Fast Food

[Shannon]

When I was in the hospital diagnosed with Crohn's last week, I asked for a nutritionist to come up and consult with me.

She expressed that there was little specifics in dealing with Crohn's with diet, and that my excessive chocolate and fast food habits weren't significant concerns in managing things.

Now, it is true that I (when in the heat of the flare up) saw no increase or decrease in symptoms based on what I ate.

What about you guys? Fast food in remission and flare ups - what do you think? Does it matter?

Of course, it is all case specific - but I'm interested in hearing anyway.

 

[tiloah]

My GI told me that food wouldn't affect the inflammation, just the symptoms.

For example, eating broccoli makes me terribly sick and in pain, but it doesn't actually make my Crohn's worse, it just causes a temporary "backup" if you know what I mean.

 

[Shannon]

Yeah, I am still learning what foods to avoid. Everything is so new. I'm getting sick of being so attentive to diet and bowel activity, y'know! But we all know it is worth it...

I love fast food though. Terrible addiction.

 

[tiloah]

Some people disagree with my GI though. I think the reality is the jury is still out on that question. Some people think diet is what causes the disease in the first place and some people believe that diet can cure it.

As you said, you learn what works for you and you do the best you can. The thing about fast food is for people with IBD they gotta eat things that give 'em nutrition. And fast food is kind of lacking in that. But I like it too.

 

[Chad K]

I've been trying to avoid fast food since I was diagnosed. It really depends on a lot of things I think, but if I eat something that I think might be hard to digest or tough on my stomach I make sure to chew it really well and eat small portions. I try to stay away from as much dairy as possible. I am always craving milk, but that seems to really upset my stomach and make things worse. Its different for each person I guess. I think you can still eat fast food but in smaller portions, chewed real well and definitely not during a flare. I've eaten a little bit and have been just fine at times, but other times I haven't, so its really hit or miss I think.

 

[seaofdreams]

I'm getting sick of being so attentive to diet and bowel activity, y'know!

[giggle]
You learn to quickly adjust to having your whole life revolve around your toilet habits.

Finding what foods work for you and what don't is going to be a long and personal process. I would very highly recommend keeping a food & symptom log so that you can get a better idea on what foods affect you and what don't.
And going with what Chad said, don't be too surprised if you can eat a certain food one day and feel fine and then try it another time and feel horrible.
I'm also a believer that food doesn't necessarily influence the disease itself but some foods can exacerbate symptoms eg. popcorn = pain & blockages for me. You will find that there are some pretty varying opinions on this though. Just take your time with things and learn what works for you

 

[Astra]

I don't eat McPukes anymore! May as well just chuck it down the bog and cut out the middle man! Transition time? 10 minutes!
When I'm not flaring I eat like a little piggie, chocolate, hobnobs, any crap really!
I am of the opinion, with the back up of my gastro, that what we eat doesn't make an ounce of difference, it helps with the symptoms of D, gas and bloat etc, but will not halt inflammation when it strikes!
If I have a lot of D, gas and bloat I just resort back to the low res for a few days, then it disappears.
Then I start eating like a little piggie again!
xxx

 

[ChefShazzy]

Urghhhhh :S I stay away from the fast food. Too greasy. Even if I am feeling well, it has a way of making me feel bloated and sick... and I always regret it. Life is too short to eat bad food, right? (I heard that somewhere...) I can have a bit of chocolate, though...

 

[Crohns08]

I'd be lying if I said I never ate fast food! BUT I do think diet has a huge play into the disease. However it's like politics and you have to decide for yourself what you believe. Plus we all have different foods we can and can't tolerate, you just have to figure out what works for you.

I do eat fast food because my classes and are long ways from home and I don't have access to an oven/stove or a microwave, so two days out of the week I eat fast food, but I try to eat healthy fast food, or at least as much as possible that I know I can tolerate, like chicken from Chick-fil-a, subway, etc. I actually got to go to Chili's today, so that was nice! Every other day of the week I'm back to my strict diet and my shakes.

There's definitely a difference for me when I'm in remission rather than a flare. When flaring, I can only eat certain things. When I'm in remission, I can eat whatever I want with no repercussions. Hope this helps

 

[MapleLeafGirl]

Fast food definitely makes me feel worse. That being said - I literally just ate a McChicken, Fries and Rootbeer. I allow myself a treat like this every other month or so if I am feeling up to it and I have little problems from that. I ask for the McChicken on a regular bun (no sesame seeds) and no lettuce.

 

[Crohn's 35]

Fast food definitely makes me feel worse. That being said - I literally just ate a McChicken, Fries and Rootbeer. I allow myself a treat like this every other month or so if I am feeling up to it and I have little problems from that. I ask for the McChicken on a regular bun (no sesame seeds) and no lettuce.

I rarely eat out but if I do I like the Mcchickentoo, but I had no idea that you can order a no sesame seed bun and no lettuce!! Bonus... gonna try that next time. Boy ya learn something new everyday. Not a fan of their fries tho. :tongue:

 

[MapleLeafGirl]

I rarely eat out but if I do I like the Mcchickentoo, but I had no idea that you can order a no sesame seed bun and no lettuce!! Bonus... gonna try that next time. Boy ya learn something new everyday. Not a fan of their fries tho. :tongue:

Yep, they will pretty much make it the way you want it. Today I heard the guy behind me in the drive through order his big mac with everything on the side. He even wanted the meat and bun separate. I thought to myself - "wow and I thought I was difficult".

 

[Shannon]

Haha. Well, I have to say I'm absolutely addicted to Wendy's chicken nuggets with fries and root beer. The cravings can get bad sometimes! So far it seems like all that really bothers me is dairy - but I'm on pills before I eat any - because my calcium is so low that they are forcing me on a strict dairy regime before it's too late. (I'm only 17, there's still time for me!)

 

[Crohns08]

Shannon, what dairy have you had? I find that milk bothers me, but certain cheeses I'm okay with.

 

[Shannon]

I drink whole chocolate milk, Lactaid 2%, soft cheddar cheese, hard monterray jack cheese - I handle it all very well by taking Lactaid pills 4 times a day. Milk was my biggest problem before the pills, so I reccommend them - I am restoring a huge Calcium deficiency. I'm also on Caltrate to help. You can get them cheap over the counter, I find knock off brands work just as well.

 

[vonfunk]

Finding out what you can and can't eat is an annoying process. Mainly because you can't assume that what you ate caused the problems, you need to try it twice.

But I've found I'm okay with most fast food, except for certain pizza places. It took me awhile to figure that out, just because it seemed so innocent.

 

[Rebecca85]

I can eat chicken nuggets, fries, plain cheeseburgers and things like that. So I normally get a kid's meal and ask for fruit juice to drink. Pizzas are OK so long as no sweetcorn, mushrooms or anything too spicy.

 

[VintageAnn]

I gave up all fried foods about five years ago. The thought of eating something fried makes my nauseous. Fast food make me run wind sprints to the nearest ladies room or mens room if the ladies room is occupied.

I know that in the field of medical science cant decide if food matters in ibd but in my case I can tell from this little tiny gurgle that rears it's ugly head if a food is goingvto get me and I can tell by that gurgle if it's crohn's or just a stomach upset.

 

[Domas]

I've been trying to avoid fast food since I was diagnosed too, it only makes me sick so I try to cook for myself more, I don`t go out much to eat anymore...

 

[misterquin]

I love fast food, but the thought of it makes me nauseous while flaring just because I know it'll cause something to get worse. On the other hand, when I'm well, I'll eat the hell out of a bacon cheeseburger.

 

[Shannon]

I've been eating much healthier and all that I've really noticed is better energy - which is worth it, of course. Especially with all these drugs making me hazy, my endurance is a precious gem!

 

[misterquin]

When I'm not flaring I can tolerate fast food well, but I still avoid fried foods mostly. Unless I just absolutely can't resist . I've found that arby's is very tolerable when I'm flaring which was nice.

Now about how it affects the disease, I have no idea. As diesanduhr said, doctors are mostly going to say there's no affect, but I'm not so convinced. I wish i were more certain about that. Also, we can only evaluate our symptoms, which are very obviously affected by diet.

 

[Entchen]

I've never eaten more than the very occasional fast food meal (goes along with having a "health nut" mom). I avoided all fast food for the better part of 5-10 years in my university years, but recently loosened up and started allowing myself 1 hamburger and 1 fast food pizza per year, plus 1 other meal such as Chinese takeaway or restaurant French fries (I won't eat fries from a fast food place, though).

Anyway, here's the Crohn's connection: after throwing up several times/day for multiple months, a McDonald's hamburger was the FIRST meal that I kept down. How funny is that!

I'd been stuffing myself with fibre, fruit, veg, everything healthy to try to heal my unhappy tummy...and finally I fed my stomach something without fibre and the meal stayed down.