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Posted 12/30/2008 7:50 AM (GMT -8)
I am thinking of going on a liquid diet to help heal my colon.  I was thinking a week would help.  Has anyone done this?  If so, what do you drink.  I have some absorbplus powder that I can use, and then I think ensure would be good.  Any other ideas???  Is this stupidto try?  Am I grasping at straws here?
Posted 12/30/2008 8:59 AM (GMT -8)
I always had good success switching to liquid diet right before flares. Protein shakes, 100% juices, and fiber supp., distilled H2o. Probiotics, Glutamine, and some form of fatty acid supp. After my colon begins to normalize I would switch to comfort foods from my diary and ride with that until I started forming solid stools.
Posted 12/30/2008 10:12 AM (GMT -8)
Lemonhead,

I am also considering the liquid diet. I noticed in your post that you have absorb plus powder so I googled it. It sounds wonderful. Have you found it helpful? I am interested in hearing how your liquid diet goes if you choose to do it. I am just so tired of feeling sick and having accidents so I am most likely going to do it now once I have ordered the absorb plus powder. I wish I could just go buy it in a store instead of having to wait for it. My only issue is that I am breast feeding and it is said to be okay, but I just want to do a little more research. Please post on your progress with this. I am also checking into juicing but so far I have felt worse so I am going to let my intestines heal before I try the juice again it seems every time I try it I bleed more sad Please post anything else you are going to drink and If I find something helpful I will do the same.

I drink a lot of Aloe Juice regardless that seems to help my intestines a little bit.
Posted 1/1/2009 6:59 AM (GMT -8)
Absorb plus, tastes good too, and it does seem to help a little bit. My plan is to use the absorb plus and ensure for one week, then start adding in things, but no grains and no sugar. We will see how that goes. I am thinking lean white meats (organic) and veggies to start. Will let you know how it goes....right now, I am hungry!!
Posted 1/1/2009 1:24 PM (GMT -8)
Absorb Plus is predigested, which allows you to get the nutrients your body needs while your colon rests and heals. Ensure and Boost are not. Jini Patel Thompson has a book called The IBD Remission Diet that gives complete instructions on using Absorb Plus for up to several weeks, then transitioning back to regular foods.
Posted 1/1/2009 1:26 PM (GMT -8)
     Be careful of the fiber.  It throws my UC into a real tizzy.
Posted 1/26/2009 1:47 PM (GMT -8)
I'm trying it too... Not very excited about it though. I'm starving! I'm drinking Ensures all day (the kind with added Calcium) and bought other stuff like soup without solids in it, sugar free pudding and apple sauce. I read that you can do liquids (not Clear liquids) if you're not in a major flare. Plus, the clear liquids can only sustain you for a few days.

mjw82704- We are trying to get pregnant (although holding off until after this flare now). How did you decided to breastfeed when you are on Mesalamine? I used to be on Asacol and am now on Lialda and have been told that it passes into the breast milk.
Posted 1/26/2009 1:51 PM (GMT -8)
I did a clear liquid diet for two days before my last scope and I felt really, really sick from it. I was almost on the verge of collapsing when I got home one night and caved and ate some toast, which I instantly threw up. It was really bizarre and I've been afraid to try it again. I'm sure it was mostly because it was clear liquids with no real substance or nutritional value, so just make sure you're getting everything you need to keep yourself going.
Posted 1/26/2009 3:41 PM (GMT -8)

Hi Guys, I haven't been on in a long time. You might not even remember me since I was never on that much anyway. I always seem to pop up when I am flaring. 

Lemonhead- I do absorbplus when I am flaring badly. I even use it sometimes for a quick breakfast in the am. I have been using it for years. I tried the ensure but I didn't handle it well at all. I found aborbplus and it was awesome for me. When I am in a really bad flare(which hasn't been in a while) I would drink about 4-5 shakes a day for 5 days. I would add Udo's oil and VSL3. Then I would slowly introduce soups and then solid food. If my flare isn't bad, I might drink about 4 shakes a day for 2 days and slowly introduce other food while still drinking a shake in the am. It is high in carbs, so would not do well for diabetics. Also, it can be expensive but it's worth it for me. I loose weight quickly when I am in a flare, but drinking the shakes keeps my weight in check. I think they are pretty good. I am not aware of any fiber in the shakes, that would kill me when I'm flaring. I think you would like it.

Donna

Posted 9/27/2021 10:44 PM (GMT -8)
I’m going to try this. I’m still struggling.
Saw GI yesterday. I’m off the Xeljanz. Will be starting remicade soon.
He said the one I’ll be on with Cigna is called Inflectra.

The insurance lady in his office says it takes weeks to get a person set up before they can get their first treatment at the local clinic. Argh.

Have been on prednisone 40 mg for 13 days. Started taper per his instructions yesterday in his office.
20 for 10 days. 10 for 10 days. 5 for 10 days.
I’m going to take it in split doses.
It’s been giving me the jittery shakes at times and my heart rate goes up into the high 90s low 100s sometimes just resting during the day in a chair.

I thought my blood pressure would be higher because of the prednisone, but it wasn’t bad, 134/84. Normally I’m 120/78.

Just an awful night last night. Waking up every two or three hours with cramps and then a little Diarrhea.
Some Bright red blood on the toilet paper. Some mucus.

The diarrhea is brown. Sometimes more loose/formed, but, always brown.

Sometimes after getting to the toilet bowl, the cramps continue, then all that comes out is a little bit of red and brown small pieces, and they go down to,the bottom of the bowl and they stay there.

I remember my first big flare in 2016. I wound up in the hospital for three days.
The first drug he put me on was called Lialda. And I had a horrible allergic reaction to it.
I’ve since discovered I’m allergic to all things mesalamine.

Anyway,
The GI then, different guy, put me on a liquid diet in the hospital.

Ensure drinks. Jello. Bone broth. Etc.

I think I am going to start this regime at home and follow it for a few days to give my butt hole a rest.

I’ll also take my prednisone and a daily probiotic.

Thoughts?

Post Edited (Rusty Barr) : 9/28/2021 6:31:55 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/28/2021 9:21 AM (GMT -8)
I hope they can get you set up sooner forl your infusions. As a last ditch effort I assume if you went into hospital you could bypass the insurance red tape? You might ask and keep it in mind if things get dicey. Have you tried a steroid enema or foam? I always found uceris foam rather soothing to the behind.

Did you ever try the 6mp class of drug?
Posted 9/28/2021 10:36 AM (GMT -8)
Beware of 10+ yrs-old threads because a lot RE IBD management has changed since then. The bright red blood you see could be from internal hemmies, in which case I would recommend the addition of a rectal foam plus Lidocaine ointment to your regimen. OTC zinc oxide ointment can also be very soothing to exterior butt irritation. Staying on liquids only for longer than a day can lead to unpleasant stomach rumbling + gas. You could go on very soft foods like cream of rice or wheat cereal, mashed potato, steamed fish, banana, & scrambled egg for a few days, or stage 3 baby food, or puree some bland whole food in a blender before eating it. / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)
Posted 9/28/2021 11:23 AM (GMT -8)
I got a call from the local infusion center. They did a interview with me over the phone. I was surprised to get the call so quickly. She said your doctor has marked you as urgent. She said she would be contacting me again soon.
Posted 9/28/2021 11:29 AM (GMT -8)

Old Hat said...
Beware of 10+ yrs-old threads because a lot RE IBD management has changed since then. The bright red blood you see could be from internal hemmies, in which case I would recommend the addition of a rectal foam plus Lidocaine ointment to your regimen. OTC zinc oxide ointment can also be very soothing to exterior butt irritation. Staying on liquids only for longer than a day can lead to unpleasant stomach rumbling + gas. You could go on very soft foods like cream of rice or wheat cereal, mashed potato, steamed fish, banana, & scrambled egg for a few days, or stage 3 baby food, or puree some bland whole food in a blender before eating it. / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)

Thanks for this. Just found some stuff on the web about stage 3 baby foods. Good to know.

“Here are a few good choices for Stage 3 foods, according to Thompson and Treegoob:

Well-cooked vegetables of any variety.
Ripe fruits of any variety. (Mashed or cut-up bananas work very well at this stage.)
Shredded meat.
Scrambled eggs.
Soft cheese.
Cooked pasta.
Small pieces of tofu.”
Posted 9/28/2021 11:37 AM (GMT -8)
be careful of that pred taper - even tho you haven't been on it long, tapers can be rough on some - the 20 > 10 is usually the worst - if you can, try going a little slower and dropping less - talk to your doc -


TT
Posted 9/29/2021 4:23 AM (GMT -8)

TroubledTurds said...
be careful of that pred taper - even tho you haven't been on it long, tapers can be rough on some - the 20 > 10 is usually the worst - if you can, try going a little slower and dropping less - talk to your doc -


TT

Hi. Thanks. So. You’re thinking
20 for 10 days (which I’m in now)
15 for 10 days
10 for 10 days
5 for 10 days

Is that your recommendation from your experience. If not, can you list it out for me?

Also, sounds like you had a bad experience dropping down from 20 to 10…can you tell me more about that?

Post Edited (Rusty Barr) : 9/29/2021 10:08:37 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/29/2021 10:34 AM (GMT -8)
That schedule looks better to me than dropping 10 or more MG at a time.

I could never get past 20 MG without symptom return. If you’re doing ok at 20 MG I would even suggest staying there until after your first infusion. Symptom return was usually cramping, increase of bm’s and blood/mucous.
Posted 9/29/2021 12:30 PM (GMT -8)

FlowersGal said...
That schedule looks better to me than dropping 10 or more MG at a time.

I could never get past 20 MG without symptom return. If you’re doing ok at 20 MG I would even suggest staying there until after your first infusion. Symptom return was usually cramping, increase of bm’s and blood/mucous.

Hmm. Thank you for your thoughts. See. That’s just the problem. 2 weeks of 40 mg. Now I’m coming to the afternoon of day 3 of 20 mg. And I am really not seeing any improvement.

Cramping on and off throughout the day. I have been going diarrhea 2 times first thing in the morning. Then another diarrhea just after lunchtime. Then another diarrhea around dinner time. Then, the evenings, probably 2 or 3 more.
Then up for 2 or 3 more in the middle of the night.
The diarrhea is brown. Bright red blood mixed in with brown on the toilet paper. Some mucus there too.
Today is day two of me trying a all liquid diet…just shakes, plain ice cream, plain yogurt, bone broth. Etc.

Just miserable.

Don’t know what to do.

Post Edited (Rusty Barr) : 9/29/2021 2:36:21 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/29/2021 12:49 PM (GMT -8)
hey RB >

even the drop from 40 to 20 might have been too much - it's different rules for different guts - how did you do at the 40mg ?

the taper is a bit of a conundrum > you wanna get off the stuff asap, but you don't wanna suffer the dreaded too quick taper consequences either - the good thing is you can adjust according to symptoms fairly quickly - if you drop 10 and notice symptoms right away, you can go back up either 5 or 10mg's - some folks can drop 40 and no sweat - but not so with others - like i said, getting off is the goal, but doing it right is just as vital -

are you staying hydrated ?


TT
Posted 9/29/2021 12:59 PM (GMT -8)

TroubledTurds said...
hey RB >

even the drop from 40 to 20 might have been too much - it's different rules for different guts - how did you do at the 40mg ?


are you staying hydrated ?


TT

Hey. Thanks. Well. The 40 mg wasn’t really doing anything. Still struggling. So. The drop to 20 mg. Really no difference. Still struggling. But I do notice at 20, late afternoons, I’m getting like a low queazy headache.
Now, this could very well be the liquid diet I’ve been doing since yesterday of course.

As far as hydration. It’s a battle. But I’m trying. Constantly sipping the Powerade with extra electrolytes added in version.
Posted 9/30/2021 5:50 AM (GMT -8)
After 2 days of “the liquid diet” I’m going back to soft foods today.

I really did not see any impact on my current awful UC flare being on liquids only.

Maybe a little less cramping. Maybe.

But no sense in torturing myself with just liquids without a major gain or change in my severe flaring …in my opinion.

Sigh.

Waiting for the clinic to call me to tell me we can start the Inflectra

I’m miserable.
Posted 9/30/2021 8:28 AM (GMT -8)
Maybe you should check with you doc about increasing the pred to 60mg for a week and then taper from there. The last time I had to use pred 2 weeks on 40 didn't do much of anything. Doc had me try the 60 mg before admitting me to the hospital for IV steroids. 60mg kicked in within a couple days. I think I used this taper:
60 mg 1 week
50 mg 1 week
40 mg 1 week
35 mg 1 week -- then I dropped by 5 mg every week. When I got to 10 mg I think I dropped by 2.5 mg at a time.

By the time I was off pred Remicade had kicked in.

Hopefully you can start the infusions soon.
Posted 9/30/2021 8:54 AM (GMT -8)
healing takes time - it's the unfortunate reality of this disease - any changes you make, will most likely not fix things in a few days - when i flare, it usually takes a month to turn things around and for my body to heal - every single time -

what exactly did your 'liquid diet' consist of ?

TT
Posted 9/30/2021 11:09 AM (GMT -8)

TroubledTurds said...


what exactly did your 'liquid diet' consist of ?

TT

Sipping Propel with added electrolytes all day
Cup of vegan Bone broth
Ensure low sugar 30 G protein shake
Garden of Life low sugar 20 G protein shake (with pea protein alternate milk …mixed in blender)
Trader Joe’s Ginger and Tumeric hot tea
Plain Greek chiobani yogurt

Today I have introduced some solids and I am having a better day so far.
I had scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Strange thing with me. Maybe others are the same. My days are actually not that awful.
1 or 2 D first thing in morning.
Then 1 D usually after lunch.

It’s the time period between around 7 pm and then through the night that has really been the bad times.
I’m not sure why. Can’t figure it out.
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