Community Forum

Hello all!
My name is Greta but I go by Gret.
I am a caregiver to my sister who has a pending diagnosis.
I am a retired nurse.
My sister will see her specialist next week to discuss the results of her colonoscopy.
I am a little aggravated because they told her she may be facing the diagnosis of either Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis yet they have her zero information as to what to eat on the mean time.
Maybe it’s the nurse in me but I am disappointed in their lack of teaching .

My sister is 30 years old and hasn’t experienced any health issues until now.
She is currently struggling with what to eat.
So I am looking for some suggestions for her .
She only drinks water throughout the day.
She used to be a big fan of dairy but it is causing discomfort now.
Today she ate a peanut butter sandwich. She said it caused a lot of cramping.
So basically I’m looking for some advice as to what she can eat until we see the specialist.
Of course all her labs are a mess. Her potassium and sodium are quite low and she she’s experiencing symptoms of low iron.
She frequently feels hot and sweaty and nauseous.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Gret.

Reply posted for Holbrook74.

I was diagnosed in the early 90s. Before I had Crohn's surgery all I could eat was cheese and green grapes. Everyone's body really does react differently. 

Reply posted for Holbrook74.

This disease affects everyone differently. There’s no hard and fast rules on what you can eat. I’d say eat what you want and eliminate what bothers you.  When I was having a flare up I ate a lot of scrambled eggs.  One of the few things I could keep down.  I had a friend who became a true believer vegan and insisted I should adopt a vegan lifestyle for my Crohn’s disease. That didn’t fit with my research, or beliefs. It really ruptured our friendship, but I’m comfortable with my choices. 

Reply posted for Holbrook74.

Yes. Sometimes I have to be careful with certain drinks especially with sugar or sugar free. But my advice is to try different juices or sodas that will would be better for the stomach.

Reply posted for KikiJo5.

I read that sugar-free stuff could also be a problem due to the artificial sweeteners.
But maybe it’s on a case by case basis?
Or the amount you eat ?
it seems that everyone can tolerate certain things while others may not.

Reply posted for Holbrook74.

Hi. I was diagnosed early this year so I am new at things. But I am not on a special diet so far. Soon I will have a colonoscopy. I have meds daily that help with my stomach flare ups. The foods that I do eat are baked meats, rice, vegetables, eggs, cereal bars . I cook/bake with cooking spray instead of oil or butter. But I would avoid any spicy food with seeds. Sometimes I eat sugar free snacks when I'm hungry.

Reply posted for KikiJo5.

Thank you so much for your response.
She does enjoy fruit.
I have read that seeds in fruits and veggies are a no-no.
Is this the case for you?

My Sis has been overweight her whole life pretty much. And she was contemplating gastric bypass at one time. 
I too had issues with my weight and had it done 17 years ago. I’ve been lucky enough to have kept it off.
So her normal eating habits aren’t that great.
I’ve been trying to encourage her to eat several small meals throughout the day but she’s had difficulty with this too.
She was also a big meat eater.
She’s lost about 35 pounds in the last several weeks.
I’m very concerned because she is getting weak and tired .
She works as a nursing assistant in a long term care facility and is of course experiencing difficulty doing her job due to running to the restroom all day and not being able to lift her patients.
Do you eat on a schedule?
What is your main go-to foods or food groups?
Thank you again for all your help!
Gret.

Reply posted for Holbrook74.

Hi. I understand. I had the same symptoms that you describe also. I had to change my eating with fruits like bananas(potassium) and soups. I tried not to eat dairy products, sugary foods, and fried foods. I would bake my foods and eat vegetables because this would be easier to digest.