What are your Food triggers?
Hello,
I’m new to the forum. Have UC since 2017.
I’ve had flare ups, here and there. Mostly due to stress or insufficient medication: First flare up took long time to heal, due to not being prescribed long term medicines. Second flare up revealed that oral mesalasine was not enough. Third flare up due to father passing away and fourth was due to giving birth and newborn was severely sick. In short, I actually don’t know any trigger for me, beside stress and lack of medicine.
I also never tried any sort of diet. I avoid lactose in general because I feel it bothers me, but I would go for icecream once in a while and suffer from bloating for couple of hours.
I started this conversation, so we all can share our triggers, only for the sake of learning more about this disease.
Hi
. First, let me say that the two things you mention, stress and lack of treatment, are two important issues and it is understandable that you would have flares.
Second, diet and specific foods are definitely a major trigger for many. Our contributors have written quite a bit on this topic. Laura wrote here about what she has learned about navigating food and colitis: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/living/personalized-diet. Our editorial team wrote here about the specific carbohydrate diet: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/clinical/specific-carbohydrate-diet-crohns-colitis and here about the Low FODMAP diet: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/clinical/crohns-fodmap-diet. Matt wrote here about elimination diets (writing about Crohn's, but just as applicable to UC): https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/living/elimination-diets.
It is also important to note that what may work for one person may not for another and sometimes triggers for an individual can change. Christal wrote about her changing triggers here: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/living/changing-uc-food-triggers. I mention this not downplay the importance of finding and tracking triggers, but rather the importance of being vigilant. Hope this information is helpful and that others chime in with their thoughts. Best, Richard (Team Member)
