Good News

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:06 pm

Thanks for your quick response Mary Beth - I plan on contacting her.

Love,
Kari

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 9:46 pm

Kari,

I'm so sorry that you're going through a bad time. If you read my MC journey thread, you know that I went on the recommended elimination diet of eating chicken and rice. Unbeknownst to me, I was intolerant of chicken. I believe it damaged my gut so much that it took months for me to recover.

It's great that you know that pork is safe for you. You're smart in selecting that as your only meat. Rice is boring but a safe bet. I would get rid of all fruits during this period, including avocado and lemon. It would be nice if you knew of one or two vegetables that are safe. I eliminated all seasonings except salt because I would even see pepper in my stool.

I agree that you should add one food back at a time. Contrary to Gabe's method, I have always used the "shotgun" approach when eliminating foods. I eliminate everything that is suspicious and proceed to add them back one at a time, looking for reactions. Everyone has to determine their own way of managing their food intolerences. I've always loved Gabe's saying "There is no right way or wrong way - there is only your way." That is so true with this disease. We need to take the recommendations that seem to fit our situation and follow them as best we can.

I hope you will be able to get back on the road to wellness soon.

Gloria

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 9:54 pm

Kari, when I was down my bare minimum of ingredients, (rice, chicken, applesauce, bananas, and rice milk) I could also eat well-cooked carrots. They were the only vegetable I could tolerate. Have you tried them?

Linda

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:12 am

Gloria - thank you for your response and your suggestions. I did read your MC thread and your perseverance through all of the ups and downs of MC is beyond admirable!!! I will take your advise about no fruits - strangely, I did not eat any avocado today - just had a funny feeling about it. As for the pepper, it will be easy for me to eliminate it, as it's not my favorite anyway. The squeeze of fresh lemon on my meat will be a lot harder, as it makes the meat so much more palatable, so I will probably try to keep it for now. As I've stated before, I've never really cared for meat, so it's not easy to work up an appetite for it.

Linda - I don't think I do well with carrots, but plan on trying to add a small portion of well cooked green beans which seem to agree with me (I know these were a problem for you Gloria) once I figure out if I can tolerate the pork. I'm also very tempted to add rice milk for the calories, so that will be one of the first things I try when I see progress. Thanks for your suggestions.

Love,
Kari

Post by **tex** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:26 am

Kari,

I notice that you've selected my favorite food as part of your recovery diet. Sooooo, I feel obligated to tell you why pork is my favorite food. Garlic salt. Garlic salt has the ability to change good pork into awesome pork. Simply use it in place of your regular salt, and use no other seasoning with it. I have always been able to use it, so I hope that you can tolerate it, also.

In my experience, nothing enhances the flavor of pork as well as plain old garlic salt. If you try it, be sure to read the label, to make sure that it doesn't contain any suspicious ingredients. I usually use McCormick brand, and it's ingredient list shows: Salt, Garlic, Calcium Silicate, (Added to Make Free Flowing), and Garlic Oil.

Some people react to garlic, unfortunately, but for those of us who can use it, garlic salt can turn pork into a dish fit for a queen. I usually grill pork, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work just as well with any other cooking method. I wouldn't cook pork without it.

And no, in case you're wondering, I'm not a member of the National Pork Producers Council.

I just consider pork to be the best-tasting, most easily digested meat available, and it's one of the most economical meat options, also.

Love,
Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:42 am

Tex,

Pork has always agreed with me, also. I've never tried using garlic salt with it. Thanks for the tip!

Gloria

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:40 am

Hi Tex,

Well, you made my day!!! I've been "worrying" about not finding the pork palatable without the fresh lemon (which I have decided to do without) - I'm heading to the store for garlic salt:):):). Thanks .......

Love,
Kari

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:21 pm

Kari, I don't have anything new to add, just my thoughts, prayers and hope that you find your answers. I just posted to Ginny that I spent last year's holidays in a flare, and it was miserable physically and emotionally. If it's any consolation, here I am a year later off entocort and able to manage things. Just know we're all in this together to help each other through the good and bad. Love JoAnn :bigbighug:

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 5:21 pm

Thank you for the hug and your supportive note JoAnn, it was very timely for me as I feel I'm at a low point today.

Love,
Kari

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:48 pm

Kari, here's another one.. :bigbighug:

Sorry today is a "rock". May tomorrow be better..

Love Linda

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:28 am

Thanks Linda - it helps a lot. One thing I'm coming to realize in this battle is that I am too much of a perfectionist and, therefore, try too hard to control things. Well, that causes a lot of extra stress, which is exactly what I don't need when dealing with MC. I have to learn to be gentler with myself and realize that no matter how hard I try, I cannot reverse more than 10 years of damage to my gut overnight :).

Love,
Kari

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:50 am

Good for you for recognizing this, Kari. Especially because you are doing it by diet alone ... it's going to take some time, and will be very challenging. How are you feeling physically on your "limited ingredients" diet?
Linda

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:33 am

Hi Linda,

Your crossed fingers must have worked magic, because today I'm feeling so much better :). On Mary Beth's recommendation, I contacted a nutritionist who can do the MRT testing for me - I have an appointment with her at 1 PM today. She is a certified nutritionist, and has been practicing for more than 20 years. When I talked to her this morning, I asked if she knew of Enterolab. She said she had just had herself tested there and got the results right before Thanksgiving that she is gluten and dairy sensitive. Hopefully the two of us will hit it off and she'll be able to help.

I realized yesterday and last night that I'm weak physically after losing so much weight, and constantly feel light headed. I have to find a way to increase my calorie intake, which is very difficult on such a limited diet. Hopefully, the nutritionist will be able to help me with some suggestions. Thanks for your support Linda. How are you doing with the Gatoraid? I stopped drinking it, worrying about "artificial" ingredients.

Love,
Kari

Post by **tex** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:30 pm

Well that's good news again, so this topic is back on track.

I sure hope your progress continues.

Love,
Tex

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:00 pm

I answered about the gatorade in another post, but in short, very well. No more cramps.

The nutritionist sounds like someone who might be open-minded and listen to you about your MC and diet, and I am truly hoping she can come up with some solutions for you on the weight loss. You might even be able to give her a few tips on G and dairy free living

having been that way longer than she has...

Anxious to hear what she has to say. I know you will keep us posted. Good luck with your appointment.
Linda