Evil Blueberries

For a long time, most fruits and vegetables were simply 'off the table' when it came to my diet. The truth is that my IBD was beyond uncontrollable for years and years and years. 

After having my large intestine removed, my intestines given a break with primarily fluids, and then having a J-Pouch created, my diet was able to be expanded a bit. 

Then, while on Remicade, I could nearly eat whatever my little heart desired, including many foods that are difficult (or even impossible) to really break down. 

Included in this previously forbidden list were foods like corn, peas, mushrooms, raspberries, blackberries (anything with seeds, really), brussels sprouts, cabbage, nuts, and even blueberries and saskatoon berries. 

Over the last couple of years, however, my intestines appear to be a little more sensitive again. Mushrooms were one of the first ingredients to cause major problems; winding up in the ER was an awful inflammatory response to something as simple as a mushroom. 

The latest culprit, though, happens to be about 10 blueberries that were sitting atop a birthday cake. It's not that I thought nothing of it. No, I saw the blueberries and wondered if I really should take the chance. I vowed to eat them slowly and very carefully, enjoying every bite, and chewing incessantly. 

Unfortunately for my poor body, this was a very bad idea, despite the countless times I eat handfuls of blueberries in the summer. 

Nope. 

This time was unpleasant to say the least. And now, of course, the inside of my remaining intestine is raw, inflamed, and bleeding, all in protest to a few blueberries. My insides, very literally, feel like they are on fire. 

So I have had to start a new list of foods that are bothering me quite a bit again, after not bothering me for a while. It's a small price to pay to take care of my body, but damn, it retaliates so violently. 

Temperamental guts. 

So blueberries, mushrooms (unless finely minced in sauces or fillings), saskatoon berries, popcorn (which has been off the table for nearly 20 years now), full fast-food meals (more for my lack of gallbladder), large helpings of red meat, large helpings of corn, celery, brussels sprouts, heavy cream sauces, star anise (allergy), caffeine (allergy), more than a handful of salad, and tiny nuts/seeds. 

I'm sure there is a lot that I am missing. 

Lucky enough for me, it is quite easy to pick out these things and avoid them without much fuss. Many of these choices are considered to be healthier anyhow - although my internal organs beg to differ on what they consider appropriate foods - and I was fortunate enough to enjoy most of these foods at some point in my life anyways. So if my diet becomes more restrictive again, so be it. The difficult part is figuring out the limits 'the hard way'. 

Evil blueberries.