<p>MIMk6, </p>
<p>A stomach bug is not the same thing as an autoimmune disease. The goal is not similar. They are not at all related. Gastro intestinal autoimmune diseases have moderate to severe inflammation. Sugar, ie carbohydrates like bread, rice and potatoes feed inflammation. </p>
<p>I doubt there are many(any) good GI’s that would advocate that sort of diet. Actually, I have some decent suggestions for a short term diet as well.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>I know it’s not the same thing. It was an analogy that a diet to calm things down is not the same as a nutritional long-term diet. I was looking for an explanation which you have now provided. Thanks, I had not heard that before in the context of IBD. OP, a quick google shows some good ways to get nutrition while calming things down. Soft foods are best (avocado is nice and soft, not abrasive, nutritious and fattening as all get-out). Spices should be avoided. One thing you want to learn is which foods are made of soluble fiber and which are insoluble. Soluble fiber is more easily digested and insoluble fiber is what becomes abrasive on inflamed tissue because it doesn’t get broken down – kernels of corn, for example or grape peels. Also, you want to know which foods produce a lot of gas which should be avoided during a flare. Some foods can be softened with steaming (for example a nutritionist told DD that apples are insoluble, but applesauce is soluble because the peels are gone and it’s boiled, etc. and can be digested well). Smoothies are a good way to make everything soft, just check what it is you put into the smoothie. Cream of wheat is easy on the digestive system and a nice comfort food (Trader Joes makes an amazing farina hot cereal that tastes very good).</p>
<p>I joined the ccfa (not sure if its the right name) but its the best organization out there for chrohns and colitis. They hapened to have a meetingin my area for children with ibd my son didnt want to go but i still went and asked around for a therapist in my area. That’s how i found this woman. if you join this organization you can find out if there is a therapist or support group in your area good luck</p>
<p>If you are avoiding fat, don’t do avocado. If he can tolerate fat, I agree with mimk6, it packs a lot of calories in a small portion. I don’t eat much corn or grapes. Love cream of wheat and oatmeal with cinnamon.</p>
<p>You might try baked sweet potato (plain) as a change from regular baked potato. Different nutrition, different taste. Alexis makes sweet potato fries that are baked, again a typical teen food, with a healthy twist.</p>
<p>Good idea to “test” foods on weekends at home… just define weekend as Friday to Sunday am…so things have a chance to resolve before Monday. </p>
<p>As to meds, once things fot under control, my meds dropped significantly. Over the last 25+ years I’ve taken multiple doses a day, to one dose a day. It depends on my current medical/flare situation.</p>
<p>spectrum, my son is also a senior and was diagnosed last year with UC. I tried to send you a PM but your box is full. I can share some information with you but would prefer to do so privately.</p>
<p>What about grazing (ie: eating small amounts every couple of hourse instead of big meals), would that help him any?</p>
<p>Yesterday was the first day my S really seemed to feel like himself. So he mentioned a new challenge. He wants to go on a camping trip over spring break. Any thoughts on camping friendly UC foods. By the way, I am expecting that he isn’t gluten sensitive and that tomatoes are fine because his number one got to food these days is spagetti(the traditional kind) and sauce. (No meat in the sauce yet). The second food is chicken but usually broiled or baked so that it is soft and tender, that seems easier to digest than barbeque.</p>
<p>Icedragon, I think he pretty much is grazing, he is eating less at mealtime that what is normal for him, he is also snacking less but still snacking. He was a lightweight before all of this started in spite of his thoughtless limitless eating.</p>
<p>One more question. For those of you that mentioned avoiding lactose, is lactose free milk a viable option?</p>
<p>Spectrum I have never used the lactose free milk so can’t help you with that one. I just use soy or almond or rice milk. Some lactose sensitive folks I know do like the lactose free milk tho, so it might be worth a try. Keep the lactaid handy just in case, lol. One more tip to aid digestion; my cousin loves the Trader Joe digestive enzymes - it has papain and something I think from pineapple in it and it is nice. She also uses something from Whole Foods similar - not sure what - but digestive enzymes of some sort in pill form. She has had tummy issues since childhood and these enzymes make all the difference in the world - ill health to good health - she has low motility in the peristalsis in the gut and intestines - really she has been in good health only since using them and has recommended them to her gastro doc who has recommended them to others. FWIW, YMMV =).</p>
<p>Oh yes and we love ramen of various brands for camping food. Salt and sugar and fat and carb’s. Yummo when you’re hiking hungry.</p>
<p>I would try small amounts of milk on the weekend, and not right before the camping trip. I can tolerate milk/dairy products, but nothing on earth will make fluid milk a good idea for me. It doesn’t mean it’s true for your S, just be cautious.</p>
<p>I highly recommed MSM. It’s avalaible at Sprouts, Whole Foods, etc. I take 3000 mg a day. The DR who recommended it suggested up to 12000, but 3000 works for me.</p>
<p>What type of food does he usually eat while camping? I don’t really camp, so I don’t have much to offer, but I’ll try if I have a starting point.</p>
<p>My CD daughter loves vanilla soy. We avoid dairy almost completely.</p>
<p>Camping food is usually grilled, hot dogs (no way); burger, chicken etc. Corn and beans and salad are common sides. Of the above I think chicken is the best bed but it is usually a little charred not as soft as what we have been having so I’m thinking it is less digestable. He will be going with a friend’s family so I’m not sure what they have in mind but if he is going I will definitely speak with them. Camping with gut issues would be most unpleasant!</p>
<p>Hmm, hot dogs might work, you could send meatless hot dogs (trial run at home first). Chicken should be good–he could cut off the charred portion. I would skip the corn, it’s just hard on the digestive system. Burgers might work, again try before he goes, also try the meatless version. Be careful of burer “extras” such as lettuce.<br>
You could offer to send a couple of meals for everyone, to make things easier. I have camped, but I don’t like and I’m not good at it. When I did, I made pasta in advance for the whole Girl Scout troop…just cooked it to nearly done, put the sauce in ziplock bags and froze it flat. They heated the sauce, added the pasta and heated until warmed all the way through. It was fast, easy, and tasted great. The girls do the same thing with chili, if that’s something your S can tolerate. Of course it they are just grilling, it won’t work. Explore meatless options, be careful of those that are especially high in fiber. And a trail run at home is critical at this point.</p>
<p>I… do not like lactose free milk. It is very sweet and tastes funny to me.</p>
<p>I second trying soy or even almond milk.</p>
<p>I wanted to thank all of you for your suggestions about food and approaching college life. Thanks to your input I have learned lots in a short time about this diagnosis that was so frightening when we first received it. I have also been in touch with disability services at the two schools that my S is considering and I have gotten the information about how to proceed with that. I am thrilled to report that after 10 days on medication my S is feeling soooo much better! He is looking like himself again and beginning to push the boundaries of his diet gradually beyond the everything white diet that was all he could tolerate in the past weeks. For now we are hopeful as the prednasone decreases and the dietary boundaries are expanded that it continues to be smooth sailing. You have all been huge in helping me to understand what we need to do and also in letting us know that we aren’t alone in this experience. Thank you soooo much!!!</p>
<p>YAY!</p>
<p>Good news is always good. :)</p>
<p>You were all so helpful during that critical first two weeks I wanted to report that my son made it through his camping trip without a problem. While away he learned he could eat turkey sausage, I wouldn’t have gone that way myself! He is starting to recognize when he has pushed to his food limits in a day and when to go back to the basic comfort foods. I want to mention that he had been drinking Gatorade like water because for whatever reason it felt good. He has since been advised that due to the high sodium content as well as the high sodium in soups and ramen that are his easy go to foods that he try and keep the gatorade down to one a day. We have not explored all of the supplements mentioned but we plan to explore little by little.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4 in post 34 asked me to report back about the book that I purchased from Amazon. It is “What to Eat with IBD” by Tracie Dalessandro a registered dietician UC that progressed to Crohn’s. So far I have tried several recipes and they have been excellent. They helped me bring color back to my S’s diet and there are wonderful recipes for smoothies, veggies and main dishes as well as the best explanation about foods that are least and most offensive that I have found as well as suggestions regarding supplements. I have not tried it all but the book has been really helpful in allowing us to progress past those initially white boundaries. I am planning to expand our library but this turned out to be a great easy to read start to getting on with life with IBD.</p>
<p>Good to know that your son is doing well. I will write down the book name for future reference. Best wishes.</p>