Hey there, I'm kind of in a hurry, but skimmed through the posts and saw that you had a problem with Lindt chocolate - so do I, but not with Green and Black's chocolate. They even sell a cocoa at the Sprouts store by us.
Also, tuna fish makes me sick, but guess I wasn't reading the labels closely enough, because almost all of them are packed in a broth. THAT's the problem. Now I eat BumbleBee solid white albacore: it says right on the top of the can "our best albacore ever! packed with more tuna! No vegetable broth added!"
It is a gold can with black lettering, and I distinguish it from the others on the shelf by the lettering right on the top of the can stating "no vegetable broth added". AND/BUT if I eat a whole can of it at a time I get an upset stomach - kind of the opposite probelm, though, I get a little plugged up - I think that's just because a whole can at once is a lot of protein.
Marsha
LIST OF FOODS I'VE TESTED OR ELIMINATED
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Thank you for the heads-up on the Green and Black's chocolate. I noticed on their website that their products are available at Walgreens, Target and CVS stores in my area. I'll have to check it out.
Yes, tuna is one of those products where the soy is buried. I've been buying premium tunas without the soy broth. Someone else here mentioned that Trader Joe's sells a fancy albacore tuna w/o soy broth. I just purchased some there for $1.49 a can, which is pretty reasonable.
Gloria
Yes, tuna is one of those products where the soy is buried. I've been buying premium tunas without the soy broth. Someone else here mentioned that Trader Joe's sells a fancy albacore tuna w/o soy broth. I just purchased some there for $1.49 a can, which is pretty reasonable.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Hi JoAnn,
I do eat bacon occasionally when I make a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. I also eat it in German potato salad. It doesn't seem to affect me.
I don't usually eat ham, even in a sandwich. I love it, but it seems more risky to me than bacon, maybe because I tend to eat more of it at a sitting. I've seen some ham that doesn't have as many additives - Hormel natural comes to mind. I've gotten used to eating Boar's Head low-sodium turkey (available at Harmon's in Utah). A local chain by me sells pure natural turkey lunchmeat for a little cheaper. You might be OK with Boar's Head ham.
There was a thread a while back on nitrites and nitrates associated with cured meats. Maybe someone else can find it.
Gloria
I do eat bacon occasionally when I make a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. I also eat it in German potato salad. It doesn't seem to affect me.
I don't usually eat ham, even in a sandwich. I love it, but it seems more risky to me than bacon, maybe because I tend to eat more of it at a sitting. I've seen some ham that doesn't have as many additives - Hormel natural comes to mind. I've gotten used to eating Boar's Head low-sodium turkey (available at Harmon's in Utah). A local chain by me sells pure natural turkey lunchmeat for a little cheaper. You might be OK with Boar's Head ham.
There was a thread a while back on nitrites and nitrates associated with cured meats. Maybe someone else can find it.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
I've been able to get GF bacon in the supermarket, but limit it because of the nitrates.
For ham I use a specialised small store where the retired butcher who owns it makes his own ham and deli sausage using no nitrites or gluten or other bad stuff. My local butcher also does a nitrite free one, but it is not as good.
You might have do some hunting, but there may be someone near you who sells something similar (probably in the gourmet shops).
Lyn
For ham I use a specialised small store where the retired butcher who owns it makes his own ham and deli sausage using no nitrites or gluten or other bad stuff. My local butcher also does a nitrite free one, but it is not as good.
You might have do some hunting, but there may be someone near you who sells something similar (probably in the gourmet shops).
Lyn
Sorry, this is gross
Be careful with Walgreen's for chocolate. I know they used to carry outdated chocolate because I experienced it many years ago......I started to eat a Hershey Bar with Almonds in the car and, luckily, my DD stopped me from eating it because she saw little tiny things crawling around on it!!!!!!!!!! 
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
I think they were some kind of larva. Makes me sick even now. However, it hasn't stopped my craving for chocolate.........DARN.
I got a really nice gift basket from Walgreen's...not food but lotions and such.
I still would never buy chocolate there.
I got a really nice gift basket from Walgreen's...not food but lotions and such.
I still would never buy chocolate there.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
Diet and MC. Where do I start?
Hi Potty People,
This is my first time ever using any blog. I was diagnosed with MC in June and put on Entocort which has worked pretty well but I have gained about 25 lbs and was overweight to start but was losing do to the diarrhea. YUK
So today I am going off Entocort with the GI doctor's knowledge and am starting a low carbohydrate diet since it appears caffeine, fruits, some dairy and wheat may cause most of the bad diarrhea. However, after reading other peoples diets I see vegetables,ham,lettuce. nuts and other low carb foods listed as things to avoid.
Help! I don't know what to eat. Any suggestions?
Mary
This is my first time ever using any blog. I was diagnosed with MC in June and put on Entocort which has worked pretty well but I have gained about 25 lbs and was overweight to start but was losing do to the diarrhea. YUK
So today I am going off Entocort with the GI doctor's knowledge and am starting a low carbohydrate diet since it appears caffeine, fruits, some dairy and wheat may cause most of the bad diarrhea. However, after reading other peoples diets I see vegetables,ham,lettuce. nuts and other low carb foods listed as things to avoid.
Help! I don't know what to eat. Any suggestions?
Mary
Hi Mary,
It's good to see you posting. Welcome to our internet family.
It takes a while for all the Entocort to be purged from your body, but after a week or so, you're probably going to have a relapse, and start reacting again, without the budesonide in your system. It takes a while for the GF diet to take effect. If you had started the diet when you started taking the Entocort, it's possible that the diet might have been able to maintain remission, by now. Anyway, the point is, if the reactions do return, and become more than you want to deal with, you might have to resume taking the Entocort long enough for the diet to take effect. We are all different, and it can take anywhere from a couple of weeks, to a year or more, for the diet to bring remission, or at least improvement, but maybe you will be lucky, and it will begin working quickly.
Incidentally, most of us have to avoid all dairy products, because the problem with dairy is in the protein, (casein), not in the sugar, (lactose).
For some meal ideas, here are some suggestions:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=53
Here are several hundred GF recipes, posted by Dee, and other members. Dee and Stanz are profession chefs. The recipes posted by Dee, are not only GF, but all of them are also free of all dairy products, and all ingredients that contain soy. (About half of us are intolerant of soy, in addition to gluten and casein).
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7
If caffeine caused problems for you before you developed MC, then it will still cause the same problems. If it did not cause any problems for you before you developed MC, then it shouldn't cause any problems for you now. Very, very few of us have to avoid caffeine, and those who do, had previous problems with it. For example, there is evidence, (not yet proven, but being researched), that while caffeine does not directly cause the initial development of fibrosystic breast tissue, some experts believe that large amounts of caffeine can lead to changes in hormone levels that may affect the formation of breast cysts or cause breast pain. Some women report that limiting caffeine consumption reduces breast pain, but research about the benefits of limiting caffeine consumption as a treatment for breast pain, has not yielded clearcut results. Others, such as myself, would soon have to take a trip to the bathroom, after drinking coffee, but that was always the case for me, since long before my symptoms began. Strangely, tea, and carbonated drinks that contain caffeine, have rarely had any such effect on me, but that may be due to the dose of caffeine - coffee has much more caffeine than most tea and carbonated drinks. Anyway, the point is, most of us do not find it necessary to avoid caffeine. Of course, since we are all different, in many ways, YMMV, (Your Mileage May Vary).
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex (Wayne)
It's good to see you posting. Welcome to our internet family.
It takes a while for all the Entocort to be purged from your body, but after a week or so, you're probably going to have a relapse, and start reacting again, without the budesonide in your system. It takes a while for the GF diet to take effect. If you had started the diet when you started taking the Entocort, it's possible that the diet might have been able to maintain remission, by now. Anyway, the point is, if the reactions do return, and become more than you want to deal with, you might have to resume taking the Entocort long enough for the diet to take effect. We are all different, and it can take anywhere from a couple of weeks, to a year or more, for the diet to bring remission, or at least improvement, but maybe you will be lucky, and it will begin working quickly.
Incidentally, most of us have to avoid all dairy products, because the problem with dairy is in the protein, (casein), not in the sugar, (lactose).
For some meal ideas, here are some suggestions:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=53
Here are several hundred GF recipes, posted by Dee, and other members. Dee and Stanz are profession chefs. The recipes posted by Dee, are not only GF, but all of them are also free of all dairy products, and all ingredients that contain soy. (About half of us are intolerant of soy, in addition to gluten and casein).
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7
If caffeine caused problems for you before you developed MC, then it will still cause the same problems. If it did not cause any problems for you before you developed MC, then it shouldn't cause any problems for you now. Very, very few of us have to avoid caffeine, and those who do, had previous problems with it. For example, there is evidence, (not yet proven, but being researched), that while caffeine does not directly cause the initial development of fibrosystic breast tissue, some experts believe that large amounts of caffeine can lead to changes in hormone levels that may affect the formation of breast cysts or cause breast pain. Some women report that limiting caffeine consumption reduces breast pain, but research about the benefits of limiting caffeine consumption as a treatment for breast pain, has not yielded clearcut results. Others, such as myself, would soon have to take a trip to the bathroom, after drinking coffee, but that was always the case for me, since long before my symptoms began. Strangely, tea, and carbonated drinks that contain caffeine, have rarely had any such effect on me, but that may be due to the dose of caffeine - coffee has much more caffeine than most tea and carbonated drinks. Anyway, the point is, most of us do not find it necessary to avoid caffeine. Of course, since we are all different, in many ways, YMMV, (Your Mileage May Vary).
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex (Wayne)
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.
Hi Mary, welcome to the board! 
Most people who take Entocort are on it for about 6 months before beginning to taper their dosage. My recommendation is always to reduce the dosage slowly until you begin to notice that some days you have normal BMs and other days you don't. That allows you to determine which foods are causing you to have reactions and eliminate them from your diet. I've lost 12 lbs. while taking Entocort, primarily due to my dietary restrictions. There may be others who have gained weight as you have, but I'm not aware of it. Perhaps they'll post their experiences.
The most common food intolerances amongst those of us with MC are gluten and casein (dairy). About 50% of us also need to eliminate soy. We recommend that people eliminate gluten and casein first. If they continue to have D, then we suggest they remove all traces of soy, which is an ingredient in many processed foods.
The list I've posted is a guideline for people who have had a lot of problems achieving remission. As Tex wrote, if you stop taking Entocort without a concurrent change in your diet, your symptoms will return. For some people, such as myself, it takes a lot of time to determine which foods are triggers. For others here, simply eliminating gluten has worked.
If you can afford it, you may want to consider ordering a stool test from Enterolab.com. Presently they will test the stool for antibodies to five of the most common intolerances. I had the testing done and found I was intolerant to all five. Eliminating those five foods, along with taking Entocort, helped get my MC under control fairly quickly. As I've reduced Entocort, I've discovered additional intolerances and irritants. I'm presently taking 3 mg. every other day and am hoping that fruit is my last irritant. It's becoming very easy at this stage to determine what foods are causing me problems, but it hasn't always been so easy. I have been one of the more difficult cases due to my genetic makeup (that test can also be ordered through Enterolab). Most people don't need to eliminate as many foods as I have, so please don't get discouraged by my list. It is a guideline for those who can't achieve remission by eliminating the most common triggers.
Another suggestion is to maintain a daily food/elimination diary. You'll soon see a pattern between your reactions and the foods you are eating.
We are here to help you, so please feel free to ask any questions you might have. You have found the best resource on MC anywhere.
Gloria
Most people who take Entocort are on it for about 6 months before beginning to taper their dosage. My recommendation is always to reduce the dosage slowly until you begin to notice that some days you have normal BMs and other days you don't. That allows you to determine which foods are causing you to have reactions and eliminate them from your diet. I've lost 12 lbs. while taking Entocort, primarily due to my dietary restrictions. There may be others who have gained weight as you have, but I'm not aware of it. Perhaps they'll post their experiences.
The most common food intolerances amongst those of us with MC are gluten and casein (dairy). About 50% of us also need to eliminate soy. We recommend that people eliminate gluten and casein first. If they continue to have D, then we suggest they remove all traces of soy, which is an ingredient in many processed foods.
The list I've posted is a guideline for people who have had a lot of problems achieving remission. As Tex wrote, if you stop taking Entocort without a concurrent change in your diet, your symptoms will return. For some people, such as myself, it takes a lot of time to determine which foods are triggers. For others here, simply eliminating gluten has worked.
If you can afford it, you may want to consider ordering a stool test from Enterolab.com. Presently they will test the stool for antibodies to five of the most common intolerances. I had the testing done and found I was intolerant to all five. Eliminating those five foods, along with taking Entocort, helped get my MC under control fairly quickly. As I've reduced Entocort, I've discovered additional intolerances and irritants. I'm presently taking 3 mg. every other day and am hoping that fruit is my last irritant. It's becoming very easy at this stage to determine what foods are causing me problems, but it hasn't always been so easy. I have been one of the more difficult cases due to my genetic makeup (that test can also be ordered through Enterolab). Most people don't need to eliminate as many foods as I have, so please don't get discouraged by my list. It is a guideline for those who can't achieve remission by eliminating the most common triggers.
Another suggestion is to maintain a daily food/elimination diary. You'll soon see a pattern between your reactions and the foods you are eating.
We are here to help you, so please feel free to ask any questions you might have. You have found the best resource on MC anywhere.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Dear Mary
from Hong Kong! As I am sure you have already read most GIs are not insistent about a 100% GF, DF and, if necessary, SF diet (plus , for some , further restrictions). Experience here shows them to be wrong. As Tex and Gloria say, the healing process, even with food intolerance and sensitivities removed, will likely take some time but will work in the end.
Wishing you all the very best in your journey to remission, Ant
from Hong Kong! As I am sure you have already read most GIs are not insistent about a 100% GF, DF and, if necessary, SF diet (plus , for some , further restrictions). Experience here shows them to be wrong. As Tex and Gloria say, the healing process, even with food intolerance and sensitivities removed, will likely take some time but will work in the end.Wishing you all the very best in your journey to remission, Ant
Dear Tex, Gloria and Ant,
Thank you for responding so quickly. I wish I had joined you when I was first diagnosed but your comments today have really helped. I really don't feel I can go back on Entocort so I am hoping by eliminating Gluten and some dairy I can improve. I will keep in touch and appreciate all of the help.
Best wishes,
Mary
Thank you for responding so quickly. I wish I had joined you when I was first diagnosed but your comments today have really helped. I really don't feel I can go back on Entocort so I am hoping by eliminating Gluten and some dairy I can improve. I will keep in touch and appreciate all of the help.
Best wishes,
Mary
What do you eat and loose weight too?
I was already overweight when diagnosed with MC and then gained more weight on Entocort. I am off entocort and I am now trying gluten free and think I will probablyhave to go dairy free and sugar free too.I am thinking about the paleo diet? Any Thoughts? I am so discouraged.I see the lists of foods and wonder what does a breakfast look like? a lunch? a dinner? If I drink green tea what can I put in for a sweetner? The questions go on and on? I really want to loose weight and be in remission?
Mary
Mary