Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

After posting last night I was going to go in and edit the post this am because I was afraid you all would think I was obnoxiously obsessed-- a little nutty to put it in a politically incorrect manner!

So does it take you hours to grocery shop too, reading all those darn labels? That's also one reason it is easier to eat the same things--not having to read new labels!

At the place I just started working, the 3 other woman all eat together every friday. They order out from restaurants. It's a Friday tradition.It is so embarrassing to be sitting with them as they eat their thai or pizza or whatever the decide on while I eat my plain GF bread and turkey breast every single day! They don't say anything but then I get more anxiety because I worry about what they are thinking. Like I'm weird or something.

They also take people out for their birthdays to restaurants and there are two coming up shortly. I am already working myself up over how I am going to manage this one. Can't exactly bring a turkey sandwich with me to the restaurant! I have already went out with them at Christmas and it was a disaster. I ordered plain white rice and a plain chicken breast. What I got was a plate full of Yellow (so much butter) rice and a greasy grilled chicken breast with gobs of oil on it and herbs of who knows what origin. I embarrasingly asked for white rice again, and after a hassle (the waitress didn't speak english that well, she had to get another waitress for me to explain it to, and the second waitress needed to ask the manager, and then she came back and said it would take 45 minutes to make my special request. I was humiliated. The others were just sitting there quietly and had already finished their meals! I then asked for a plain baked potato instead and since it was lunch, they said they couldn't make one until 4. The point is, I was totally humiliated, I hate restaurants, and I know my coworkers will be going out again shortly, so I can't avoid this situation. There are only 4 of us, so my abscence would be noticed. And I don't want them to think I have an "eating problem" or that I am a snob. They look foreward to their friday lunches and any excuse to go out to a restaurant. For me it brings so much anxiety, I start getting sick weeks before just from anticipation! I'm rambling. Sorry.

My holidays were the same. Everyone passed the food around and I sat there with my own bowl of plain boiled potatos and plain carrots.

Everytime I go to grandmas she offers me cake and icecream or homemade cookies and always wants me to stay and have dinner with her. I know I hurt her feelings when I pass on all this. She is 86 and doesn't understand and doesn't remember that I can't have dairy, etc. So we go through this every visit. I don't want to not see her, don't know how much longer she will be around, but it is so hurtful to her. For grandmas feeding you= love!

I agree, attacks from new foods would only enforce the obsession and make me leery of venturing again. I have expanded some, with Casey's suggestions. I have added canned peaches and pears, some cooked spinach and cooked green beans, and even tried 1/2 portion of brown rice combined with my white rice. But that's about all the experimenting I've done in the past year also. Plus since I eat only GF foods, my diet is more rigid. No pretzels, bagels, crackers, homemade breads, not even oatmeal!

It is a relief to know I am not alone with being so afraid. Yes, maybe we can all work on this together like LS said. But that would mean eating new foods. I knew there was a problem with that suggestion

For what it's worth, nothing bad happened to me when I did add the canned pears, peaches, and those 2 veggies. Nothing worse than my usual symptoms. I am very symptomatic right now, so what do I have to lose, I tell myself! If I were stable I might be even more leery to screw up a good thing. But on the other hand, not being stable, I think maybe I should stick to the "what to eat" diet. But I am C and that didn't work. I know I need my insolubles. Actually today I am a D out of the blue for some reason. Oh this IBS has a mind of it's own. Or was it from the sweet potato I tried substituting for my turkey sandwhich for lunch yesterday? See I tried and I feel all gurgly and yucky and squishy inside today. And sore and rumbly. Was it my new food?

Are you guys C or D by the way? Are you all currentlly stable? Not that it matters. We all are afraid of food and the effects it may bring to our bodies! I know this is a major obessession for me. I think that perhaps my fear and anxiety is more detrimental to my tummy than the actual food.

Okay,I am planning on making Casey's Potato Chowder Soup this weekend. A new recipe! Will I have the nerve to add the onion that it calls for in the recipe? Maybe I'll try 1/4 an onion. Maybe not!

Have you looked at the recipes on the exchange board or in heathers Eating for IBS book! Scary! Onions, garlic, nutmeg (I read is hard on tummys), peppers!, celery, oh my. Did you see the thread on this earlier in the week. I think, are these recipe posters really people with IBS!

I wish I could add onion and garlic. Who knows, maybe I could. But when people without IBS can get gas and such from beans, onions and garlic, why would I even risk it? I'll let you know what I do with the soup. I'm leaning towards skipping the onion altogher. I don't know if I am ready for it yet, even though it is already bought!

Sorry so long. I am amazed you eat soy milk, soy yogurt, or bananas. I am afraid of soy and bananas because I've read so many people have gotten gas and bloating from them. I didn't want to risk it. How have you guys done with that. Please post any new foods you guys try and let me know how it goes for you. Please! You can all email me too! I would love to get feedback from all the other "scaredy cats"

out there!

Thanks

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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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