Thanks to everyone for the help. I am trying to begin following the diet even if I don't have IBS (but at this point, with many of the more serious stuff ruled out, what else can make your digestive system not function for five weeks?)
I have a follow up question. First, to answer the question of one of the repliers, this all began five weeks ago with the onset of D. However, it was nothing special, I have unannounced D about once or twice a year, and it basically clears up the next day - I always thought I just ate something undercooked or whatnot. This time seemed to be heading in that direction, too. I had a normal weekend after the D (it began on a Thurs) and felt fine until Tue of the next week when the D came back for just that day, and mostly reduced. Since then I have exhibited numerous problems including, most commonly, undefined abdominal pain, gas, bloating, nausea (more at the beginning - first two weeks - not so much now) and alternating between loose and C, but no technical D since the outset. My belief is, since the week following the D was super stressful at work, that I may have had a bug and that combined with the stress developed me into IBS or whatever I have now.
Until last night I had never heard of this diet. Both my GP and GI told me to not change my diet except to add Metamucil and my GI gave me a 7 day sample of Align. I cannot directly attribute the waxing and waning of my symptoms with "trigger" foods (e.g. I ate high sugar high whey chocolate protein bar and symptoms didn't worsen, or I would consume things that more closely approximated the diet (bananas and applesauce for two straight days) and that didn't noticeably improve them.)
I also reported side effects that didn't seem IBS'y, like waking up in the middle of the night with the shivers once which lasted a half hour but I wasn't cold. Waking up another night with out of control muscle spasms in my midsection, and a couple nights of not being able to sleep, but neither Dr. seemed particularly concerned (my GI asked me to come back in a MONTH.)
So, whatever I have, it's not being taken seriously by my doctors (or they just don't care), but both have made me take blood and stool tests (the GI results haven't come back yet, the GP's said I was fine - he was more concerned about my triglycerides and asked me to take fish oil) and pretty much ended it there.
So, there's my backstory. As per my first note, prior to 4/5 weeks ago, I could eat a whole chocolate cake or pizza if I wanted to with no ill effect. I guess first of all, since this forum is filled with actual helpful IBS patients, is to ask: Do my symptoms sound like yours? You aren't doctors, but do you agree that barring something more serious like Chrons (which my first tests said no) that what I am describing sounds like your IBS? It's more pain, discomfort, urgency (like I feel like I am going to have D, I freak out, but surprise, I don't) based than actual C and D most of the time.
Finally, (and I thank you for reading this far) today I tried the diet created on this website. I have a busy job with little time to shop so I just worked with what I had. Breakfast was applesauce and pretzels, and I felt great all morning, no problem. I was pretty geeked out on this diet and really happy. Then I got a taco salad for lunch which I modified to remove the non-diet ingredients (cheese, sauce, taco chips) and only ate the sourdough roll (first) then the chicken (it was lean white chicken, not fried or fatty), half an avocado, and a few black beans. However, only about 1/3 into it I had a terrible feeling in my stomach, I actually felt a little (very minor) dizzy, and I notice my stress response turned on, my head got hot and sweaty, I felt very uncomfortable. I didn't eat anything else all day since then, yet my stomach has remained tight and uncomfortable feeling. However, this has not yet led to D or anything like that.
Does that sound right? I really tried to adhere to the recommendations. Is it something that could have been brought on by things I ate in previous days, but just putting food in my mouth today triggered?
Thanks again! You are all so nice, and I can't imagine a source of information more useful than an internet forum filled with experienced people - even a doctor can't match that!
PS: SYL - I'm a logical kind of guy, and love numbers and science, so thank you so much especially for your statistics!
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Re: Brand New To This: Severity Question
