Question - Food tolerance change of onset of symptoms

[Mintphoenix]

Hi guys,

It’s been a while since I posted here.

I was diagnosed at the beginning of September last year, but started becoming sick back in April before then.

I’ve had to give up so many different foods I loved and I’m finding it strange that I could eat/drink with no problems and then it completely changed once I started becoming sick. I used to love things like coffee and bananas (to name just a couple), but they leave me feeling awful now. It just feels strange that it was like a single clear cut off point where everything altered.

Is this normal? I'm just trying to work out if it is just me. I don't know anyone else with Crohn's so I don't really have anyone to ask bar my clinic at the hospital. They're great, but they don't have Crohn's themselves.

 

[Tuff]

Yes, it's normal. I've had to give up a lot of things too. It's worse when I'm flaring, then I can't even digest fats very well. That's kind of an indicator for me that things are going south when I can't eat cheesy foods like lasagna. Is your Crohn's under control? Once in remission, you could start trying small amounts of the foods, to see if you can tolerate them again. I know if I have a cup of coffee, it will make me run to the bathroom. I was a coffee addict. Tea is not having the same effect.

 

[UnXmas]

It's definitely not just you. But it may also be worth remembering that if you feel bad after eating a particular food once (or even a few times) it doesn't necessarily mean that food will always give you problems.

Bananas are usually well tolerated though, I don't think I've heard of them causing problems.

Have you identified any foods that are consistently safe for you?

 

[Mintphoenix]

Thanks for the replies.

My Crohn's seems to be settling down. I had a flare up in January/February for about 3 weeks or so right after I had a dose of Gastro (I so didn't need that!). It definitely was Gastro though. It was going around my office at the time.

I dropped a massive amount of weight in the last year, but at my last hospital appointment a couple of weeks ago I put on weight for the first time in a year. I was so excited and I never in my life thought I would get excited over that!

My blood tests have also come back normal for the last few months. No liver or kidney problems and my iron, vitamin D levels and inflammation factors have been normal.

My doctor at the clinic hasn't started talking remission yet.

Ever since I was diagnosed I have been food testing and have been slowly working my way through different foods to see how I react. I have a really understanding workplace where I'm working full time so I tend to restrict food testing to the weekend.

Bananas don't upset my stomach badly, they just give me this really awkward off queasy feeling in my stomach for a few hours. I used to eat them regularly so I just miss them.

Caffeine and dairy seem to be the killers with me. My god I miss cheese!

I got really lucky with my diagnosis. At the same time as the Crohn's was kicking in, I got appendicitis (I don't know if one affected the other) and when I had the surgery to remove my appendix they found the physical symptoms of it. It wasn't until the feeling sick etc didn't go away after the appendix was going that they believed that the feeling sick etc was the Crohn's as well.

 

[Tuff]

Have you tried the harder cheeses like cheddar or swiss? They're naturally lactose free and I can tolerate them much better. I can drink small amounts of decaf as well, but it just isn't the same thing. It helps to be adaptable, if one thing isn't working, try something else. I used to be on the go all day, and have had to learn to slow down, if I don't I pay for it the next day. Just take care of yourself the best you can, and you can live with this condition.