people "oh I have already eaten so much at the other Christmas party I was at I couldn't another bite". If the person seems offended I am rejecting the dish they slaved over for 10 hours I ask if I can take some home so I can enjoy every bite later.

My family completely understands so no issues there usually and Christmas dinner and lunch is in the comfort of my own home. However this year I will be at my sister and brother in laws new house - faced with the daunting challenge of 1 bathroom among 15 guests. I think I will hum "Deck the Halls" loudly and hope for the best.

 

[Amanda89]

Interesting discussion Kareisue, I have my work christmas lunch today and we had to pick what we wanted for it weeks ago. I'm still flaring right now and not feeling at my best today, but my boss knows I have IBD so I'm just going to try and eat what I can, and if I can't eat it then I'll just have to leave it. I'm not putting myself in pain just to avoid awkward questions.

 

[rygon]

yeh I eat just what I can, I don't buy loads of food in either, so don't tend to over eat. I've actually made xmas dinner for the whole family one year but as I was so bad I did'nt eat a piece (and it smelt so good as well )

I would rather eat small meals anyway so what we normally do is have starters, then leave it 2-3hrs before the meal, then have pudding maybe 4-5hrs after that

 

[Brenden]

Ah this is a good question. Couple weeks ago we had our company dinner at work. I ordered a burger and had about 2 bites before I felt too sick to eat. Everyone kept asking why I wasnt eating, I just said i wasn't hungry, even though I felt like throwing up. Felt bad that someone else was paying for my meal and I didnt even eat it