Managing suspected IBD with diet?

[Nosleepforthismum]

Looking for tips of how to feel less awful until I get a diagnosis and a treatment plan.

Recently had a colonoscopy because of blood in my poo and urgency to go with occasional crippling pain. Colonoscopy came back clear for cancer but lots of inflammation in the colon and so biopsies have been taken and I’ve been referred to the gastroenterology unit. This was a couple of weeks ago and my symptoms feel so much worse now. Completely exhausted and the urgency to go is extreme and I’m in agonising pain if I try to hold it in. I’ve finally had a letter through for an appointment though which is great but not until mid June. I’m now trying to eat completely clean with lots of anti inflammatory foods (only 4 days so far) in the hope it’ll ease some of the symptoms but so far I feel just as crap.

That’s a very long wait. Ring the consultant sectary and tell them you can take cancelation appointments.

Lots of people find low fibre food easier.

Has the GP checked your iron levels? You’re probably anemic.

Contact the unit and explain you’re struggling, most IBD teams have IBD specialist nurses who should be able to help in the meantime and expedite your appointment if possible, they can also liaise with Gastro Drs in their team. Please don’t struggle in silence.

Definitely agree about contacting IBD team.
I think that eating healthily is great, but maybe more of a long term benefit. What works for people when they're actually in a flare can be really individual. I am generally better with white toast, baked potato type things - solid, inert, stodgy all good for me. Unlike the rest of the time!
Hope you get some help quickly- it's a really miserable illness when it's not controlled.

my dh follows the aip diet to get flares under control. if it’s really bad he goes carnivore.

I have Crohn’s.
food they still don’t know if it causes Crohn’s or not,
i tend to eat low fiber diet and it helps reduce inflammation

Ground flaxseed daily has made a big difference for me

My son has crohns. He eats a normal diet, low fibre though. When he is flaring, like it sounds you are, some food can trigger symptoms, so it is worth finding out what they are.

A "white" food diet can help, bread, pasta, rice etc.

You could ask your GP to go onto a liquid only diet until you get your appointment. This gives your bowel a rest and really helps with inflammation.

As others have said, contact the IBD team or your consultant secretary to let them know how bad things are, and hopefully they can bring your appointment forward.

I would try an elimination diet - cut certain things from your diet (dairy, gluten etc…) and see if there is an improvement. You should take a really good probiotic - my doctor recommended Symprove. It’s quite expensive but there are various discount codes online for first time customers - sometimes as good as half price for the first 12 weeks. I got a discount over the phone when I told them my gastroenterologist recommended it and gave his name. After you’ve been on it a good few months and you’re feeling better you can then start taking it every other day.

I had mild gastritis and have a sensitive digestive system after taking a 6 month course of antibiotics - it’s things that are high fat or very processed that can give me pain - oddly also things like popcorn. My daughter gets intestinal pain from bread, dairy, spicy foods. Every person is different so doing an elimination diet would help. Look at the Zoe website too - it’s all about eating clean to improve your gut health. I watched a video on gut health a few days ago where the person pointed out that things like emulsifiers that are in so much food alter the make up of the ingredients in food to make them mix better together but we are putting these into out bodies and they are altering our stomach lining etc… He basically said avoid chemicals (sweeteners, thickeners, stabilisers, emulsifiers etc) in food!

Kefir yogurt has been a big help for me.

Did you get any medication after the colonoscopy?
My story is similar to.yours, although I am still waiting for my urgent gastro appointment.
However, I was given a month of meds (mesalazine?) to start immediately after my colonoscopy and they brought my symptoms under control.