Hello,
I am relatively new to MC (only a month or so since diagnosis). Since finding this forum I have been gluten, soy, dairy, and egg free. I don't drink alcohol, eat chocolate, and avoid sugar. The only fresh fruits/veggies I eat are bananas and avocados.
My insurance company wouldn't pay for the steroid my GI doctor prescribed and I decided I didn't want to take it anyway. My doctor was skeptical and said diet would not make a difference. However, here I am, a month later with no WD and I am finally feeling like my old self again.
Here is my question: If I eat a piece of fresh fruit or have some lettuce, am I doing damage, adding to the inflammation, and slowing gut healing? Or do we avoid fresh fruit and vegetable because it is too much fiber?
Last week I was at a summer BBQ and I could not resist a small piece of watermelon. I ate it and felt fine. No perceivable consequences. Is it OK to have a piece of fruit now and then even so soon I my healing process? Fresh fruit is what I miss the most...
Thanks for you help!
Julie
Am I doing damage??
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Julie,
Good for you. You know more about the proper way to treat MC than your doctor. Whether or not you are damaging your gut by eating fruit or lettuce is a good question. Here are my thoughts:
If you don't have any clinical symptoms after eating them, there shouldn't be any significant damage. They definitely won't trigger the production of any antibodies, so there shouldn't be any significant increase in inflammation. The reason why most of us avoid fiber while we are recovering is because it irritates (as opposed to inflames) the intestines when they are already inflamed. Fiber helps "regularity" by literally tearing the mucosal cells in the colon. The cells then immediately dump the mucin they are holding (which, when combined with water makes mucus a [lubricant]) and then they die. This physical tearing of the cells is very irritating, to say the least, and MC patients really don't need any more irritated colonic mucosal cells, or more dead cells in the colon. It can be so irritating that some people cannot attain remission while eating too much fiber. Here are references, if you are interested:
The Path to Digestion Is Paved with Repair
Is increased fiber intake really a good thing?
Dr. Eades originally had a blog that addressed the medical research article cited above, but he reorganized his blogs and the article is apparently now lost.
Bottom line: IMO if you don't have any symptoms, you're probably OK. If you have any symptoms, the fiber may be the reason. The size of the dose definitely matters. A little is probably safe. Too much may be a problem.
Tex
Good for you. You know more about the proper way to treat MC than your doctor. Whether or not you are damaging your gut by eating fruit or lettuce is a good question. Here are my thoughts:
If you don't have any clinical symptoms after eating them, there shouldn't be any significant damage. They definitely won't trigger the production of any antibodies, so there shouldn't be any significant increase in inflammation. The reason why most of us avoid fiber while we are recovering is because it irritates (as opposed to inflames) the intestines when they are already inflamed. Fiber helps "regularity" by literally tearing the mucosal cells in the colon. The cells then immediately dump the mucin they are holding (which, when combined with water makes mucus a [lubricant]) and then they die. This physical tearing of the cells is very irritating, to say the least, and MC patients really don't need any more irritated colonic mucosal cells, or more dead cells in the colon. It can be so irritating that some people cannot attain remission while eating too much fiber. Here are references, if you are interested:
The Path to Digestion Is Paved with Repair
Is increased fiber intake really a good thing?
Dr. Eades originally had a blog that addressed the medical research article cited above, but he reorganized his blogs and the article is apparently now lost.
Bottom line: IMO if you don't have any symptoms, you're probably OK. If you have any symptoms, the fiber may be the reason. The size of the dose definitely matters. A little is probably safe. Too much may be a problem.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
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Julie
well done on seeing such great improvements with the diet changes!
small amounts of fibre and sugar on rare occasions will be ok.
what I have seen in my time being part of this forum, the issues start is when small amount becomes larger and more frequent.
the main thing is to listen to your body, not just poop reactions, but gauge things like joint pain, sleep quality, energy levels, concentration levels, other markers of inflammation like runny nose etc. these are the subtle indicators that will tell you how well your body is coping.
if you have a spare 5 minutes it would be great to see a post in the member success stories area about your good results, outline what you did, what changes you made etc. this will help others embrace the 'out there' eating plan suggestions!!
happy healing and enjoy the summer
well done on seeing such great improvements with the diet changes!
small amounts of fibre and sugar on rare occasions will be ok.
what I have seen in my time being part of this forum, the issues start is when small amount becomes larger and more frequent.
the main thing is to listen to your body, not just poop reactions, but gauge things like joint pain, sleep quality, energy levels, concentration levels, other markers of inflammation like runny nose etc. these are the subtle indicators that will tell you how well your body is coping.
if you have a spare 5 minutes it would be great to see a post in the member success stories area about your good results, outline what you did, what changes you made etc. this will help others embrace the 'out there' eating plan suggestions!!
happy healing and enjoy the summer
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Gabes,
I will certainly post in the member success section, but it has only been a month and I am not so sure I am out of the woods yet! Give me another month or two of continued success and I will tell my story. I am still in shock that I was able to go from sickness, cramps, nausea, lack of appetite, and brain fog to feeling so good in a matter of a few weeks. I hope it is real and lasting.
Good advice about to listening to my body, not just my poop. I have noticed ups and downs and that should remind me to stay on the right path when I get weak in my diet resolve.
Julie
I will certainly post in the member success section, but it has only been a month and I am not so sure I am out of the woods yet! Give me another month or two of continued success and I will tell my story. I am still in shock that I was able to go from sickness, cramps, nausea, lack of appetite, and brain fog to feeling so good in a matter of a few weeks. I hope it is real and lasting.
Good advice about to listening to my body, not just my poop. I have noticed ups and downs and that should remind me to stay on the right path when I get weak in my diet resolve.
Julie