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I'm afraid the potatoes, rice, etc would just increase the C more. 
Don't you drink smoothies and such?
I don't get how IF can make you more "messy". This stupid IBS is so dang confusing, isn't it?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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As we know, IBS is different for everyone. I say that IF makes more "mess" because I notice if I eat salad or more than a piece or two of fruit in a day, clean up after bm is more difficult. Its true, too much SF will make you more C. I think thats the hardest part for me, is finding just the right balance.
I haven't been doing too many smoothies but now that summer is here, I'd like to incorporate them more into my diet.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Isn't it hard to try new foods? As an IBS'er, I know so. Congratulations, Beth.
Sometimes, I notice, that after re-introducing a food or trying a new food or combination of foods it takes a few times until my body "knows" how to handle it. For example, if I haven't been eating any fruit for awhile and then have an all fruit smoothie, it will literally go thru me at hyper-speed. If I haven't had sushi in a few months and then eat it, I will react/respond. It took a few times of regularily eating carrots before I wouldn't see orange in my bm's, for example.
I know, it's not that cut and dry, not that plain and simple. It does take guts to test new foods/combo's, etc. Just know that it doesn't always work the first few times.
Kate, IBS-D.
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I agree...too much too soon. Don't give up Beth you're doing great to try new things.
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I had an appointment with a Health Psychologist who specializes in GI problems. In fact, she works in the same office as my GI.
Anyhow, I had an appointment with her on Thursday, and as soon as I walked you she commented "you're in a lot of pain today, aren't you"?
She suggested that it may take my body a while to get used to digesting new foods....just like you said!
So, do I back off on the new foods or do I plow ahead and eat them until my body gets used to them? But then, how do I know if they are trigger foods or just my body needing to learn how to digest them?
Thanks so much!
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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...could you give me an opinion on how to start out? What food should I keep to start out with? Is one easier than the other to start with? Or, doesn't it really matter?
I'm losing weight again  and I know I'm probably robbing my body of much needed nutrients by being so restrictive.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Beth -
I think that's great that you're seeing a GI pyschologist. She seems very perceptive, which is what you need. I don't think anything one your list is a trigger food and it seems to me that you prepared everything safely. So it sounds like your body just isn't used to these foods, which makes sense considering how restrictive your diet may have been in the past. The only foods I completely stay away from are those listed on Heather's trigger foods list (the STOP! AVOID OR EAT WITH CAUTION ONE!) - these are common/general triggers for everyone.
So, I would say to continue on doing what you're doing. I had discomfort and some other problems when I started eating beans and fruit (mostly with the fruit). It just takes a while for those enzymes to kick in, start working, and producing more. "If you don't use it, you lose it" explains pretty well what happens with those enzymes.
Good luck, Beth. I agree with Kate and everyone else who said they're so proud of you. Keep up the good work and overcoming those food fears.
Big hugs! 
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It is good to be able to see a psychologist who is so educated about the woes of living with a chronic GI problem that is so unpredictable and so frustrating! (too bad she is so far away I have to take an entire day off work. Plus, it's expensive to park in Downtown Chicago....but I'm gonna try and keep seeing her. I have lots of vacation and sick days left to use.
The thing with IBS is that it's hard to know if the problems are temporary or a true trigger/problem food.
So, you think I would be okay keeping all these foods...or do you think I should slow down and only add one new food a week or so? Maybe there isn't any good answer. Were you able to add the fruit and beans at the same time, or did you do one for a while, then the other? (BTW, did you ever try to eat the fruit with the skins yet)?
Thanks so much for your support, Maria. It is so much appreciated!
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I think Maria is "on" to something with the "if you don't use it, you lose it" philosophy. It does take awhile of regularily incorporating the new foods in pleasant/safe ways to engage your own body's enzymes. I suspect that your g.i. psychologist will help you deal with your body's terror in response to the new foods. If I'm tense/frightened when I eat anything new, then my g.i. muscles are really "tight" (constricted) and well...there's less digestive flow and often pain.
It took me about a month of regularily incorporating legumes (initially pureed/soupy) until they didn't hassle me/rattle me. Eating new foods in conjunction with familiar foods helps enormously. Texture helps too. Eat like a child and be fussy/picky! Play with it and make it fun, eye-candy to ease your body's fears. Hide something in some mashed potatoes--something challenging and new. Sneak something into a sandwich or a soup or dip or sauce.
I think, though, that keeping it very plain and simple helps a lot. Creating a calm and relaxing eating environment helps enormously. I cannot believe that I'm eating foods like bok choy and tofu and black beans and lentils regularily without attacks! Broccoli, even without Beano, doesn't give me a gas attack, anymore!
You're doing great, Beth. It takes awhile to learn that new things aren't always painful and traumatic. They're mostly different. It takes a few weeks for the body to "learn" what to do with a new set of foods. Baby steps.
Kate, IBS-D.
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I think you should continue eating all these foods and from now on only add one new food a week. Try eating the new food at least three times a week to get an idea if it's affecting you in anyway.
The only thing I saw on your list that would really bother me would be the chips with apricots. I'm not sure if chips would be enough of an SF base for apricots (which contain lots of fiber). I would try chopping up the apricots and adding them to your hot cereal or in your bread.
It's hard for me to explain how I incorporate new foods because I'm not very organized about it or think about it too much. Usually, I'll just think, "Beans sound good" or "I need more fruit" or "I love broccoli" and then figure out how to prepare them in an IBS safe way and then I'll eat them several times during the week. I usually do one new food for a couple of weeks. So when I started with beans, I kept the rest of my meals the same, and then ate those beans for a few days; I kept up this, got through the initial gassiness. I now try to incorporate legumes at least once a week to keep those enzymes working. With fruits, I'm still eating the Gerber baby food fruits. I probably added those a couple of weeks after my bean experiment (I'm not exactly sure of the time frame). I'll usually have a jar with my breakfast. After dinner I'll have 1/2 tin of pineapple tidbits and I'm doing really well with these. I had to cut back on bananas (unless in a smoothie) because they give me too much gas - even if I eat one every day for weeks, I'm still really gassy. For some reason, it's not a problem if it's in a smoothie (I'll get the Protein Berry Pizazz at Jamba Juice and never have a problem). I'm still eating those Van Wheat Free Blueberry waffles - not because I'm GF but just because they taste so good and contain lots of blueberries. Oh, they're really good with applesauce! Try it! Yum! This summer I'm going to try eating nectarines and plums (with peels) as dessert.
Anyway, I don't want to confuse you! What you're doing right now is great and you should continue eating these foods. They sound great and delicious! Remember, part of your pain could just be that your stomach is not used to having so much food in it. Again, this is something that will get better as you continue to eat regularly and healthily. I'm sure your GI specialist/psyhcologist has more information about this. Please continue seeing her! Use those extra hours you have! Can you buy a parking permit? Whatever you have to do, keep on seeing her - it's worth it! (Oh, and have you decided about those hypno tapes/CDs?)
In a way, I wish you would post your daily meals/supplements/meds on the fitness board, but I understand you're afraid of becoming obsessive over it. I just got bored of taking the time to post - I think because I'm feeling better and doing other things now. But maybe if you posted we could help you keep your anxieties in check or something? If we're all reading, commenting, and not judging you, without the expectation of having to do it everyday, maybe we could help you overcome that tendency to obsess over what you're eating? I don't know much about EDs and the psychology behind them, so don't let me talk you into doing something you know is wrong for you.
I got your email! I'll try to reply sometime in the next couple of days. I work weekends now and have been busy working on some projects.
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