Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hi Michelle,
You're not alone!

I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 10 years ago, and only just this past year found out the ibs-c diagnosis. It's definitely a hard diet to follow (the combination of the 2), and eating out is extremely tough. I find plenty to eat at home, but I do quite a lot of cooking/baking. I think it would be harder to find out the ibs first and then have to adjust to the gluten intolerance later. I was already used to having to bake my own breads and muffins, etc (or buy expensive ones!!), and I know that is a really tough thing at first. It's best to start out slowly, trying to find just one good bread, one good basic muffin, a pancake mix, etc., and add those in to the ibs diet. You can gradually add to your recipes as you feel more stable physically and get a handle on how to cook GF. I'm able to make a variety of delicious quick breads, and have found a bread mix that I can make to fit both diets. This allows me to make toast or sandwiches or have "cheese" bread with a pasta dish, etc. You just have to be careful about more label ingredients than you did with just the ibs, watching out for words that might mean gluten/wheat.

Eating out is another story!!!

It was difficult when I only knew about my gluten issues, but I had managed to find ways to still eat out with my family or go to dinners with my husband. The meals I ordered looked kind of plain compared to others, and my choices were more limited, but I still found it worth the effort. It's a different story with the addition of the ibs restrictions. Honestly, I've only eaten out twice since July! Fast food is simply OUT. Really nice restaurants are your safest bet by far because the chefs will be so much more knowledgeable and willing to cook to order. They also tend to use truly fresh foods- chicken, fish, and shrimp that don't already have batter on them- so you can ask to have these prepared broiled or baked with only a tiny amount of oil and some garlic salt or other spices (no "seasoning packets"). Order a plain baked potato or a baked sweet potato with just cinnamon and sugar but no butter. Some restaurants have gluten-free pasta they can boil for you. This is a real treat! Plain pasta with shrimp or chicken diced up in it with garlic or lemon makes a great meal. I am still so much in "recovery" mode that I don't yet dare any veggies or a salad of any kind. Maybe someday I'll ask for very well cooked veggies ("mashable" carrots or beans, etc) or END my meal with a tiny salad with a gluten free dressing (better bring that one with you!). I never try dessert. There are places that serve fantastic gluten free desserts, but believe me, they aren't ibs-safe.

Better to have something yummy made-up at home that you can anticipate after you get back from the restaurant!

Hope this isn't discouraging. Like I said, eating at home can be just fine once you know the "rules" and good ways of substituting. Eating out is just not real exciting anymore (unless you can afford to go out for lobster tail, crab legs, and shrimp cocktail regularly!!). I usually just try to make creative ways to make special meals at home, or take my own homemade meal along if we're going to eat with friends. It's nice when I'm able to mimic the meal they're planning so my meal doesn't have to look so different, but that's not always possible. It's a bummer at times, but not anything like how bad it is to have an attack, right?!!

Do a search on the message boards for gluten free...I know there are others who have posted in the past, and I've posted ideas a few times (only been on since this summer). There's even a muffin recipe in one of Heather's newsletters that's gluten free.

Good luck! Hope you're feeling well

KellyJean

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