Do Sufferers Vary on Trigger Foods?
#41397 - 01/28/04 01:01 AM
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JaM
Reged: 01/27/04
Posts: 11
Loc: USA
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Hello,
I'm a fairly new sufferer of IBS as of last June. I had no idea what was going on with my body and no understanding of how to cope with it until I found this site. I just feel so grateful for all the hard work that all of you, especially Heather, have offered in bringing this much needed refuge for sufferers like myself. Thank you!
My question: is it's possible that not all of the Trigger Foods listed will trigger one's IBS. Can the triggers differ from one person to another? I have always loved cooking for my family very hearty and rich foods, but now that I have IBS I can no longer share the same meals that I make for them. Until I found this site yesterday through a Google search I was practically starving myself not knowing what I could or couldn't eat. All I knew was that if I ate what I made I ended up suffering a great deal of pain almost right after I finished my meal. Hours later I was running to the bathroom every 10-15 minutes. Since what I'm use to cooking/eating is just about everything mentioned on the Trigger Food list I'd like to know if it's possible that there may be some foods I 'use to' eat that might not trigger my IBS. Is this possible, and if so, how would I go about finding out safely?
Hope this isn't a stupid question 
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Hi,
I think that triggers differ from one person to another and from one time to another depending how good you feel. But some things like french fries, coffe, red meat and other fat food is always bad! I can tolerate egg yolks in food/cakes, I can eat lactose free (low-fat) dairy products and sometimes even a Big Mac. But the secret is that 90% of the time you must stick to safe food.
Why don't you read the first chapters of the book First Year...:
http://www.helpforibs.com/books/1stIBS/chapters.asp
and those from Eating for IBS:
http://www.helpforibs.com/books/efi/chapters.asp
When I found them I printed the most interresting parts out and read them over and over again.
And remember, before you start to try what is the worst triggers for you (mine is tomato paste and Coca Cola)you must feel good. Have you tried Immodium? It have helped me during many nasty attacs.
And mabye it isn't bad for your family either to eat healthier!
Good Luck!
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Welcome, JaM!
#41405 - 01/28/04 05:29 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hi, JaM, and WELCOME!
Now that you have IBS, certainly your family will understand that you can no longer cook like you used to? You need to make so many substitutions to your old recipes and eliminate most of them completely. Have you checked out the recipes in our Recipe Board? They're incredible -- your family wouldn't even know they're "IBS-friendly"!
You don't need to starve yourself, and in fact you SHOULDN'T. You need to keep a little food in your tummy for your gut to work on all day (note that I said "little" food). Generally speaking, practically all of us have to give up such things as coffee, red meat, all dairy, etc. However, trigger foods are trial-and-error because what is a trigger to one person is not necessarily another's. For instance, I can eat whole wheat bread, while most of us can't.
What was recommended to me years ago -- and what stuck -- was keeping a daily food diary, listing each item of food I ate and when, how much, and its reaction. I kept it in my word-processing program on the computer, and I did so religiously. It helped a LOT, because when I had an attack and couldn't figure out why, I'd go back to what I had eaten the day before and practically always was able to find the trigger. I still keep that diary (I'm on volume 6 so far), and it still helps.
I'm assuming you have "The First Year" -- if not, get it. It's our bible. It's helped all of us SOOOO much, and we've helped each other a lot too. I have this Board, Heather and Michael to thank for all the relief I've gotten from my IBS. This will happen for you as well.
Again, welcome to the Boards!
Bev.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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i think that not all "triggers" give everyone as much of a problem but as for me something could be fine one day and then not in a few days....but greasy rich foods are huge problems....i think you will find there are variations here...but the diet bascially covers it all
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and sometimes the way they are prepared -- or what order they are eaten in can make a huge difference. I also suggest you get the books - or at least one of them. It will really help you understand better.
Dairy is my worst trigger so far --- If I eat it, I will have an attack. Even soy cheeses seem to bother me - whereas many people are fine with them. You'll have to figure it out for yourself if some are safe. The only way to know is to experiment -- and that isn't safe. If you get yourself stable -- you can introduce the food you want to try in a small amount and see how it goes. Only do one questionable food at a time -- say every 48 hours or more (specially if you have a bad reaction).
However -- as others have said -- there are many wonderful - trigger free recipes to try -- that are pretty safe for most of us. Why not try those? (I have to say most of us and pretty safe -- because if we eat too much we can get into trouble no matter what we eat -- and some people are sensitive to different things that are safe for 90% of the rest of us)
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Actually, when I found this site I read through it all before even looking over the message boards. I also immediately went to my cupboards and started rearranging one side of it just for myself, removing and replacing foods I can't eat with things that are acceptable to my IBS. I also made an ongoing grocery list of all the foods I can have so that it's always there to remind me and encourage me to keep up a good eating regiment. My first 2 days I started the 'blan' diet with Cream of Rice (with a teaspoon of brown sugar and NO milk!) This was scary at first, not having milk, but surprisingly good. I've stayed clear of all the other foods so far and have had a lot less discomfort. Yes, I'll take 1 food at a time, as you suggested, a day or every 2 days to see if my system can accept it. Right now I don't know what foods are causing all the gas, cramping and the pain that comes with having a movement, but beans are definitely a no-no for me.
I intend on investing in Heather's books, probably will get the "Eating for IBS Diet & Cookbook" first so I can get to cooking the right foods for myself quickly. I'm really excited about the Recipe Exchange Board here, which I spent hours looking over last night (I'm Pacific Time, California) and it was around 3:30 AM before I stopped collecting some of the great recipes shared here. I look forward to overcoming my fear of being deprived and learn the routine and appreciation for new foods I never really bothered with before now.
Thank you for your helpful input, kshsmom 
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Welcome aboard! (BTW, I love cream of rice!)
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Oh Bevrs, thanks so much for your "Welcome" and for your suggestion on keeping a diary on my computer! I never thought of this, but instantly know this will become very valuable to my progress and changes.
As for my family accepting my situation... well... that may not be as easy for me as it might have proved to be for some or all of you. My family loves their red meat, gravies and heavy desserts. I love them too, but I'm probably more willing to accept the changes because I have to now, and since I do love to cook learning something new will be both fun as well as challenging. Sadly I have to admit that it's what I can do for them that makes them appreciate me. With all my other health problems (mentioned in my Bio) I have had to struggle with them alone without the understanding, compassion and support that others may be receiving. I've learned to accept this and do the best I can to help myself, why I am so excited that I found this site!
No, I don't have any of Heather's books, but I do want to get her cookbook right away. I'll try to get the others when I can, but if you think the first one is what I need the most then that will be the one I'll order
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Hi Fia,
I'm pretty excited about helping myself now, especially discovering that there are so many other's like yourself who have IBS and seem to be coping with it in an attitude that comes across to me as being almost adventurous. I'd like to join in the adventure too
I will check out the URLs you posted, thank you so much for sharing them! I don't have Immodium, but Excedrin seems to work well for me as does drinking my Peppermint Tea the last few days. I had been drinking Diet Caffeine Free Pepsi every day for the last several months, which seemed to give me lots of gas. Seeing that on the list of Trigger Foods was an eye-opener and had to give away.
Is heartburn a signal that a particular food may not be acceptable? Bananas (which are suppose to be a non-trigger food) seem to bother me this way all the time, even if it's Banana Bread, which I adore. Sometimes I seem to be able to eat tomatoes and sometimes I can't, but then I usually eat them as a BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato) sandwich. I know the meat and fats and dairy products are out... there goes my Haagen-Dazs
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It really helps to get so much input from so many of you on this. When I first posted I really was scared I was asking something stupid or was on the wrong board or out of place some how. A lot of self esteem I have, huh? Having IBS has really caused a lot of self doubt and depression, I must admit. Is this common? I hate running to a doctor for a cure and am just so happy to discover that this does not seem to be one of those times for me. I can just help myself by readjusting my diet, which seems almost too good as I have pills for this and that and hate being dependent of another one just to survive normal life at home. You are all really a wonderful group and I thank you so much for being so generous with your time and help!
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Thank you for the 'Welcome', LauraSue
I do too, but had forgotten what it was like since the last time I had it was when I was a school girl, which was a verrry long time ago 
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JaM, first of all, NO QUESTION of concern to you is "something stupid." This is a board where we offer support and help if we can. We all have questions, and if we didn't venture out and ask them, we wouldn't have gotten where we are.
I think the self-doubt and depression is common in IBS, and to a great extent I feel, at least in my case, I have my GI to thank for it. When you're "dismissed" and shown the door, you feel as if it's your "fault," as if you're not worth the doctor's time and trouble. And then where do you go for help or advice? It angers me that this happened to me, and it angers me when I hear it happens to others.
You ask any question you want at any time, and hopefully someone here will have the answer for you.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Ahh thanks so much, Bevrs.
It does mean allot (spelling?) to me to be able to feel validated now and then when it's so emotionally painful to be treated otherwise, especially from family, friend and doctors. I do get more support and understanding now from my new Gynecologist which I was allowed to change 3 times until I found one that was sensitive and kind and listened, even asking me questions if sensed I was too scared to bring up anything for fear of being dismissed.
Thank you again for your invitation to me to ask away anything later on
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it's true..i feel as though my gi dr barely noticed any of the symptoms i described...i guess he has heard them all a million times...i'm not even swure the tests he's doing will be of any benefit!! they sure do make you feel horrible!!!!
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web page
This is a list of the universal IBS triggers that you really must avoid if you wish to feel better and stay that way. As for tolerances, some people have sensitivies to foods that aren't listed here - for example, I can't go near broccoli, oatmeal or oranges.
Many of us are sensitive to high fructose corn syrup as well.
Sometimes, you will find after you've become stable that you can have a WEE bit of a trigger food (for example a small piece or two of chocolate after a meal) and be safe. Others find that they can't cheat at all.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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I feel the same way about my GI! He pretty much acted as if my symptoms were meaningless, and once he ruled out everything except IBS he sent me on my with hardly a word about how to control it. It's a good thing all of us stumbled across this website, isn't it??
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Thank you, HanSolo, I have copy/pasted this into my IBS Notes & Journal. I've also added it to my grocery list 
It's really so helpful to hear of the different sorts of foods that some of you can and cannot eat. I also cannot tolerate oranges. When I was younger I could eat most anything, but now it seems my tummy rebels, and now my colon has joined forces too! Oh, but if I can find some sort of chocolate (my only addiction) that will make my day, hehehe. I do use Hershey's Coco Powder for some recipes already and tried one tonight, only I subbed the butter for 'I Can't Believe It's Not Butter' which I read in the Recipe Exchange board some can tolerate. It's a Cocoa Drop Cookie recipe, very light and cakey... I wonder if it would be ok to share it there?
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You will find that there are TONS of recipes in the recipe board that use cocoa powder. Chocolate is unsafe because of the fat and milk content. Try a piece after a meal. If you want a death by chocolate experience, just do some baking. TessLouises Antidepressant Brownies, Heather's Peppermint Fudge Cake, and I like Hot Fudge Monday. You'll be in SAFE chocolate heaven. Thank God!
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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