Diet/food diary question

[free_spirit24]

Trying to keep up with a food diary every day is horribly difficult for me as I work anywhere from 60-80 hours a week and my shifts very from day to overnight. I was asked by my gastro doctor to "figure out" my "trigger" foods which make me flare up or make me have a bloody stool as I've been under a huge chronic flare since January after my appendix was removed.

I have realized though whenever I eat salads, cole slaw, or lettuce wraps they hurt me to the point where I'm doubling over when I have a bowel movement. Has anyone else had this trigger issue with any lettuce/romaine/cabbage foods??
Also I have eaten Mexican, Chinese, and Japanese food (mainly chicken or pork) and none of those have hurt me- I was told more of the flavored or spicy foods would be worse...?

Drink wise- for me drinking whole milk soothes my stomach, helps with all the bubbling/gurgaling noises. If I don't drink 1 glass a day my stomach hurts. Water, milk, and gatorade seem to be my go to drinks- gingerale only when I feel sick, and Coke/Pepsi very seldomly (1-2x a week)

Advice/tips??

 

[FrozenGirl]

Lots of us have issues with salads of any sorts. I don't eat them anymore. If ethnic food doesn't cause you pain then great, feel free to eat it. Same with milk. Not everyone has the same trigger foods so it's all about why makes you feel good.

 

[free_spirit24]

I didn't realize that a bunch of others have issues with salads, etc...
It's awful bc I love lettuce wraps and slaw dogs, etc- but can't eat them anymore.

Does this go for all leafy veggies?

 

[FrozenGirl]

For a lot of people it does but I would recommend cautiously experimenting, as in small amounts of one thing when you don't need to be anywhere or do anything. Some people can tolerate a few veggies but not others.

 

[free_spirit24]

Wow, okay thanks! It seems as though the only foods that I've found hurt me or trigger me are lettuce, cabbage, romaine, and beef. Fruits I have not really tried as they're not in season (fresh) and veggies- the rest I'm fine with.
Question- have you heard of anyone in the forum craving salt/sweets? I've been having an issue for the last 2 years where I crave salt/sweet things on a daily basis like my body doesn't process them or I'm lacking it? Hard to explain, but I just got diagnosed with Crohns on 2/13/15 but according to my doctor after my colonoscopy he said I've had it at least a year..

 

[FrozenGirl]

Salt cravings can be an electrolyte thing. Diarrhoea can cause loss of electrolytes and lead to an imbalance which could be the cause of that. Maybe try some Gatorade or other sports drinks. Sweets might be more of a craving what you can eat. Lots of people, including myself find sweet foods easy to digest like cookies, candy etc. They also tend to be high in calories which if you are malnourished might be a good thing.

 

[free_spirit24]

See that's my biggest question, about malabsorption.. I have a pill cam appt scheduled in April to see if my Crohns is in my intestines or just my colon. I drink gatorade about 1-4x a week, usually just water & milk though. Sweets- I know I have a major sweet tooth but my sugar drops all the time, I was tested in October for diabetes and they said I was borderline anemic...

 

[FrozenGirl]

The Pill cam is a good idea. Anemia does crazy things. Sugar is a good fast energy booster so the anemia making you tired might be related to your sweet tooth.

 

[free_spirit24]

I wonder if I look up foods to help anemia if it would help the salt/sugar issue...
Thanks so much for your advice, I really appreciate it!

 

[FrozenGirl]

You're welcome, glad I could help

 

[SmellyMelly]

whenever I eat salads, cole slaw, or lettuce wraps they hurt me to the point where I'm doubling over when I have a bowel movement. Has anyone else had this trigger issue with any lettuce/romaine/cabbage foods?? Advice/tips??

You could try different ways of food preparation. I am fine with lettuce and similar salads. But lettuce wrapped in wheat or gluten (bread) and raw broccoli would send me running for the loo. Raw cabbage eaten whole is a no. But I can happily juice raw cabbage no problem, and I actually find it is beneficial for UC. And I am also fine with cooked cabbage. So just experiment with a few different ways of preparing the same food and see what you can tolerate.

You could also try an elimination diet (rather than keeping a daily diary) - simply totally avoid one food for 4 to 12 weeks. Then re-introduce it back into your diet and see what happens. http://www.precisionnutrition.com/elimination-diet

 

[UnXmas]

The fibre in most fruits and vegetables is a problem for a lot of people, along with other high-fibre foods like nuts, seeds and whole grain cereals. Fibre was always a problem for me until I got an ileostomy (well actually, my first two stomas blocked when I ate much fibre, it's only been since getting my third that I'm finally able to eat it again - with a new appreciation for it after eating low-fibre for so long). But it was the overall fibre content of my diet that made my symptoms worse, not specific foods.

The milk you mention: milk often helps with indigestion problems in the stomach like heartburn and reflux.

 

[Nancye50]

You'll probably be able to go back to the leafy greens once you get through this flare. When you're tracking what you eat, pay attention to how much fiber you're getting. Usually fiber is good because it cleans you out and makes you poop. But when your guts are inflamed and irritated, fiber is like salt on a wound, almost literally.

 

[free_spirit24]

I got a phone call today from the gastro doctor saying I'm inflammed and need to continue with my medicine, which is only my Lialda and that the pill cam is definitely needed... Should I worry at this point? Also I have not done or looked into the fiber part of my diet.. that could be something I could look more in to.

 

[Nancye50]

I don't think you should worry. You're not facing something unknown. My hope for you is that you get the pill cam done asap & maybe an increase in meds. Also a round of pred to get that inflammation kicked. It's progress!

 

[free_spirit24]

I absolutely hate prednisone... It makes me turn into a Hulk, I don't sleep for days, and I eat cereal constantly while on it. That's my biggest worry is being prescribed steroids.

Last time I was on prednisone I didn't sleep for 3 days, ate 5 boxes of cereal in that 3 day period, and also fought with everyone- my coworkers, boyfriend, and parents..

 

[Nancye50]

It's terrible for sure but also the quickest way to get inflammation down and prevent further damage.

 

[SmellyMelly]

It makes me turn into a Hulk, I don't sleep for days, and I eat cereal constantly while on it and also fought with everyone- my coworkers, boyfriend, and parents..

Depends on your dosage.

High dosages will certainly do all of the above to you......and often more!

But low dosages work just as well in many cases. And will have little to minimal side effects.

Last time I took tablets to "bring it under control", I had no side effects from one 25mg tablet daily. I then reduced this to 1/2 and then 1/4 a tablet before stopping.