Where do I start?!?

[MissBG]

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now so please bare with me!

I am new to Crohn’s and was only diagnosed about a month ago and I am wondering where I go from here. My doctor is currently working with me to find the right combo of meds to put me in remission and keep me there. He told me that I need to watch what I eat, learn what my trigger foods are and to avoid them.

I feel as if I am a minority here because I started out about 30 -40 lbs overweight as it was and did not lose any weight due to the disease. I desperately want to get healthier, lose weight and keep my symptoms under control but I just don’t know where to start. I am going to start frequenting our local farmers markets in an effort to buy more fresh, locally grown and organic produce, but other than that I don’t know. There is just so much information out there and it’s all so different. So if anyone has any advice please help!!

 

[Grumbletum]

Hello there and a big welcome Yes, it's a great big learning curve when you first get diagnosed. But good on your doc for pointing out the importance of diet and food triggers: not many of them do.
Going organic and as unprocessed as possible, IMHO, is a pretty good start. Keeping a food diary along with an elimination diet is probably the best way to identify what foods trigger your symptoms. It's time consuming and laborious, but worth it if you get some relief.

 

[Astrid]

Welcome. I don't think t hat any two Crohn's patients respond exactly the same to the same foods. I have noticed that spicy foods trigger my symptoms (I am undiagnosed), but this may be different for you. Some people need lots of fibers while others need few, and there seems to be a difference in the type of fiber (insolluble vs. solluble, but I'm not sure if this makes a difference in Crohn''s or it's just IBS).

 

[MissBG]

Thanks y'all! I found some lettuce at the farmer's market that suprisingly doesn't irritate me! Just had a turkey sandwich for lunch with lettuce, green onions, and tomatoes, so yummy!

We are on a tight budget right now especially with all the doctor bills and new, expensive meds so we won't be able to go totally organic but I am taking baby steps in the right direction.