How do you know when you are healed enough?

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 10:45 pm

I am wondering when I will know when to begin adding foods to my diet.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:41 am

There is no fixed time...... For some it may be weeks, for others it will be months..... And for a rare few it can take years.

We are all different.....

Once you minimise symptoms, and get your mc management in place, being well and symptom free (or minimised symptoms) becomes such a wonderful existence, you tend to treasure it, protect it....
And your brain and taste buds don't tend to want new ingredients....

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 6:57 am

Once you lose the joint aches & fatigue, bloating/gas & start having more norms, you can start adding one food at a time. It's a slow process to add foods because you need to eat them regularly, and wait to see if there is a reaction.

Keep a food journal to help with this process.

Have you done Enterolab testing or MRT to help with your food choices?

Gabes is right....once you finally get it all under control, you tend to stick to the foods that work best for you.

:)

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:52 pm

When you are drug free and practica;lly symptom free would be a good time.

CathyMe. · Post by **CathyMe.** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 3:32 am

I agree with the other posters, just take it slow and really pay attention to your reaction to the foods. I have been off all meds and experiencing normans for months so decided to try to add peanut butter back into my diet. I continued to experience normans but the burning in my gut came back so I took it back out and yup...the burning went away. It continues to be a learning process for me!

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:07 am

I am only eating millet bread that I make, ground pork and millet banana bread. I can't tolerate vegies or any other fruits right now. I am not taking any vitamins either. How long can I go with a diet like this and stay healthy?

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 11:25 am

What symptoms do you still have?

I ordered lots of millet puffs cereal & flour from Amazon, then discovered, on my MRT test, that I react to it! :(

Do you cook your veggies until very soft?

I had the same concern, as you, that just eating a few foods is not healthy in the long run, but it seems to be the only way. But, you have to find out what foods you react to, also. Have you done Enterolab or MRT? It's been a long process for me, too.

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 11:35 am

I am feeling very good most days with more normal bm, but it's only been a week or so. I am not eating vegetables yet.

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 11:43 am

It's only been a week since I stopped eating vegetables, but I tried applesauce one day and had a reaction.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:36 pm

Right now, the focus is finding the foods that work for you and giving your body time to heal.
If your gut is inflamed, and the digestion process is compromised, you will struggle with 'being healthy' for a while....

Let go of all you were taught about nutrition and eating, wipe it off the board...
Life with mc is different....

Re the trying new ingredients your system now is like that of a baby, there are new cells, it is quite sensitive. If introducing a new ingredient, small amount, egg cup size serving, eat it slow. Like a baby it is very likely you will react with smelly poop. Wait 24hrs, have another small serving.....
Then try it a third time....

If after the third time it all goes ok with no symptoms, start to increase the serve size a bit, take it slow, be patient.

I have many times over the past 3.5 years lived on chook, gooey rice, 1 or 2 verges, 3 meals a day, for days even weeks. What you ingest is not a measure of being healthy. Being symptom free (or minimal symptoms) and having energy and focus to do the things you need to do is my measure of wellness....

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:38 pm

But, shouldn't I wait like a month to heal before experimenting?

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:58 pm

As I said in my first reply, there is no set, fixed, guaranteed time span...

For some it is weeks, for others it is months....... It all depends....

Listen to your body, when you have had weeks of minimal to no symptoms, your bms have formation, near right colour, you feel like you have more energy, the brain fog has cleared, the joint aches have gone....
Then yeah maybe try to introduce a new ingredient.
For now just breathe, relax, nurture your body, let it heal....

Don't over think it, rationalise it, or have a fixed timetable. Listen to your body and go with the flow......

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:07 pm

I just don't want to keep irritating my innards by experimenting too soon. I guess I'm wondering how long other people have decided to wait to begin adding foods.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:13 pm

I am not sure what part of 'we are all different' that you are struggling with.

For some it was weeks, for others months, and for a few it was years, and they still struggling to introduce new ingredients....

Hearing everyone's answers won't tell you what will happen for you.....

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:26 pm

I guess I'll wait a couple of months at least then after returning to normal. Too bad there isn't any research on the healing part of this disease.