Signs & Symptoms

• Signs and symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis are inflammation and irritation of the colon and sudden attacks of foul-smelling, runny diarrhea. Other signs and symptoms include cramping, pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen before the onset of diarrhea, fever and blood/pus/mucus in the stool of the patient. Blood loss can result in low blood pressure or shock.
  
  

Antibiotics Destroy Normal Flora

• Antibiotics destroy the normal flora in the digestive system and aid in a C. difficile infection flare-up. In addition to antibiotics, other causes of pseudomembranous colitis include chemotherapy, recent surgery and a previous history of colitis.
  
  

Drink & Eat

• The first advice for any diet is to drink lots of water. Apple juice and tea are a colon's friend. Caffeinated beverages, acidic fruit juices and alcoholic beverages don't help an inflamed colon and can make the symptoms worse.
  
  Instead of eating three large meals a day, cut the size of your meals in half and eat six meals a day.
  
  

Sugar & Dairy

• Most people afflicted with any kind of colitis are advised to stick to a special diet free of sugar, sugar products, simple carbohydrates, spicy foods and high LDL products. Dairy products tend to aggravate an inflamed colon.
  
  

Husked Foods

• People with pseudomembranous colitis should avoid dairy products and foods with husks. Whole-kernel corn is not recommended. Because it is not digested by people with a non-inflamed colon, it would be more aggravation in those with colitis. Whole brown rice can aggravate the lining of the colon and should be omitted from your diet. White rice and bananas, similar to what babies eat, is a mainstay in the diet of someone with pseudomembranous colitis.
  
  

Fish & Ground Meals

• Fish and fish oils high in Omega-3 fatty acids are easy on the intestines. Oils found in nuts and seeds are highly recommended, but the whole seeds themselves should be avoided. Ground meals containing seeds and nuts are acceptable for a colitis diet. Ground grains also are easier to digest and pass through the colon of a patient. Cooked, rather than raw, vegetables are preferred by patients on a colitis diet.
  
  

Probiotics & Electrolytes

• Doctors also encourage patients to drink or take probiotic yogurt and acidophilus drinks and capsules. These supplements replenish the lost normal flora that is supposed to be in the intestines, balancing the digestive system and fighting off systemic irregularities. People dehydrated as a result of diarrhea from the infection also need to drink electrolyte-enhanced beverages, such as Smartwater or Gatorade.