Food!

Oh my weakness! After being diagnosed only 3 months ago I am still playing the "Food game". It makes absolutely no sense to me and in fact drives me crazy most of the time. It seems like one day I can eat somethings and then the next time I try that same food, it sends me into a tale spin and I am laid up in bed for a while.

Things that I have learned to steer clear of no matter what:

-Popcorn (and I LOVE popcorn!)

-Rice

-Cucumbers

-Strawberries

-Corn

-Apples

I have also discovered that "dark" sodas tend to upset my stomach. The stress is that I tend to live in fear of alot of foods. I am scared of nuts and anything seedy. It could be that these things don't even bother me, but fear keeps me clear of them. It is very hard for someone who loves food as much as I do to be so afraid of everything I eat. Sometimes my cravings get the best of me. I guess it just depends on what you are willing to go through in order to satisfy a craving.

One thing that amazes me most about Crohn's and other stomach related illnesses is how random things are. Where milk can send some people to the hospital and it doesn't phase others. An apple can be great for some but it will send me to bed for two days. One thing that helped me alot was journaling. I wrote all of my foods, symptoms, meds, sleep, emotions, doctors notes, etc. for about 2 months. It helped me to see patterns as well as it made me stay aware of my body.

Food will always be my greatest weakness and with Crohn's it is also my greatest frustration. Even though I hate the crap (HA! no pun intended), it doesn't stop me from trying to live freely and experience life fully.

What to eat?

As anyone with any stomach realted issues knows, one of the biggest problems we all face is what to eat. What do we eat when we feel really good and can get away with a little more? What do we eat when we are feeling just "ok"? What do we eat when we are in the middle of an attack but we have to get wome type of nurishment? What are your go to , "when all else fails" foods?

I'd love to get some feedback from you on what and how you eat. You can share it in the comments or if you want to post something seperate, email me and I'll give you the link.

So here goes my list:
Feeling great
Fortunately, after 15 years, my Crohn's is pretty well under control. So when I'm feeling really good, I eat pretty much anything I want - even the stuff the docs tell me not to. I lean toward the spicier foods, & believe it or not, the stuff with peppers in it make it better, not worse for me.
Feeling ok
I love pasta with light sauces. The heavier sauces tend to bother me. I do my best to stay away from the greasier stuff, especially since I had my gallbladder taken out about 11 years ago. I don't go overboard on anything that is really high fiber, cause that stuff borthers me too.

Feeling bad
When it's bad I typically go for the stuff that is not really solid. I love grits, of course that is a couthern thing, so some of you may not know what they are or care for them. Cream of wheat is right there with the grits & is almost the same stuff. Jello is always good for me too.

So, that is at least a start for us - I'd love to hear about your comfort foods, because we all need some new ideas.

Until next time...

Chadwick

PS - I am editing this afterward to add one more thing. I absolutely love Coke. But since I'm trying to lose some weight, I'm abstaining for now. Here's 2 recommendations of drink I really, really like & they do not bother me, they taste good, and they actually make me feel a little better. Crystal Light Iced Tea - I drink this stuff all the time. I drink hot Peppermint Tea every night about an hour or two before bed. The warm water aids digestion, and peppermint is a natural anesthetic for your stomach. I've found that Peppermint Tea helps me to sleep a lot better.