Dunno what to think
#80773 - 06/18/04 10:03 AM
|
|
|
|
Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
|
|
|
Hi all,
So since my doctor's appointment, my stomach has been feeling a bit better... not completely, but my BMs are finally solid (which I think makes the urgency not as bad - though by no means has it gone away. I still rush to the toilet, only having to put the effort in to getting it out once I get there!) My stomach aches a bit more, and I am still getting quite nauseous but I think things are getting better.
I am taking Celevac (Which I think is fiber or something, I have to chew it) and anti-depressants, which I up from 10 to 20 mgs in a few days. I stopped taking Acacia, just because I wanted to stop taking all of the stuff I was taking (I felt a bit overwhelmed, like I was taking a different thing every 5 minutes) for a few days and then I figured I would start up again. Since my BMs are finally solid, I am scared to start taking the fiber for fear of it making it worse. I am still drinking the herbal teas (I still get really bad (and holy stinky - TMI, sorry!) gas lately) - mostly I drink fennel, sometimes 'Tummy Tea' that is fennel, and peppermint and cammomile and some other stuff.
I admit I haven't been sticking to the diet. I still base my meals around SF, but I have had some red meat twice and even small amounts of dairy (with lactase pills) without any attacks. I've eaten some cookies, and some fries (oy!) and felt guilty after.. but not sick.
The worst day I've had so far was today when I had to go to London to get my security pass for work - it was Friday afternoon so the streets were packed with people and I kept getting pushed and bumped into and I get really anxious and panicky in crowds of people. The street I needed to go down was closed, so we had to take a really round-about way to get there, so I was running totally late and really freaking out 'cause I hadn't gone potty all day and the panicking was making me feel like I had to go NOW. We finally got there and the machine that makes the passes was broken, and has been for 2 days, but nobody bothered to tell me to cancel my appointment so I wasted my day off. I was really upset, and my boyfriend had a go at me for not confronting the guy at the desk about not contacting me. So I went into a pub to use the facilities, and it was okay.. It was actually _really_ solid (again with the TMI, I know) and then really not in the end. Does that happen to anyone else? 2 kinds of poop in one BM? 
Anyway, so I am just confused. I still haven't heard when my apt with the nutritionist, or my follow-up with the GI doc will be. Sometimes I think maybe if I go back on the diet full-heartedly then the crampiness and the urgency will be taken care of, but I then other times I think that I am healthier now then I have been for months and I like cookies!!! <-- the 2 yr old in me.
Sorry to ramble, just wanted to let everyone know what's going on in my crazy body!
--Steph
--------------------
~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Steph, you know the answer.
You can't cheat. You have to stick with the program. I speak from experience here. I've been stable for months now, and it's all because I don't cheat. I've had problems, but they all stem from taking too much SFS, not from eating the wrong things. I still keep my food journal, so I know what I've had, I can look back and see what might have caused the extreme gas and bloating. It's always the SFS.
Quote:
I haven't been sticking to the diet. . . . I have had some red meat twice and even small amounts of dairy . . . I've eaten some cookies, and some fries (oy!) . . .
Steph, you know better. While you claim you've not gotten sick, how's all that dead animal carcass and animal fat workin' for ya?
I don't mean to be insensitive here, but you want an excuse to eat all those cookies, and I can't do it. Just when you got that horrible job out of your life, just when you had a chance to move on, now you've thrown this wrench into your lifestyle.
Girlfriend, you will get stable and feel like your old self once you get real about your diet. Cut out that dead cow stuff (ew gross) and animal fat (yuk). Your body is telling you it doesn't want it. Listen to it!
Okay, I'm done preaching. I hate that you've done this to yourself, for some reason (I don't know why); you know better.
So I guess I wasn't done preaching. I hate it when I do that!
Still love me?
Your friend,
Bev
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I've had the same kind of BM's that you've had - with the 2 kinds? It'll either start out solid and then get looser or vice versa and I still have urgency, but it's the kind where it's not like, oh my gosh, I have to go NOW! 
How far away form London do you live? If you live really far then it's good that you feel stable enough to travel all that way! But yeah, I'm with Bev - try at all costs not to cheat! It might be the cause of your pain and nausea. But at least we're getting rid of the D! Just be strong, Steph! We're all doing the same thing 
--------------------
It comes down to the art of living on [color/red]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Sorry, Steph that you are still not stable. I agree with you about waiting to start fiber again. It always does a number on me. I agree with Bev about sticking to the diet. Maybe red meat, milk, and cookies wasn't the best thing for you to eat while you are trying to get stable. Although, don't tell Bev, but I sneak in a cookie every once in a while and as long as I don't get sick....I really enjoy it.
The nausea could be from the anti-depressant but it should get better as your body adjusts to it. Also, I think Celevac tablets is a FIBER. You might check the ingredients because the chewable Benefiber has sorbitol in it.
That's about all I can offer to help you. Hope you feel better soon.
Barbie
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Ever since going off of zelnorm I have had stools that start out hard and then are thin and pencil like (sorry for the TMI). It is really frustrating because I was going every morning with fully packed stools. Matter of fact, I have never went that normally in my entire life! Now I go daily but the stools are not much. It is like, where does it go??
--------------------
~Wookie 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Bev,
I'm glad I read your post today. I've been cheating with cookies and haven't been feeling well either, but try to ignore it because I love cookies so much. I'm going to take a new resolve to strictly follow the diet again because I hate feeling sick. It really isn't worth all the discomfort. Thaks for waking me back up.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Yaaay! Where you been, Girl? I missed you! Dang, I wish you hung around here more!
So.... been divin' into the cookie jar, eh? Whassup with that? What's happenin' w/you? Talk to us!
Yeah, I know how you feel about cookies. It's something about the crunch. I feel it too. And, yes, I miss 'em. Soft cookies just don't cut it. Yeah, I know. I know....
HOWEVER, I also know the pain that I'd suffer from all that great crunch. Oy. It just ain't worth it to me, no way! I mean, I have enough of a problem warding off the cramps when I'm GOOD! No, I wouldn't go near a cookie if my life depended on it.
Now, if you offered me an RKT or an ADB I wouldn't turn you away. Lately, I've been making RKTs, but unfortunately hubby's developed quite an appetite for them. I make only a half batch at a time, and whenever I reach for one in the fridge they're all gone....
Ah, well, he's doing me a favor -- right?
No, JM, it's NOT "worth all the discomfort," as you said. I want to be able to get out of the house and go places and do things without worrying about sudden and urgent D attacking me at the most inopportune times. No chocolate chip cookie is worth that!
Stick around awhile, won'tcha, Cutie-Pie?
Bevvy
P.S.: Hey! I just discovered Luna Bars. Have you ever tried these magnificent marvels? OMG! I tried all the flavors, and my very favorite is "Nuts Over Chocolate." Wow, I feel like I'm cheating! Don is most bent out of shape over these because they specify they're for women ONLY; he says it's sexist, and he's revolting. (That means he won't even have a bite -- hey, that works for ME!)
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
What are RKTs? I do my best to check the boards when I can. I wish there were more hours in the day! I gave away the cookies I bought from Farmer's Market and printed off a recipe for safe no bake cookies. The frosted sugar cookies-well, I don't think I'll find a replacement for those, so I will just have to give them up. It's better not to even have them around to tempt me. Doesn't seem very fair to the kids though.
I loved your story about the boating and island incident. I've had a few close calls myself.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hiya,
I don't even really know what to say except that I'm sorry. After I read your post (Bev) I thought of about a million excuses for why I had stopped being so strict with myself on the diet but I won't make any of said excuses. I felt so terrible after reading the post, that I couldn't stop crying and wouldn't go out. We were supposed to eat Mexican food, but I was feeling so guilty about food that I just ate some rice and went to bed.
I realised that by going off the diet, and then admitting it, I could possibly lose basically the only support I've had about my stomach. Since I am away from home, the only support I have is my boyfriend.. and these boards. So I want to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have thought that because my doc said I could, and because I was desperate for any excuse to go back to normal eating, that I could just up and 'cheat' and not expect any consequences.. I thought the consequences would be tummy aches, but since I haven't actually had an attack, I guess it came in another form. So please don't hate me - I have been so miserable, and I guess I thought that since I was finally feeling better that maybe my life was going back to normal.
Anyway, I'm sorry.. I really hope you don't all think less of me. I am especially sorry to you, Bev, because you have been so supportive of me in the past and I'm afraid you just won't bother with me if I'm not taking care of myself like I should.
--Steph
--------------------
~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I have to answer your question, almost every time.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I have that too sometimes.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Oh, dont feel like that. It surely wont help your tummy to feel guilty about it. You just live and learn. Its really tough, I know. My mother is pretty sympathetic, but I told her myself not to change HER life because I have to change mine, so she tries and eats what I do, but she all has Nestle Crunch bars in the freezer and there is a part of me that wants to just gobble one down. And sometimes you might get away with it. But you might not and pay for it later. But its up to only YOU to decide that. Maybe its worth a day or two of pain to feel "normal" again for a little while.
I've been pretty good once I started. I still have cheese sammiches maybe once a week because I can tolerate it (and I hate soy cheese), but I dont dare go for a ice cream bar or indulge in what WAS my favorite-Philly cheesesteaks.
We, or at least I, wouldnt turn our backs to you because you made a bad choice. IBS is all about learning your limitaions, I think. Some might scold you or tell you you know what you did wrong, but its only to be helpful.
I've only had IBS for a short time-less than a year. And I'm going as hard as I can to get myself better or at least stable. I'm on the CDs, I eat the way Heather has said-though I still have a hard time with soy and Im still in the dark on a lot of veggies. But, as foolish as it might be, I hold out hope that one day..hopefully soon...I can get back to a normal life. I worry that the longer I have IBS, the more I'll ALWAYS have it. Maybe you feel that way, I dunno. But I feel in my heart that someday, we'll all be able to eat things without consequence, though this IBS diet has taught me some good things about nutrition I'll probably always keep.
I rambled a bit...sorry  but I hope I was clear anough for you to get that we're all here for you and no matter how many times you stumble, we're all still here to pick you up.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Steph!
You are being waaaaaay to hard on yourself.. no one is mad.. and i'm sure the majority of people here on the website have cheated.. or fell off the bandwagon.
Next time, don't feel sorry for youself (i'm probably doing enough of that for both of us lately), get to that mexican restaurant, have fun with friends, and each an ibs safe meal... and take an immodium before you go!
YOu're doing great, and you shouldn't be sad about that!
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Steph honey, I have done exactly what you are doing so many times. And I do understand, but listen...
I am blessed to have been a stay at home mom, raised my kids, helped my son with my gk (toddler and small infant, 2mo old), when their birth mother abandoned them...he had to work to make a home for them, many many long hours...it was heart wrenching for him and I. But we made it through. I digress, I am still at home, I help take care of my elderly father in law, he is very ill. There have been so many times when I have looked back at my life, I have no career! I have no marketable skills! If I were thrust in to the work force, what the heck would I do???? I have health issues also and a bad lower back, lots of pain....take meds for that also, and for depression. I live in a rural area, (out in the country as they say). Far commute for me to make daily for a job, without caving in to the total exhaustion it would have caused me in the process. I want you to realize how great it is that you have this new job.....I don't want you to loose it because of poor diet choices that are going to keep you sick.
My point here is this, YOU have been so blessed to find this new job to get you out of that crappy old one. DO NOT jeopardize it again !! I remember how hard it was on you working at the Pub, do you really want to go through the same things at your new JOB? I don't want you to either, I want you to be able to GET to work without getting sick on the way and have to stay at home, the cycle will start again, then you will be stressed more for worrying about the stability of your job!
Hey, get back on your diet, take CARE of Steph! If your friends and boyfriend are not as supportive as they should be, then it is time for you to have a loving, but serious talk with all of them. Tell them when they go out with you, why cant they go to places that offer you a safe choice.
Now listen, you CAN go eat Mexican. I do it all of the time, but, NO CHIPS and salsa!! Even if you munch on a few of the crackers, it is a better choice. Get the Chicken Fajitas, with the flour tortillas, (if the flour isnt an issue for you) plenty of rice, I always tell the waitress, no lettuce or sour cream on my plate, PLEASE!. And enjoy your meal, be very careful not to overeat (hey, I do that constantly and am trying to cut it back). You should do fine.
We all care about you, want you to be in the best condition for your health! I love the cookies too. I eat low sugar animal crackers, they do not bother me. But, be careful.
love to you doll, I am envious that you have a new job and brightness on your horizon!! TAke care of you, and your job and social life will fall into place. gayla
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Steph I feel ya. Just read my post from yesterday. It sucks being this way sometimes, not being able to go out, eat what you want without any pain and discomfort. I fight the voices in this head ALL THE TIME. I also understand your situation with work. Although you and I are opposite on the IBS spectrum, sometimes its hard to suck it up and I find myself just wondering, why me God?
ANYWAY, NO ONE IS MAD AT YA HUN, WE LUV YA! so don't worry pleaseeeeeeee!!! We're all here for ya.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Sweetheart, please don't! There is absolutely no need to apologize to me! Or to anyone. Oh dear, I think I was too hard on you, wasn't I?
My intention was not to make you feel bad, please believe me! I meant to try to just wake you up and get you to see what you're doing to yourself. I'm afraid I failed miserably....
Mexican food? Oh dear. So you just had the rice? Good girl! That must have been hard for you. (I hate Mexican food -- ewwwww -- but for those who like it, yeah, I imagine it's tough giving it up.)
Steph, I understand what you were thinking about your life "going back to normal," but I don't think we can plan on that happening. I think we have to accept the fact that we have this problem, and then work our diets -- and our lives -- around it. For example, you know by now of my love for coffee. Giving it up was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. So, okay, I discovered SoyFee, and now I'm a happy camper. I'll be drinking SoyFee for the rest of my life, never again to have coffee. Same with ice cream. I used to ADORE the stuff. I hated giving it up; however, I discovered Soy Dream Mocha Fudge. I buy it by the gallon -- really, when I go to the HFS I buy 4 cartons. Even hubby loves the stuff. So I'll never have real ice cream again, opting instead for Soy Dream. Red meat just grosses me out, so giving that up was nothing for me. I love chicken and turkey, and I'm delighted to stick with that forever.
What I'm trying to tell you is that you can substitute other things for all your faves. (Although I have no idea what you'd substitute for Mexican!) Cookies? Well, what about ADBs or RKTs? Luna Bars? For me, I used to love the crunch in cookies. RKTs and Luna Bars have lots of crunch.
French Fries? Okay, have you ever had a potato, cut into "French fries" and roasted in the oven with a little olive oil? They come out fabulous! Potato chips? (I used to ADORE these things!) Well, I discovered "Veggie Stix," which I have to order online; they're better than any potato chips and totally IBS-safe!
So try to substitute other things for all your faves. I imagine this is what everyone else does as well. You can do it too!
I'm sorry I was so hard on you. Sometimes I have a BIGGGG mouth. Just ignore me. Besides, we all make mistakes. Just because I don't cheat doesn't mean I don't screw up at times. When I scoop out my Mocha Fudge, don'tcha just know it's more than just one little scoop? Hmmmm? And I'm the idiot who took the maximum dosage of SFS and didn't realize it, all the while increasing it even MORE and having Big D attacks at the Post Office! Well, DUH. Pretty stupid, huh?
Sweetheart, you made a few mistakes -- just like everyone else. It's over and done with now. It's history. You learned from them and now you've moved on. How's your tummy now? Any better? Why not take some time this weekend to plan your diet for the week? Maybe make up a grocery list for all your favorite substitutes and be prepared next time the BF wants to go out; you can take something IBS-safe with you, then you can enjoy his company and still eat something that won't bother your tummy.
Hey! I just thought of something yesterday, and I was going to run it by everyone here. Tell me what you think:
We were down at the new property yesterday, actually at our little Post Office in our new community. Picture this: a lakeside resort, where people go on the weekends or on holidays or vacations, to play in the lake and get away. Fir trees and pine trees all around, and only a tiny little "shopping center" with only a little Post Office, a mini-grocery store, a realtor's office, a PIZZA PARLOR, and a burger joint. Got it? Okay, that's our new little community! That's where we're moving in 41 days, where our new home is being built. Besides the burger joint (and their food, once made IBS-safe, is bland and BORING), the pizza parlor serves the best pizza I've ever had. When we first came up here to stay at the "resort," I had to stop in and try their pizza because the smell permeated the entire area. OMG, was it FABULOUS! Yes, I had IBS at the time, but no, I did not know Heather or the Boards; I was suffering in silence -- I didn't know I couldn't have cheese, I didn't understand why the pizza tore my tummy up. I just figured it must have had too much fat. So the next night, I had just a little bit of pizza instead of half. Again, it tore my tummy up. So I haven't had any since.
Well, yesterday at the Post Office, I couldn't stand that smell -- it drove me crazy -- I wanted some of their pizza! Not Amy's frozen soy cheese pizza -- TINO'S pizza! All the way home from the Post Office, I kept trying to think of a way I could have it. And then I came up with this great idea: what if I took a package of soy mozzarella with me to the restaurant, went up to the order counter and asked them if they had any soy cheese (of course they won't), and then asked if they would mind putting my own soy cheese on my pizza? Is that tacky? Politically incorrect? What do you think? I suggested to Don that I just keep the cheese in my purse, and order my pizza with no cheese on it, then when they serve it to me, sprinkle the cheese on my portion from the cheese in my purse -- he HATED the idea! But he did like the idea of asking them to put it on for me. What do you think?
Steph, I hope you're doing better today and that your tummy is calmed down now. Above all, I hope you're still my friend.
Bevvy
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi Steph,
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Everyone falls off the wagon at some time or the other. Like I said in my other post, if I eat a cookie or something I shouldn't sometimes I feel fine and sometimes I pay for it. I must confess I was a bad girl Thursday at my mom't birthday party.(don't tell Bev..ha ha)  I ate "two" pieces of pizza. I thought for sure I would pay for it later but so far so good. Maybe next time I will suffer. When you went out for Mexican food you could probably have chicken fajitas and rice. That's usually what I have and it agrees with me OK.
This whole thing is trial and error and I don't think anyone has the perfect answer.
Bev only has good intentions and is just trying to help. I am sure she will still support you and I know I will...that's what we are here for.
Come on, lets have a smile. 
Barbie
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Steph, ohmigoodness, it's okay, baby!! We ALL still love you and support you and you can say or do ANYTHING and that won't change!! The deal here is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!!!! So you can't get rid of us THAT easy!!
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi Steph,
Please don't be soooooo hard on yourself. Do you think others here haven't done the same thing? Everybody's human, no matter how young or old they are.
No One is going to think less of you because of it. That's why the board is here and everyone on it. Don't lay a guilt trip on yourself. Just say, I'm so happy what I did eat didn't give me any problems and go on from there.
You'll only end up getting stressed out and THAT'S what will make you sick. We're not on the boards to please anybody but to get help, remember that, OK?
Now go out and do something fun and put this behind you. Everyone is here for you so don't think otherwise.
Hugs,
Pat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Bev, I really enjoy reading your posts, so just tell us what you feel. We all need to be smacked around from time to time!! I have learned, also that it is just not worth going off the diet. Being stable is so much better, than having unpredictable attacks.
Hey, about the pizza, I would take the cheese with you and have them make your special pizza. I am sure they would not care at all. You are still paying for it and they are using your cheese, so you both win in the end.
Also, what is a Luna bar and where do you get them? I have seen reference to them on the board for quite awhile, but never found out what they are. Thanks for all of your help. You touch more people than you realize with you posts.
--------------------
Everything somehow always works out for the best.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Please don't be so hard on yourself! With IBS as with everything in life, we can only do the best we can, learn from our mistakes and move on.
I've been lucky. Once I found this website and had a plan for making myself better, it wasn't so hard for me to change things, the benefits far outweighed anything I gave up. Like Bev, I adored coffee (which has been replaced by Peppermint Tea). Unlike Bev, I also love a big steak (this has been replaced by Seafood, Turkey & Chicken). Little by little I've found substitutions for foods or drinks that I like and am feeling alot better. Even so, there are still days when I have symptoms but they are not nearly as bad as before. One of the hard things for me is when someone says "You have to get feeling better so you can have .....". This is it for me, I've finally gotten to a point where my diet has enough variety for me to imagine comfortably staying with it forever. You'll get there to and you have all the help you need here!
Eating out is challenging, but so far I've always found at least two items on a menu that I can have.
Anyway, keep your chin up and hope you feel better soon.
Kim
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hey Steph,
Please don't feel guilty, I think that everyone cheats from time to time. It's just important to decide whether you want to cheat and feel sick or really stick with it and hopefully feel better 
The boards are here to support people, even when they cheat, and I don't think you have anything at all to worry about people not supporting you. We're just concerned for you and don't want you to eat stuff that makes you sick! But no one is going to think less of you
You hang in there, I know it's hard to feel like you don't have much of a support network, but we're all here for you!
Feel better soon,
Kelly
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hey Bev,
I like your pizza idea! I doubt they'd mind at all putting it on the pizza for you...and if this is just a little community, maybe they'd get to know you and then everytime you want some pizza they'll know you're bringing the cheese!
It always surprises me how few places offer any sort of dairy alternative. I live in a fairly large city yet no places I have found have a soy cheese pizza option, or keep some soy cheese or soy milk on hand for vegetarians. It floors me! There are so many people out there who are hard core vegetarians or who for medical reasons can't have dairy, and no food places seem to want to conform to that. Yet, there's been this recent push towards lower-fat foods (which I think is great, don't get me wrong) and every bloody fast food joint has jumped right on the bandwagon! It's so strange!
Anyways, I figure, these places aren't going to conform to us, and it's not fair that we shouldn't be able to eat out, so if you find a way around that...good for you!
Kelly
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I ate not 1, but 2, Krispy Kreme donuts while I was at the grocery store yesterday. I couldn't resist. I was just gonna eat one, but after the 2nd one, I decided I better get away from the display case! And I wonder why my tummy was so bloated and achey. I'm so BAD!!!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Oh,man, Krispy Kreme -- one of my many weaknesses and one of my worst triggers! I hear ya!
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Pssh....
#81166 - 06/19/04 07:09 PM
|
|
|
|
|
atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
|
|
|
You'll lose no support from me, that's for sure! You're human - we all are - and yes, everyone cheats from time to time. It sucks for the sake of your insides, but other than that, it's really no big deal. You just pick up and get back on track.
*hugs* I hope you're feeling a bit better by now, anyway.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Yup I sure do cherish Bev's AMAZING advice too!
Anway, for you, marjo, i link to luna bars! web page
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
My gosh I cheat on the diet like aaaaaall the time! Seriously, don't worry about it. You sort of learn what you can and can't get away with. And I admit I occasionally eat things I KNOW will cause attacks, because I just feel like eating it I think it's the overall effort that helps the most. If you had those things and you felt ok, that's great. Just be careful, don't get it in your head that you're totally fine with it. Maybe you're the type of person that can have that stuff sometimes and be fine. I think it's better to sometimes indulge, than to never have it at all and be upset. Personally I like Mexican food I don't see why you can't have some...I like soft refried bean tacos/burritos(then again I make my own, I don't know if restaraunts put fat in them), or like other people said you could get chicken tacos/burritos. How are you with lettuce and tomatoes? And instead of cheese ask for salsa. Hope you feel better.
--------------------
IBS-C
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I think the reason you and some of the others are having such a hard time with this diet is because of your age. Just listen.....when you are young, you want to live, get out there and love living your life, soak up everything there is out there to learn and just have fun!!! Of course you want to eat what everyone else is having, I would have been the exact same way. I think if it were me, I would be living the same struggle you are. Now, at my and some of the other ladies ages, we have really been searching for an understanding to what we can do to change our eating habits so we can live out our lives. We have unknowingly been eating foods that are poison to our bodie for years. That is why we are so accepting of the changes we have to make, I decided that I would only eat the foods that did not make me hurt! And I did only that for at least a year!!!! Now, I know how much I can cheat, and yes, we all do!!! I can cheat one day, but I'd better behave the next day, or else!!! Us OLD BROADS, are ready and willing to find a way to eat so we are not sick.
Thats the only difference in us STeph!! THats all, its an age thing, when you get to a certain point in life, after you have traveled up and over, and up and over the mountains in life, we are soooooo ready for the easiest way! Plus, we are looking into our futures, we want to keep our health at its Max. We want to be able to get out and continue to live, if it means that Bev takes her soy cheese to the Pizza Parlor, then she just takes it. We are just going to do it.
Really, it should be no problem for you either to take a container of safe food with you to any restaurant. The establishment shouldnt be offended, after all, your bf, and whoever else you may be eating with will be ordering off of the menu. Your friends and your bf should have no problem at all with you bringing your own food. If they are, then maybe they dont deserve your company!!!!!! They should be happy that you are there with them, no matter what you are carrying in your little container!! AMEN!
Just remember, we are all here to support you and love you unconditionally! If you went out to eat with me, and anyone gave you a cross look because you brought your own food, they would have to hear a little speach from me about tolerance!!! I'd rather your tummy be healthy than you have to stay at home because it is not!!
Its ok to be young and totally aggravated at IBS!! Us older Broads totally understand your frustration. WE love you too !! take care, you know what, I went out and brought take out home for me and my h, it was MEXICAN !!! YES IT WAS, AND IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD !!!!!
SEE, WE ALL DO IT.
One more thing, when my #2 son was young, and we would go out for Chinese, he utterly hated it. So we would stop off and pick him up a burger and fries! The owners of the restaurant thought it was funny! So did the other patrons, so see, no one really cares. Just do your thing and go out and have a great time. I bet they would even heat it up in the microwave for you!!! Don't be shy about it girl !
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi all,
Thank you so much for all the replies.. I think I might have totally over reacted to everything that has been happening lately, it's that whole 'me thinking the world is falling apart' thing.. I'm working on it.
I do know that everyone cheats - I had just been so good so far! When I first read the diet, I wouldn't even try it because I thought there was no way I could do it. But then I got sicker, and I did it.. I really did it, I stuck to it completely. And not just for a few weeks, for _months_ on top of months. But I just kept getting more and more sick. I know this is totally unfounded, but I think I sort of blamed the diet for a while. I blamed being so stressed about food, about not getting enough vitamins because I was basically constantly stuck on the 'what to eat when you can't eat anything', I tried to blame everything just so I could go back to normal and stop obsessing over food. And then my GI doctor, the consultant of the whole GI thingie over here, told me to eat whatever I wanted. And he really explained why he thought that was true. And I do know better, but it just seemed like such an easy answer.
I really do need to stress over food, it doesn't come easy for me (not that I think it does for anyone). I have all these obstacles that make it harder; I don't have my own kitchen, 'cause I live with someone else's family so I have to hurry in and hurry out to keep out of the way. That makes it mighty hard to say No when they offer me to just join in what they're having (which is never safe). But I always did. It just stressed me out. If I lived back in Canada, I would know exactly where to go to find soy everything, and good deli meats (turkey/chicken for sandwiches), and yoga classes, and what restaurants I can and can't eat at.. But I'm not at home. It's like the stress everyone else must feel when they are on holiday away from home but _all_ _the_ _time_. It doesn't make things impossible, but it makes me constantly have to be thinking about food. And even just stressing over that is enough to give me an attack. I just so badly wanted a way out of this.
Thanks to everyone who reassured me about not losing the support, that really is a big thing for me. I have only gotten more.. comfortable?.. with this whole IBS thing since coming to the boards and I would be so alone if I just lost it. I know I probably over reacted, thinking you'd all hate me or something, but I can't help it. I get so freaked out about being alone here. Like I said, I'm working on it.
I will go back and reply to some of the posts seperately, but I wanted to just try and explain why I feel like I am going so crazy.. and why I cheated.. and then just overreacted about everything.
Okay, so I am back on the diet now and did a big shopping trip to make sure I have stuff for the week. (If I could only stop forgetting my nice pre-made sandwiches in the fridge in the morning - oy!) I am still doing the hypno, and keeping to the meds my doc put me on. Hopefully, I won't start to get sick again and can take care of this cramping/urgency business and I will be on my way.
*hugs for everybody*
--Steph
--------------------
~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
For Bev
#81193 - 06/20/04 04:35 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
|
|
|
Hi Bev,
I did my big explanation post further on, but I wanted to reply directly to you as well to apologise for going off the deep end a bit in the over reacting department. It wasn't so much _your post_ that upset me, it was the realisation that you are probably right, I can't just keep waiting for things to go back to normal - it was accepting that my 'easy way out' probably wasn't. Like when they say if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I imagine that's the case for me and the diet (or no diet, as the case may be). I wasn't angry at you, and of course I still want us to be friends. I just got scared that it might look like I'm just not taking care of myself, and then what is the point in trying to help me? But I know that's not true, I know everyone slips up. I know I probably will again, but hopefully deal with it better.
I stopped taking my Acacia fiber when I started taking these Celevac tablets, and am feeling better in the BM department but do you think I should try and start taking it again? I doubt I can blame the Acacia for all my D, so maybe it would be a good idea try and add bits back in? Or if my BMs are still fairly normal, should I just leave things as they are?
Like I said in my other post, I went out shopping and bought stuff for the week like you suggested (although I had just got back from doing that when I read your post!) so hopefully with more 'good' stuff stocking the cupboards, I won't be so inclined to reach for the 'bad' stuff. I really need to find some safe cookies here, I haven't been able to find animal crackers. 
Oh, as for your pizza thing.. I think if you go in there often enough and you're a 'regular' then they will be way more likely to do special things for you really happily. I agree with everyone else, you should just ask. And then when they see you come in, and know you'll be bringing along your own cheese, they probably won't even think about it after a while. It's a good idea 'cause you'll get to go out for pizza without any stress! Last night I went to a friend's house, and they ordered pizza so my boyfriend ate all the cheese and toppings ('cause it was pepperoni) adn gave me the crust and tomato sauce.. Honestly, I took two bites and it still tasted pretty greasy so I just ate some rice cakes and stuff I brought along. As good as pizza? Hell no. As much as I try for postive thinking, they still taste like cardboard and sawdust. But I'm working on it... Damn, I'm 'working on' a lot of things.
*hugs*
--Steph
--------------------
~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hiya gigi,
First I just wanna say thanks 'cause you always seem to have such good replies and I really look forward to reading your posts now. I think you know a lot about people, and you really write everyone very considerate responses.
As for the age thing, I can't be sure (as I've never been older than this! ) but I imagine the lifestyle that surrounds younger people might make it more difficult. Like, the people that I am around are not very understanding about IBS.. I don't mean that someone of them aren't lovely people, who are sympathetic to tummy aches and all the rest, but they just don't understand IBS. I think it must be the same with some older people (I remember reading complaints about people's mothers, etc) but people see the diet as a choice. As a "oh, you can just have a little" sort of thing. With the people I spend a lot of time with, they don't have the same health issues. They can hop in a car, drive for hours and stop for pizza, and then get back in the car and have a wonderful time, whereas that sounds like agony to me. Trapped in car??? Pizza??? Oh God, no!! It does make it hard with my boyfriend, as he loves road trips and I am reluctant to get in the car to even drive to a restaurant 20 minutes away to have dinner with his family. He likes to go out to the pub, I usually don't want to go. It becomes either him going without me, or him staying in with me and losing his night out. Sometimes I go, and I make a real effort but the truth is.. sometimes that's just not fun for me. A) I don't drink B) I hate the smoke C) Until recently, I worked in a pub so spend more than enough time in one. At the end of a long day, I just can't make it appealing in my head!
With my boyfriend, who I live with and basically do everything with, it does become an issue and I don't blame him. I'm only 21, so I know that most people my age (ie other girlfriends he's had) don't have to worry about all the things I do. And as much as he tries to be so understanding (and he's so good most of the time) there are just some things I think he can't wrap his mind around. Which is why we still have arguments about food, and about going out to do certain things. Why he doesn't understand that if I decline an invitation in front of a group of people, to not keep questioning me about it until I finally have to say, "My stomach is feeling unwell, and I'm not sure I won't be really sick in the next hour or so". It's embarassing, and it's awkward and it makes me want to avoid social situations a lot of the time (Another thing I am 'working on').
I think the thing that made it even harder for my boyfriend was going along with me to the doctor's, hearing him say that I can eat whatever I want, and then watch me refuse to do it. At first, I wouldn't go off the diet but he really couldn't understand why. When I did go off, cheat, and not get sick he was ecstatic. Now he _really_ doesn't understand why I got so upset the other day, and why I've gone back on it. Again, I don't blame him.. but that doesn't mean it makes it any easier on me.
I hope it is an age thing in that I hope that means it will get easier to deal with as I get older. Practise makes perfect, right? I just need to find a way to quash that little voice in the back of my head that keeps telling me eventually I will go back to normal and be able to eat whatever I want!
Thanks for all your replies and understanding.
*hugs*
--Steph
--------------------
~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi Steph,
Happy to see you feel sooooo much better now. You know we're always here for you no matter what. Always remember that, ok?
Hugs to You Too,
Pat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hello all I am new to the board I just wanted to say hello. I was diagnosed with IBS 3 months after having my gallbladder removed. Just this year, 2 years later have started on bentyl. Mainly D, rarely C. To the point where I dont want to go anywhere, I work full time and Im afraid I will not make to the BR sometimes. Is this common?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Backatcha, Steph!
#81205 - 06/20/04 06:33 AM
|
|
|
|
Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
|
|
|
Thanks for your post, Cutie!
Good stuff here. You've really been working on it, and you sound good. But you didn't say how your tummy is doing?
Happy poops? Yaay! I don't know anything about Celevac, so I can't give you any suggestions -- except I don't believe in fixing it if it ain't broke. You don't sound broke to me!
The animal crackers are with the baby products. They have arrowroot biscuits as well -- which is what animal crackers are -- and you get those in the baby products too. They're very good; I was eating them, and so was hubby. They're crunchy and sweet, just perfect. However, I gave them up when I tried to cut out all sugaaaa. (Didn't last long, though, darn it.....)
Thanks for your advice. I think I'll give it a try. But if that pizza tastes greasy like yours did, I'll pass on it! Ew.
Why not call your doc and ask him about the Celevac tablets versus a SFS like Benefiber or Citrucel (he won't know anything about Acacia). Did I read somewhere here that Celevac is a SFS? If so, I think you're good to go. It doesn't bother your tummy, it works in the poop department, so it sounds good to me -- but I'd check first with the doctor who prescribed it.
I'm glad you're taking better care of yourself, Steph. That's what we all want for you.
{{{{{Hugs}}}}}
Bev
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I can't believe I forgot to put how my tummy is doing after all that! Well, my BMS feel more normal, which makes my tummy feel more normal. I still get the urgency thing out of the blue, which is annoying... I am hoping that'll go away, 'cause now I rush to the toilet, but then everything is alright once I get there. My tummy has been a bit churny inside the past couple of days. I'm hoping that might calm down a bit too as that makes me feel like I am 'on the verge' of getting sick.. even if I never get to the point of being sick, that thinking I'm gonna is enough to render me housebound and make me all kinds of grumpy.
Last night, after I had the bites of greasy pizza, my stomach got that really bad ache where it feels like everything between my ribcage and my hip bones just aches and aches and I ended up coming home early and going to bed. LauraSue said she used to get that, and it was gas pains - I only get them once in a while (always at night) but they are really bad, and there isn't anything I can do to stop it. I can take the gas relief meds, and peppermint caps and heating pad and basically the only thing that feels good is to lie on my stomach, on a heating pad and have some quiet time. I usually have to just go to sleep and by morning, it's gone.
I have been getting really nauseous when I'm at work, and my tummy feels like it's moving all around but I think that might be the heat - that's what happened to me last summer. My office isn't air conditioned and the fans just sort of circulate hot air, which is a bit sickening.
I feel about 70% better since these Celevac and anti-depression meds. I think someone did say (maybe Jen?) that Celevac is SFS.. If it is, I take 500 mgs, twice a day.. does that sound like a lot? I am clueless with stuff like this...
--Steph
--------------------
~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
For Pat
#81210 - 06/20/04 07:11 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
|
|
|
Hey,
Thanks, I really appreciate that. You're such a sweetheart to keep replying to me. I am feeling a lot better about everything today. Thanks so much. I hope your tummy is doing well!
--Steph
--------------------
~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi, and welcome! Your experience is VERY common among us, and also WILL get better. You're in the right place!! The best way to introduce yourself is to start your own post. See the link at the top of the page that says Post? Click on that and write a message. That way everybody will see it.
Welcome aboard!
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
70% better!! That's GREAT!! YAY YOU!!!
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi Steph,
It sounds like you are doing a lot better than before. I went to Google and did a search on Celevac and here is some info:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/showpreparation.asp?id=485
I think I would be nauseated, too, if there was no AC. Don't most work places have AC these days? What's the matter with them? How hot does it get there? Here in Houston it is unheard of not to have AC.( of course our temp can get up to 100 or more) I guess all you can do is stay close to a fan and drink lots of ice water.
Also, the new anti-depressant you are taking could be making you nauseated. It should get better as your body adjusts.
And one more thought.....stay away from greasy pizza!!!!!
Barbie
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Don't fret I've had my gallbladder out ,too..
--------------------
-----Marilyn-----
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Are they the same one that Heather gave us a recipe for with marhmallows? And what is toll house cocoa?
Thanks.
Joan
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi to you too! How are you doing these days?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Oh, the usual -- good days and bad days. The IBS is pretty stable though. I've made it over 5 months without a D attack!! Now if I could just make it that long without a migraine, I'd be all set!!
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
they may be? these are them web page
and i think toll house is just a particular brand of cocoa
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm glad your IBs is stable. Mine was stable for about 5 monthes as well but is now acting up again. I feel for you on the migraines-I hate them! I get them every single month and just know they are coming! Seems like us IBSers have really sensitive systems.
Stay strong.
Joan
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
That's the recipe I have. Thanks for all your info. You've been a lot of help today.
Joan
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I forgot to tell you I LOVE the puppies!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
STEPH WE ALL CHEAT IN SOMETHINGS WE EAT. WE ALL HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER THIS WEEK. JASPER
--------------------
ive had ibs for 8 years now. im learning alot on this web board. thanks again everyone
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGSFORSUCHASWEETIE}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Thanks for the sweetest, kindest words Steph!! I look forward to reading your posts also, I think so much of you right now. You have a new job, you are trying so hard to overcome such obtacles at times! Do not give up, you have come a long way, and I am sooooooo proud of you! Someday you will have friends who care so much about you, they will suggest to stay at home and cook you safe foods!! I am that lucky, it is the greatest thing, it really shows thier love for you. Right now, with your age, your friends are young too and sometimes it is just too much for them to take the time to bother. It won't happen until they start having family members suffer from their own ailments, sometimes that can wake people up to the things that are going on around them. It will happen, and you know, the day is going to come when you can sit down and enjoy some of the foods, not all of them, but some of them. I have come that far, and I owe alot of it to the sweet, sweet people on this board.
Take care and good luck at work this week, I want to hear all about it. I just love you, wish I could give you a hug!!
gayla
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I understand not wanting to leave the house, are you on Heathers diet? If you dont have her book, I do suggest it, it helped me, I had a huge change the first week into the diet! I am a believer.
On the Bentyl, maybe you haven't taken it long enough to answer, how do like it? Are you having any side effects?
I am thinking of switching to it, let me know what you think of it. gayla
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Steph-
#81413 - 06/21/04 05:47 AM
|
|
|
|
jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
|
|
|
you poor sweetie. i haven't read this whole thread, but please don't beat yourself up about cheating! we all do it and have done it. sometimes we get a little agressive with each other because we're trying to save each other from suffering, but we also all understand that sometimes you fall off the wagon.
it's my belief that it's normal, natural and important to fall off the wagon. important??? yes. here's why: i think if you're following a plan of some sort you need to reinforce the importance and efficacy of the plan sometimes. let me explain- for a while, i cheated on this diet (for months!) because i wasn't ready to accept that i needed to change the way i eat forever. then i started following it 'cause i was so miserable- there was no way i could live like i had been. i know you know where i'm coming from there! but even though it was working great, there was a part of me that wasn't totally 100% up with the program. i was telling myself deep down that one day i could eat whatever i wanted and that maybe the diet had nothing to do with it- maybe i was just better! so, when you start feeling better and you're telling yourself stuff like that, even subconsciously, and you find that you can get away with a little cheat here and there, it's normal to cheat a little more. then a little more. 'til you're doing nothing "right!" and maybe you can even go a little way like that.... no symptoms or tolerable symptoms. well, then you start to think "well, see!? it was me getting better! i don't need that diet! maybe i used to, but now i don't!"
then you get sick.
but while you beat yourself up about it, you have the great "upside" of knowing that yes, the diet works when you follow it.
so this is actually the world's most excellent opportunity for you! now you know that despite what your doctor said, the diet helps you! isn't that great news!?
so don't feel guilty. and don't worry- we all love you. sometimes we use "tough love" but it's still love!
SMOOCHIES!!!!!!!!!!!!! and big huge hugs.
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
Posts
