Food allergies, infections and the diet
#347632 - 06/29/09 07:39 AM
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I don't post here a lot, so my apologies if these thoughts have already been raised by others.
I wonder if some of the reasons the diet works for some people and not others is 1) the existence of other infections and 2) differences in food allergies.
The diet (and I am speaking of using it strictly, not cheating left and right) didn't work for me. I found out much later that I have H Pylori, and this has now been removed with antibiotics. You may want to get tested for this and any other infections (Lyme etc). Note that I did not have typical H Pylori symptoms, and my doctor thinks it can be a very insidious disease. So perhaps if one has such an infection, no diet will truly overcome it and the diet isn't really to blame.
Second, I found out via igE and ig4 blood testing that I am very allergic to eggs (both yolks and whites) and almonds. Removing these, in combination with getting rid of H Pylori, has greatly reduced my colon cramping. Perhaps people who remove their allergens via Heather's diet do better, whereas those who don't or are in fact adding more allergens (e.g. lots of people have delayed allergies to soy and wouldn't know it without a blood test) stay the same or do worse.
Don't get me wrong: just because you're not allergic to something doesn't mean it's always a good idea to eat it! I just thought this might be useful info. A few more thoughts for people who are interested:
- Some people seem to do better with fewer carbs (especially refined ones) than on Heather's diet and more healthy meats and vegetables (you can read some books about adrenal fatigue as to why this is the case).
- I also strongly recommend hormones testing (I did a 24 hour urine test and also hear potentially good things about the saliva test, though it's less good than the urine one - the blood test appears to not be as accurate). I have some hormone imbalances that again, no diet alone would have cured.
I am grateful for Heather's work in any case and it taught me a lot of interesting things. I hope that my advice here is of use to anyone!
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It seems to me that eventually what we call "IBS" is going to turn out to be various conditions, allergies, infections, etc., that have similar symptoms. As medicine gets better at recognizing and diagnosing those other ailments, they get peeled away from the IBS diagnosis. That's why, although I swear by Heather's diet, I also know it doesn't work for everyone and have always believed that if you don't get any relief from it in six months at the outside, you need to look elsewhere for the answer.
It's good of you to share your experiences in discovering what some of those other conditions could be. I'm glad you're feeling better and thanks for the info.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Is there a way that we, as individuals, can support research into digestive ailments (I will not say IBS, as you're right, I also feel it's a number a different problems with similar issues and treatments)? Like is there some organization (like with breast cancer) that we can donate to, or someone we can write to ask that it be made a higher research priority? I have no experience with any sort of activism (I donated to Habitat of Humanity a couple times, that's it), so I wouldn't even know where to begin, but I think the consensus is that this is a woefully underresearched (though I recognize from my reading that it's much better than it was) area of human health.
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You might have a look at the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders which has an IBS web site. There is a donation page. Also while you are there you might check out the library which has a video interview section with some internationally recognized GI experts.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Is there a specific name of this hormone testing? I too think my problems are hormone related. I said this from the very start since the day this all started, I had an off schedule period and ever since my periods are sporatic. I only had one blood test for hormone levels and they were ok, so we moved on. I have an appointment next week with a specialist and I want to ask about the H Pylori as well as this 24 hour urine hormone testing you mentioned. Thank you!!
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Ask for the Breath test for H.Pylori. I took it last week, and it was quick and painless. I was negative for H. Pylori which is good and bad. Good that I don't have it, bad because it really is IBS. 
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IBS-C, Gas, Bloating, HURTING!
I'm married and it's so wonderful!
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This is a very good post. I agree with much that you say. Especially, how if you don't know your allergens, then you may be adding to your problems, diet or no diet. If you had a gluten allergy, then bread... white or wheat would be a no-no. So, very good points that you make.
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I am not sure what the name is for the hormones test. Basically, you collect all your urine in a bottle for 24 hours and then send several vials with the stuff to a lab. Here is some interesting info: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_246/ai_112728018/
I would recommend reading about bio-identical hormones (e.g. John Lee has a number of books). I am staying away from all synthetic hormones as I think long-term use of birth control pills contributed to my issues. Many of us suffer from estrogen dominance (even men) or some other hormonal imbalance, and most doctors don't know to check for it or can't explain why symptoms often track women's cycles.
Kappy, I wouldn't look at it as "the H Pylori was negative, which means it really is IBS." IBS is a non-diagnosis. All this means is that you don't have a diagnosis yet. I tested positive for H Pylori on blood, breath, and stool tests, but one could easily have H Pylori that doesn't show up on one of those. Might still be worth checking in a blood test along with all other infections (Lyme, bartonella, etc - find a doc who knows about these). I also found out I had a major vitamin D deficiency, so ask for that as well as some doctors don't think to check.
My colon cramping is a lot better than when this all started. At times it was so bad I couldn't even stand straight, and I had some form of cramping after every meal no matter what I ate. My biggest IBS symptom remains having several incomplete BMs in a row, and then still that "stuck" feeling. My major health issue is actually interstitial cystitis, which began a month after my IBS symptoms, and I have a lot of bladder problems (painful urgency, urge that won't go away, frequency attacks, etc). There is little doubt in my mind that my IC and IBS are related somehow (whether both via hormones, or leaky gut, etc). I have been unable to take L-Glutamine because it gives my bladder issues, but for those with IBS symptoms alone, I would definitely give that a shot along with the allergy testing.
By the way, I also religiously did the 100 day hypnotherapy program shortly after this all started two years ago and again, nothing.
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A couple of intersting things i thought of after reading your post was, that I got Lyme disease about 1-1.5 years before my IBS problems started. The other being that when i was first diagnosed with IBS the doctor gave me heavy Antibiotics and they worked immedietly to relieve my horrendous attacks. For some reason the antibiotics no-longer work and i did a breath test for bacterial overgrowth but it came back negative? Do you think that Lyme disease could be the culprit? I mentioned it to my GI a while back but he brushed it off.
Quote:
I don't post here a lot, so my apologies if these thoughts have already been raised by others.
I wonder if some of the reasons the diet works for some people and not others is 1) the existence of other infections and 2) differences in food allergies.
The diet (and I am speaking of using it strictly, not cheating left and right) didn't work for me. I found out much later that I have H Pylori, and this has now been removed with antibiotics. You may want to get tested for this and any other infections (Lyme etc). Note that I did not have typical H Pylori symptoms, and my doctor thinks it can be a very insidious disease. So perhaps if one has such an infection, no diet will truly overcome it and the diet isn't really to blame.
Second, I found out via igE and ig4 blood testing that I am very allergic to eggs (both yolks and whites) and almonds. Removing these, in combination with getting rid of H Pylori, has greatly reduced my colon cramping. Perhaps people who remove their allergens via Heather's diet do better, whereas those who don't or are in fact adding more allergens (e.g. lots of people have delayed allergies to soy and wouldn't know it without a blood test) stay the same or do worse.
Don't get me wrong: just because you're not allergic to something doesn't mean it's always a good idea to eat it! I just thought this might be useful info. A few more thoughts for people who are interested:
- Some people seem to do better with fewer carbs (especially refined ones) than on Heather's diet and more healthy meats and vegetables (you can read some books about adrenal fatigue as to why this is the case).
- I also strongly recommend hormones testing (I did a 24 hour urine test and also hear potentially good things about the saliva test, though it's less good than the urine one - the blood test appears to not be as accurate). I have some hormone imbalances that again, no diet alone would have cured.
I am grateful for Heather's work in any case and it taught me a lot of interesting things. I hope that my advice here is of use to anyone!
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I had a slightly positive SIBO test two years ago but decided not to take the ABs as they don't seem too effective. I was never diagnosed with Lyme, but it sounds like some tests pick it up better than others (so maybe you were never truly negative for it?). I would do some research on that and go to a Lyme specialist, anything's possible. I seem to remember that the Western blot test is among the more effective ones, so see if that's the one they use.
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