Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Sorry I didn't see this sooner, Sand!

Yes, it did take me 14 or 15 months to get to what I would call "stable", but I DID see some improvement along the way. I will say that the first 3 or 4 months passed with no improvement whatsoever, but I stuck with it because I know, from past experiences in having to adjust my diet for specific health problems, that these things take time.

I have never thought of this as an "eating plan". It's a lifestyle change. As in, this is the way I will be eating for the rest of my life. Anyone who ISN'T thinking that way is in denial... and setting themselves up for relapses in the future. But if you think of it as a lifelong project, giving it 6 months, a year, or even 2 years isn't unreasonable.

I will also say that if you're ONLY changing your diet, you're not giving your body a fair shot at healing itself. You have to be in this for the complete lifestyle change. You have to change your diet with no cheats. You have to learn to manage stress and anxiety, by whatever means (therapy, medication, hypnosis). You have to exercise and drink a lot of water, get plenty of sleep, quit smoking/drinking/drugs. You have to at least try the recommended supplements, herbs, and minerals that Heather suggests. If you're not doing all of this, you're not giving it a fair try, because you're not eliminating a lot of trigger factors beyond food.

Off my soapbox now, haha.

And as far as how I define "stable", by the way: I still have attacks and "bad days", but they are - thankfully - only maybe once a month, and not nearly as bad as they used to be. I will NEVER be completely symptom-free, and I'm fully accepting of that... which was a HUGE step in my recovery/stabilization process.

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