Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I recently had my 2nd colonoscopy, about 2-2 1/2 years apart. The 2nd one showed a few un-inflamed diverticulOSIS pockets, but every CT I've had done has been negative for diverticulITIS. They also removed a small, benign polyp.

My new GI's partner read my procedure/pathology results to me in the follow up. I explained to him about how I'm able to tell within 20min-2hrs after eating something that's upset my gut: How I can feel the same area "start growing, feeling like gurgling, then after it's become bloated, the burning starts, and continues until I'm bloated so much I look 8 mos preg, and there's burning and a pain level of between 6-8. The bad attacks felt as though my large intestine/colon had swelled shut. Once I could somehow fall asleep, it usually settled down enough where I could tolerate small amounts of potatoes and clear liquids, until the following morning when it usually resolved (2nd morning after attack).

I also explained to him about how I suspected many different foods, but continued to get attacks even after dropping those foods. Eventually I had many days in a row with extreme pain/inflammation, so I went on clear liquids, fruit juice and sweetened tea the first few days, then hubby bought me some canned broth at the store after work. Although I had been uncomfortable while on the juice/teas, it was bearable compared to the full attacks.

I had another almost full attack soon after consuming the broth! I'm pretty sure the reason it didn't go into a full attack was because there were no solids in my system.

Looking back, it was rice with canned broth that started the big week-long attack!

The new GI partner listened to all this, and said I probably had additive/preservative sensitivities like he did, that it was more common than most people thought! But most people he saw with this had diarrhea instead of inflammation, but compare it to how some people with sinus problems have runny noses, while others might get sinus migraines from their sinus cavities being so inflamed.

I'm pretty sure Carrageenan bothers me, since I had many attacks from it, but I also suspect nitrate/nitrites because I've often had issues with sausage, all my life, not just these last 2 years. But even avoiding these 3 things, I'd still have attacks with "some" commercially prepared foods -- it seems frozen/boxed dinners had the highest incident for me. Canned and frozen veggies/fruits do not bother me.

It sure was nice to hear this from a GI! I asked if there were tests he knew of to determine the exact sensitivities, and he wasn't aware of many, just do what he did and try eating everything from scratch, and if a commercially prepared food bothered me, write it down on my own personal "avoid list".

My first week after that visit, I went 6 days with NO pain, until I stupidly ate 2 frozen sliders. I recently ate deli meat and had mild'ish attack, probably because I ate only 3 thin slices.

So in addition to scratch foods being healthier, some might develop food sensitivities to preservatives/additives like me and my dr, so they might want to do a preservative/additive rule-out.

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I'm tired of hurting; tell me the rules, and I'll gladly follow them!

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