High Fiber: exchange "D" for gas

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:59 pm

Hi there.
I took Entocort for a while, weaned myself off, and enjoyed a remission for several months. I recently started flaring again (probably due to a very stressful month at work) and I'm having urgent, watery D again. I've been pretty much eating bland and sticking to safe foods but found out by accident that if I have to eat something high in fiber (sometimes we have limited options) that my D lets up and I just have gas instead.

That reminded me that when I was diagnosed with spastic colon (the old term for irritable bowel) 40 years ago, the doctor recommended that I start taking increasingly larger amount of unprocessed bran. He said things would get worse for a week or two but then they'd get better. He was right! I continued using the bran for years and my bowels were no longer irritable.

So I started to wonder, is there some benefit to eating MORE fiber when our colitis is flaring? It seems to give the colon something to work on, rather than chewing up my guts. Like I said, it gives me gas, but at least it's a "safe" gas instead of the explosive, watery, urgent dashes to the bathroom. I'm torn between eating as bland as possible to let my gut heal and eating high fiber to see if that bulks things up and improves things.

Any thoughts?
Sue

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 11:22 pm

my 2 cents worth

Gas, D, pain, C, reflux etc are all indicators of inflammation.
if the gut is inflamed, digestion is compromised, you are not absorbing nutrients,
ongoing inflammation damages the villi, creates/exacerbates leaky gut.

any inflammation should be avoided minimised as much as possible.

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 3:16 am

Sue,
Just wanted to mention there is more than one type of fiber. While bran and other insoluble fiber foods will be irritating to an already inflamed colon, soluble fiber may help smooth things along. If you can tolerate bananas, avocados, beans of any kind, etc. you might try that.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 7:02 am

Funny, but I have noticed this too. If I eat bulkier foods with more soluble fiber, like banana, avocado, and beans, I have more formed BMs.
I don't have the gas problem, but that may be because my gut is more healed than yours - I'm not having any signs of active inflammation at present.

Polly

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 7:30 am

Polly,
Can't take statins or aspirin to prevent heart attacks. Tried niacin....the last "flush" I had kept my in hives for 12 hours, so now I am back to trying to eat more soluble fiber for cholesterol.

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 11:33 am

Thanks for the replies.... can always count on people to be here, both old and new faces. :)

As I do with most of my issues in life, I try to "fix" everything aggressively and with as many "solutions" as I can come up with, and usually end up making things worse. I got the hair-brained idea to try increasing fiber (both kinds) and thought I saw some improvement so really loaded up on it (never a good idea, but moderation is not a word in my vocabulary) and probably made things worse and am probably causing a battle between the Entocort and the fiber. One wants to heal it, the other won't allow it to happen.

OK, so I should cool it with fiber for a while and try to let the Entocort bring about some healing. I just bought a big box of Metamucil cookies..... any takers? :) I guess I should stop putting my chia seeds on everything, too? I'm never clear on which are soluble and which are non-soluble. What kind of "beans" should I go out and get? I'm guessing chili is a bad idea since it's spicy.

Be careful what you tell me - I will do it in excess..... you're not dealing with a "moderate" person here. LOL Thanks again for always being here.
Sue

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:20 pm

You're so funny. I also can eat avocados, and beans. I usually stick to either kidney, white ( navy, cannelli) and black beans…. even refried! You can google "soluble fiber" to get a list of foods. I hope your symptoms abate soon.
Leah

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:03 pm

I had nothing but toast today and felt good, but just now needed something salty so I had some "popped rice cakes". My stomach is grumbling and gurgling.... how come?!?!?!?!?!

Sue

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:30 pm

Maybe you shouldn't be eating rice? Some of us can't. What four is your toast made from? OR, azre they "popped" in oil? You could be reacting to the type of oil being used. I can't eat anything fried in canola oil.
Leah

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:35 pm

Always thought I was ok with rice but something about them being popped did me in. Maybe you're right about the oil... I'll have to grab a pair of cheater glasses and read the ingredients, when I can stop dashing to the bathroom.
Sue

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:35 am

I've been eating Pork & Beans for the convenience of them being ok cold. Also they don't have soy. You would not think any canned beans would have soy. Ranch Style Beans, my favorite, have soy. I bought Bush's Maple Flavored yesterday and no problems.
I know I should cook my own, but I am so busy (translated lazy)

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:18 am

I also eat Bush's beans…original :) Goes great with a natural chicken sausage

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:38 am

nerdhume wrote:I've been eating Pork & Beans for the convenience of them being ok cold. Also they don't have soy. You would not think any canned beans would have soy. Ranch Style Beans, my favorite, have soy. I bought Bush's Maple Flavored yesterday and no problems.
I know I should cook my own, but I am so busy (translated lazy)

Now that is the best news I've heard all day - I love canned pork and beans!!!!! I know there are no guarantees that I will be able to tolerate them but I will at least most certainly enjoy the "test". I'll head to the store right after work, and I, too, consider myself too busy (lazy) to cook my own.

Keeping my fingers (and legs) crossed that I can eat those!
Sue

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:01 am

I've been having about 1/2 cup of beans at lunch & supper each day. I had already been having a banana and an avocado most days. May not work for everyone, but for me it has definitely firmed up my bm and made me feel more energetic.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:42 am

Theresa,

I also do not want to take any statins or aspirin. Or niacin, after my girlfriend ended up in the E.R. after taking it. For heart health my "drug of choice" is a glass of red wine every night with dinner! Much more enjoyable, and luckily, I have never had a problem with it.

Polly