Hello again -
I have been losing weight over the past few months with this horrible disease. I am normally between 110 and 115 which is a good weight for me - I am 5'3" and petite framed. I have always been a thin person - inherited my fathers genes for being able to eat anything without gaining weight. As nice as this can be - when you get sick, you lose rather quickly and as you are thin to begin with, there aren't any reserves left which can leave you painstakingly thin! Some of my co-workers are saying unwanted comments to me, which does not make me feel any better. I had one woman the other day who gave me two little tubs of peanut butter and told me to eat it! They just don't get it -
At my last appointment I was 103 and I actually think I'm less than that now. My legs have become stick thin, as well as my arms. I am really frightened at this point - I cannot afford to lose anymore weight and am at a loss as to what to do. I try to eat small meals all day long, but every morning, the volume of stool that comes out of me is unreal. It's as though I am not absorbing any nutrients whatsoever. My doc said that losing 5 pounds is no big deal - however, it's over 10 now. I have my endoscopy on Thursday and will address this with him again.
I know that some of you gain weight on Entercort and Uceris - I haven't had that luck. I actually had more stools when I was on those meds. I was actually telling Tex about it - and am going to ask my Doc if I can try a low dose of the meds to see if that would work on me, because the first few days I felt great on it.
Is there anyone out there with this weight problem - can you give some advice on how I can put on weight - or at least maintain what I have?
CONCERNED AND AFRAID WITH WEIGHT LOSS
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
barbieAnn,
That's just the nature of MC. Most of us have the same fears when we are at the same point in our recovery as you are in now. The disease causes many of us to lose weight until it scares us. I lost 25 or 30 pounds at my worst point, before I realized what I had to do to recover. But despite the scary symptoms, it's not a fatal disease.
It's pointless to worry about gaining weight at this point, because that's not likely to happen no matter what you eat. As long as they're inflamed, your intestines are not able to absorb many of the nutrients in your food. The stress of worrying just makes the symptoms worse. MC is triggered by stress, The more we worry (the greater the stress), the worse our symptoms will be. The key to controlling this disease is to stick with the diet, try to relax (stop worrying — it doesn't help), and have faith that things will get better. After a few months on the diet, the inflammation will fade away and your gut will begin to heal. And as your intestines begin to heal, you will once again become able to gain weight.
We have to learn to live our life a day at a time while we are recovering, and look to the future for hope. We have to measure success by the month, not by the day, because there will be a lot of bad days, at first. But you will get better, as long as you stay the course. Those of us who have been members here for years are proof of that.
Tex
That's just the nature of MC. Most of us have the same fears when we are at the same point in our recovery as you are in now. The disease causes many of us to lose weight until it scares us. I lost 25 or 30 pounds at my worst point, before I realized what I had to do to recover. But despite the scary symptoms, it's not a fatal disease.
It's pointless to worry about gaining weight at this point, because that's not likely to happen no matter what you eat. As long as they're inflamed, your intestines are not able to absorb many of the nutrients in your food. The stress of worrying just makes the symptoms worse. MC is triggered by stress, The more we worry (the greater the stress), the worse our symptoms will be. The key to controlling this disease is to stick with the diet, try to relax (stop worrying — it doesn't help), and have faith that things will get better. After a few months on the diet, the inflammation will fade away and your gut will begin to heal. And as your intestines begin to heal, you will once again become able to gain weight.
We have to learn to live our life a day at a time while we are recovering, and look to the future for hope. We have to measure success by the month, not by the day, because there will be a lot of bad days, at first. But you will get better, as long as you stay the course. Those of us who have been members here for years are proof of that.
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.
That was great information Tex, thank you.tex wrote:barbieAnn,
That's just the nature of MC. Most of us have the same fears when we are at the same point in our recovery as you are in now. The disease causes many of us to lose weight until it scares us. I lost 25 or 30 pounds at my worst point, before I realized what I had to do to recover. But despite the scary symptoms, it's not a fatal disease.
It's pointless to worry about gaining weight at this point, because that's not likely to happen no matter what you eat. As long as they're inflamed, your intestines are not able to absorb many of the nutrients in your food. The stress of worrying just makes the symptoms worse. MC is triggered by stress, The more we worry (the greater the stress), the worse our symptoms will be. The key to controlling this disease is to stick with the diet, try to relax (stop worrying — it doesn't help), and have faith that things will get better. After a few months on the diet, the inflammation will fade away and your gut will begin to heal. And as your intestines begin to heal, you will once again become able to gain weight.
We have to learn to live our life a day at a time while we are recovering, and look to the future for hope. We have to measure success by the month, not by the day, because there will be a lot of bad days, at first. But you will get better, as long as you stay the course. Those of us who have been members here for years are proof of that.
Tex
BarbieAnn,
I dropped 30 lbs when I was diagnosed and also had people raise their eyebrows and tell me “you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet” when they saw I was only eating protein and white rice. Also, there was the coworker who peered into my bowl every day at lunch so she could see what I was eating because she wanted to lose weight like I was. After I ate a very basic and plain diet of rice/protein three meals a day, my weight leveled off and I have gained a little back. It is scary but hang in there.
With healing thoughts ~
Pam
I dropped 30 lbs when I was diagnosed and also had people raise their eyebrows and tell me “you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet” when they saw I was only eating protein and white rice. Also, there was the coworker who peered into my bowl every day at lunch so she could see what I was eating because she wanted to lose weight like I was. After I ate a very basic and plain diet of rice/protein three meals a day, my weight leveled off and I have gained a little back. It is scary but hang in there.
With healing thoughts ~
Pam
So, as I cannot order those Enterolab tests, I still am unsure of my diet.
I have been eating very bland - for breakfast - usually a banana with gluten free toast. I was having oatmeal but I'm not sure about that because some days I would be okay, other days not so good. For lunch I am having turkey sandwiches (gluten free bread) are turkey cold cuts okay? I dont put anything on the sandwich -very plain. If I make a turkey breast, I will use that instead of the cold cuts and also a cup of bouillon, which Gabe had told me is not very good because of the additives that they put in. So I am going to take her advice and cook up some bone broth. For dinner, it is always chicken, turkey, potatoes, very cooked veggies. Almost every day I eat the same foods and it's weird because there are days where I'm not so bad and others where I'm in the bathroom all day. I do believe that stress does play a part as I have been extremely stressed lately.
I want to make sure that I am not eating anything that is going to irritate me but I'm still unsure as to what foods are good. I know we constantly need to test foods to see what our reaction will be.
And I will try to relax a bit and take it one day at a time.
Thank you Tex for your advice.
I have been eating very bland - for breakfast - usually a banana with gluten free toast. I was having oatmeal but I'm not sure about that because some days I would be okay, other days not so good. For lunch I am having turkey sandwiches (gluten free bread) are turkey cold cuts okay? I dont put anything on the sandwich -very plain. If I make a turkey breast, I will use that instead of the cold cuts and also a cup of bouillon, which Gabe had told me is not very good because of the additives that they put in. So I am going to take her advice and cook up some bone broth. For dinner, it is always chicken, turkey, potatoes, very cooked veggies. Almost every day I eat the same foods and it's weird because there are days where I'm not so bad and others where I'm in the bathroom all day. I do believe that stress does play a part as I have been extremely stressed lately.
I want to make sure that I am not eating anything that is going to irritate me but I'm still unsure as to what foods are good. I know we constantly need to test foods to see what our reaction will be.
And I will try to relax a bit and take it one day at a time.
Thank you Tex for your advice.
Thank you Pam!
Thank you Pam - it makes me feel better to know other people struggle at work as well! My co-worker does the same thing to me - she comes back to my desk to see what I'm eating and doesn't understand that I cannot eat what she is offering me. I know she is trying to help, but there comes a point where it gets to be obnoxious.
I am going to try and keep eating rice with protein as well. I miss my pasta! Do you think the gluten free is ok? I know there are different opinions on the gluten free products out there. My husband has celiac disease and does very well on the gluten free products - the breads, pasta's etc.
I am going to try and keep eating rice with protein as well. I miss my pasta! Do you think the gluten free is ok? I know there are different opinions on the gluten free products out there. My husband has celiac disease and does very well on the gluten free products - the breads, pasta's etc.
BarbieAnn, I would stop the gluten free bread & oatmeal. Many of us react to oatmeal and there could be ingredients in the gf bread that are causing you to react. I just reacted to gf cookies and I've been in remission for four years. The turkey lunch meat is questionable, too. Did you check the ingredients? It's best to stick with meat that you prepare yourself. I missed sandwiches when I was first diagnosed but now I don't give them a second thought. We all learn by trial & error but if you spend time reading the information on the boards you will learn much from those who have been in your shoes. Have you ordered Tex's book that is listed in the upper right hand corner of this page? It was a big help to me. I lost weight, too and everyone was asking me what was wrong with me but I have gained it back. Good luck on your journey to healing.
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Marcia has replied with very similar to what i was going to say - i would mininmise gluten free breads at the moment, as they may have corn or soy in them that you are reacting to...
same for the GF pasta, as there is a high risk that you will react to the ingredients
what sort of drinks are you having during the day?
with time eating the same things every day will become 'the norm' and it wont bother you what others say etc.
same for the GF pasta, as there is a high risk that you will react to the ingredients
what sort of drinks are you having during the day?
with time eating the same things every day will become 'the norm' and it wont bother you what others say etc.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
I agree that avoiding gluten-free commercially-processed products will get us into remission faster. We usually cannot tolerate GF breads and pastas while we are recovering. After we are in remission, some of us can tolerate some of them, but not everyone. Virtually all of the GF baked products contain one ingredient or another that we cannot tolerate, even if celiacs can tolerate them just fine.
If you must have something to use in place of GF bread, use GF certified corn (unless you feel that you react to corn) or rice tortillas, or rice cakes. As Marcia pointed out, many of us react to pure oats, even though they might be certified gluten-free. Oats are not as potent as gluten, but they can make us just as sick.
Boar's Head brand GF lunch meats are usually safe (if they clean the slicer blade before slicing), but it's safer (and cheaper) to cook turkey breasts and slice them for sandwiches (or for wrap-arounds in a tortilla), if you must have sandwiches. I even roll up my bacon and eggs for breakfast in a warmed-up corn tortilla (of course I've tested safe for eggs). Over the years, every time I've tried to use GF bread, I've wound up eventually in a flare/reaction. It may take a while, but they eventually cause me to react.
OK, if you are reluctant to PM Jean, I'll do it for you, to see if she can/will receive a test kit from EnteroLab for you.
Tex
If you must have something to use in place of GF bread, use GF certified corn (unless you feel that you react to corn) or rice tortillas, or rice cakes. As Marcia pointed out, many of us react to pure oats, even though they might be certified gluten-free. Oats are not as potent as gluten, but they can make us just as sick.
Boar's Head brand GF lunch meats are usually safe (if they clean the slicer blade before slicing), but it's safer (and cheaper) to cook turkey breasts and slice them for sandwiches (or for wrap-arounds in a tortilla), if you must have sandwiches. I even roll up my bacon and eggs for breakfast in a warmed-up corn tortilla (of course I've tested safe for eggs). Over the years, every time I've tried to use GF bread, I've wound up eventually in a flare/reaction. It may take a while, but they eventually cause me to react.
OK, if you are reluctant to PM Jean, I'll do it for you, to see if she can/will receive a test kit from EnteroLab for you.
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.
TO GABES AND TEX
Gabes,
I usually drink water all day - tea in the morning and chamomile tea at night. I do occasionally have ginger ale because it helps with the nausea. How is corn or rice based pasta?
Tex,
I will try and get in contact with Jean to see if she can help me with the Enterolab test. And I will try the rice/corn Tortillas as well. That sounds like a good idea.
I usually drink water all day - tea in the morning and chamomile tea at night. I do occasionally have ginger ale because it helps with the nausea. How is corn or rice based pasta?
Tex,
I will try and get in contact with Jean to see if she can help me with the Enterolab test. And I will try the rice/corn Tortillas as well. That sounds like a good idea.
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
if you are tolerating rice ok then rice based pasta will be ok
be cautious of those with too many flours (ie more than 5 ingredients)
the other aspect to this - what are going to have with the pasta?? things like tomato/herbs etc should definately be avoided in the early stages of healing.
if having pasta on its own then you are better off just having rice.
the other aspect to things like rice and pasta is that they have minimal nutritional value. your body is much better off with safe proteins and 1-2 of your safe well cooked veges.
be cautious of those with too many flours (ie more than 5 ingredients)
the other aspect to this - what are going to have with the pasta?? things like tomato/herbs etc should definately be avoided in the early stages of healing.
if having pasta on its own then you are better off just having rice.
the other aspect to things like rice and pasta is that they have minimal nutritional value. your body is much better off with safe proteins and 1-2 of your safe well cooked veges.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
I’ve bought gluten free pasta but have been afraid to try it. I’ve gotten a few different kinds and have given all but one to the food pantry, after reading ingredients more thoroughly. The one I have hung on to is rice based and has few ingredients beside rice. And of course, the big question is .... what will I put on it? I think I might try some in bone broth someday.
Gabes, thank you for the reminder about the quantity of rice or gf pasta that we eat. I am a carb lover and still struggle with not going overboard on rice.
BarbieAnn, I tried gf bread in the beginning without luck. If I’m going to be on the go, I found some thin rice cakes (rice stackers by Lundberg). I’m now able to have almond butter and will make a couple of little almond butter /rice stacker sandwiches. They’re pretty good and I don’t miss bread most of the time
I am finding my first Holiday season with MC to be depressing. I’m ok most of the time but sometimes I see or think about a holiday favorite that I loved and I feel as if I was punched in the gut. My mantra is “I’d rather feel healthy than eat “fill in the blank”.
Wishing you all the best ~
Pam
Gabes, thank you for the reminder about the quantity of rice or gf pasta that we eat. I am a carb lover and still struggle with not going overboard on rice.
BarbieAnn, I tried gf bread in the beginning without luck. If I’m going to be on the go, I found some thin rice cakes (rice stackers by Lundberg). I’m now able to have almond butter and will make a couple of little almond butter /rice stacker sandwiches. They’re pretty good and I don’t miss bread most of the time
I am finding my first Holiday season with MC to be depressing. I’m ok most of the time but sometimes I see or think about a holiday favorite that I loved and I feel as if I was punched in the gut. My mantra is “I’d rather feel healthy than eat “fill in the blank”.
Wishing you all the best ~
Pam
barbieAnn,
My situation has been kind of similar. I was 5’3+1/2” and generally weighed from 115 to 135 until I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and osteoporosis in 2002 at age 53. As soon as I started taking thyroid meds I quickly lost over 20# and stabilized at about 110 until MC issues began escalating intermittently in 2010. Initially I dropped down to +/-105 but started to freak out last spring, when I hit a low of 96 lbs. (Also I’ve shrunk to 5’1+1/2”—a certifiable little old lady).
As you indicated, volume was stupefying. I generally lost 4 to 5 lbs overnight—every night—for what seemed like forever. I’d eat as much as I could everyday, but none of it stuck.
Of course we all react to different foods, but I was hoping that maybe you’d benefit from a tip that’s really been working for me. In a word: COCONUT.
For months my diet was exclusively turkey, potatoes, carrots and for a daily treat a few tiny, G/F, vegan coconut macaroons. I cringed at the idea of eating potatoes, as I had been very low carb for many years. But they worked. And as the bland diet began to gradually calm and heal things, I became hungrier and hungrier. I was already eating huge amounts of turkey, but didn’t feel ready to add anything new and didn’t want to add more potatoes or macaroons due to blood sugar issues. So I tried unsweetened coconut chips/flakes, and they seemed to have an immediate gut-calming effect. Since I love coconut, I kept eating more and more—plain—by the handful—and actually started to gain weight. Then I added coconut milk as a stand-in for cereal/desert. Seems like the more coconut I ate, the better I felt. I’ve gained almost 20 lbs. since spring, and now my concern is finding any clothes that I can still fit into!! The coconut is not only filling, but seems to slow digestion considerably. For the most part I’ve had just one non-urgent and usually formed, solid BM every morning since October. Similarly I've had no abdominal pain or cramping since then either.
I thought my previous diet had been safe, but learned through EnteroLab tests that I’d actually been eating many problematic foods, and after removing them, I started to improve. Ups and down persisted for months but the downs weren’t quite as low anymore.
If you scour the posts here on diet recommendations, you'll get a sense of which foods are initially safe for most people, and can try to concentrate on those. I’d already stopped eating gluten, dairy, eggs and packaged foods, but was shocked to find that my staples of fresh fish, chicken, soy, corn and particularly oats were also offenders. It seemed totally illogical to react noticeably to chicken, but not at all to turkey. At first it seemed like eating just a few foods so repetitively was unhealthy and would be impossible to stick with. But it so simplifies things, to deal with just one variable at a time.
And I highly recommend turkey!!
Over the last 2 months I’ve been able to occasionally eat salmon and tuna, add lots of new veggies, some treats, and have even been able to eat out a few times without any problems.
BTW—you mentioned chamomile tea. I’m pretty sure I reacted to that as well as to all green teas.
Hope you start making some progress soon. Its all very confusing and frustrating—especially at first. But persistence is definitely rewarded.
My situation has been kind of similar. I was 5’3+1/2” and generally weighed from 115 to 135 until I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and osteoporosis in 2002 at age 53. As soon as I started taking thyroid meds I quickly lost over 20# and stabilized at about 110 until MC issues began escalating intermittently in 2010. Initially I dropped down to +/-105 but started to freak out last spring, when I hit a low of 96 lbs. (Also I’ve shrunk to 5’1+1/2”—a certifiable little old lady).
As you indicated, volume was stupefying. I generally lost 4 to 5 lbs overnight—every night—for what seemed like forever. I’d eat as much as I could everyday, but none of it stuck.
Of course we all react to different foods, but I was hoping that maybe you’d benefit from a tip that’s really been working for me. In a word: COCONUT.
For months my diet was exclusively turkey, potatoes, carrots and for a daily treat a few tiny, G/F, vegan coconut macaroons. I cringed at the idea of eating potatoes, as I had been very low carb for many years. But they worked. And as the bland diet began to gradually calm and heal things, I became hungrier and hungrier. I was already eating huge amounts of turkey, but didn’t feel ready to add anything new and didn’t want to add more potatoes or macaroons due to blood sugar issues. So I tried unsweetened coconut chips/flakes, and they seemed to have an immediate gut-calming effect. Since I love coconut, I kept eating more and more—plain—by the handful—and actually started to gain weight. Then I added coconut milk as a stand-in for cereal/desert. Seems like the more coconut I ate, the better I felt. I’ve gained almost 20 lbs. since spring, and now my concern is finding any clothes that I can still fit into!! The coconut is not only filling, but seems to slow digestion considerably. For the most part I’ve had just one non-urgent and usually formed, solid BM every morning since October. Similarly I've had no abdominal pain or cramping since then either.
I thought my previous diet had been safe, but learned through EnteroLab tests that I’d actually been eating many problematic foods, and after removing them, I started to improve. Ups and down persisted for months but the downs weren’t quite as low anymore.
If you scour the posts here on diet recommendations, you'll get a sense of which foods are initially safe for most people, and can try to concentrate on those. I’d already stopped eating gluten, dairy, eggs and packaged foods, but was shocked to find that my staples of fresh fish, chicken, soy, corn and particularly oats were also offenders. It seemed totally illogical to react noticeably to chicken, but not at all to turkey. At first it seemed like eating just a few foods so repetitively was unhealthy and would be impossible to stick with. But it so simplifies things, to deal with just one variable at a time.
And I highly recommend turkey!!
Over the last 2 months I’ve been able to occasionally eat salmon and tuna, add lots of new veggies, some treats, and have even been able to eat out a few times without any problems.
BTW—you mentioned chamomile tea. I’m pretty sure I reacted to that as well as to all green teas.
Hope you start making some progress soon. Its all very confusing and frustrating—especially at first. But persistence is definitely rewarded.
TeriM
“Sometimes the light’s all shining on me,
other times I can barely see.” Robert Hunter
“Sometimes the light’s all shining on me,
other times I can barely see.” Robert Hunter
Gabes,
I was always a big pasta eater - my Sicilian roots - we always make pasta with vegetables - zucchini, broccoli, peas, cauliflower - all kinds of vegetables. Do you think this would be okay, the veggies are cooked thoroughly. I see what you mean, though, that the rice/pasta doesn't have too much of a nutritional value. I am going to stick with protein as you suggested.
Pam - I saw those rice stackers you mentioned - and am going to try them. I know exactly how you feel about the holidays. Coming from an italian family, food is EVERYTHING - and I'm feeling so depressed that I'm missing all the foods I love to eat. But as you said, you would rather feel healthy than not. If anything comes from all of this - we are eating healthier and that has to benefit us in the long run.
Teri - Thank you for your recommendations - I am going to try the coconut as well as the coconut milk. I was also thinking about baking with coconut flour - I saw some recipes that I would like to try. I am wondering if I have a sensitivity to chicken because that's all I've been eating and I still don't feel well. I was thinking that turkey is similar to chicken but maybe the turkey would be better? I am going to order the Enterolab tests and hopefully get some answers. I just hate being this skinny but I know that I just have to be persistent and stick to the diet. I also heard that cranberries were good for inflammation - has anyone heard of that?
I was always a big pasta eater - my Sicilian roots - we always make pasta with vegetables - zucchini, broccoli, peas, cauliflower - all kinds of vegetables. Do you think this would be okay, the veggies are cooked thoroughly. I see what you mean, though, that the rice/pasta doesn't have too much of a nutritional value. I am going to stick with protein as you suggested.
Pam - I saw those rice stackers you mentioned - and am going to try them. I know exactly how you feel about the holidays. Coming from an italian family, food is EVERYTHING - and I'm feeling so depressed that I'm missing all the foods I love to eat. But as you said, you would rather feel healthy than not. If anything comes from all of this - we are eating healthier and that has to benefit us in the long run.
Teri - Thank you for your recommendations - I am going to try the coconut as well as the coconut milk. I was also thinking about baking with coconut flour - I saw some recipes that I would like to try. I am wondering if I have a sensitivity to chicken because that's all I've been eating and I still don't feel well. I was thinking that turkey is similar to chicken but maybe the turkey would be better? I am going to order the Enterolab tests and hopefully get some answers. I just hate being this skinny but I know that I just have to be persistent and stick to the diet. I also heard that cranberries were good for inflammation - has anyone heard of that?