MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Hi all,

I've had 8 years of on and off flareups from LC, which I was mostly able to handle with my "safe" diet, but this latest flare has proved more challenging. I have been on my "safe" foods diet for over a month, but even some of the old stand-bys aren't working for me lately. I spent two weeks eating nothing but lamb, rice, extremely overcooked green beans and bananas. Then I started on Mesalamine a week or so ago, which has maybe helped a bit, and now I'm trying to branch out, but it's still touch and go. Had some fresh blueberries yesterday - that was a bad idea...

I feel deeply concerned about our climate and animal welfare. I want to live sustainably, and live a more plant-based lifestyle, but most vegetables seem to cause problems. Legumes, cruciferous and nightshades are totally out unless I'm really stable. These days, it seems that if I don't eat meat at every meal, I don't seem to be able to get enough protein, and I start to get lethargic and exhausted. I had cancer in 2015, so I really don't feel comfortable eating this much meat, but there are few other protein sources that seem to work for me. Fish and eggs can even be iffy.

I'm thinking it's possible this may be the new "normal" for me. Any thoughts on living sustainably and eating for long-term health with MC would be greatly appreciated :-)

Hi AVM,

If lamb, rice, overcooked green beans and bananas works for you I'd stick to it for like 4-8 weeks before trying to
add anything in. Raw fruit would be last to add back. If you add anything back in down the road think overcooked squash,
canned pureed pumpkin etc.

I am age 59 as reference.

If I am in a pretty solid remission I can tolerate split peas soaked 24 hours, lentils soaked 24 hours, and the small rinsed canned
white canneloni beans. Larger beans are problematic. The split peas, the lentils and the canned canneloni beans I"m okay
if I overcook them and generally would be okay with 3-4 servings a week (total combined).

I had bloodwork on Monday. I went hardcore vegan FRi - Sun and eliminated animal protein before my bloodwork. I've learned
the hard way that I get wacky kidney scores if I eat several meatballs before my bloodwork.

I ate 2 cups lentils on Fri, 2 cups lentils on Sat, and 2 c split pea soup on Sunday. This is very high fiber for me.
I did okay with it.

I would focus on do what you need to do to get better. You can't help Mother Earth if you are sick. Work on getting to
a very consistent remission and you should be able to add some legumes back in since you were able to tolerate them before.

PS. Cruciferous veggies are still problematic for me.

As an alternative source of protein down the road, how about shrimp, prawns, oysters, mussels, and other shellfish?

Tex

Thanks for the helpful suggestions! I guess I'll keep on eating what I'm eating for now and hope that someday I can get back to a more plant based diet. I hadn't thought about shellfish, but that is definitely an interesting option. I think the problems for me and fish is that unless it's really fresh, the histamine issues flare up. But maybe shellfish are generally fresher?

I hear you about histamine levels. I have to avoid high-histamine foods, also. And unfortunately, shellfish are rated as histamine-rich. I don't eat them, but like many foods, if you can get them really fresh, their histamine level might be tolerable. Sorry.

Tex

I am new to MC. Diagnosed in September 2020. I have lost 22 pounds since. Taking The meds. But don’t seem to help much. Maybe a little. Since January I’ve been trying to control with diet but I can’t find much that doesn’t make me run to the pot. I can eat lean baked, or grilled meat. No vegetables. Maybe a small amount of Sweet potato’s. And banana. Sometimes an egg. But if I eat them too often I end up back in the bathroom. Starch, I eat white rice, and gluten, soy,nut free bread. I’m discouraged. I lost 4 pounds this weekend. Maybe because I tried a little melon. And I was stressed. Anyone one with an idea to help keep me from losing more weight or what I might eat? Thank you in advance.

Hi,

Welcome to the board. You probably won't be able to stop losing weight until you've managed to stop the inflammation, so that your intestines can begin to heal. The inflammation interferes with our ability to absorb nutrients, and also interferes with our ability to produce the enzymes that we need to properly digest various types of food, especially carbs. Meats such as turkey, duck, goose, pheasant, quail, rabbit, venison, antelope, etc. are safe for virtually all of us. Vegetables such as peeled and overcooked carrots, squash, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes, are safe for most of us. Avoid all melons and artificial sweeteners. Minimize sugar and fiber. Coconut oil is the safest oil.

Avoid commercially processed foods, especially backed goods. Many of us react to them while we're recovering, despite how safe the manufacturers claim them to be. Prepare your own food from scratch. Never eat out.

I hope this helps. Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex