Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Hopeless case! Back to basics.

No 175 recipes for me!!!
Hi,
Yesterday I cried my eyes out because my bloating had worked itself up to a proper IBS attack (you were right, Han Solo) and I realised I had to cut everything out once more - not only the foods I had tried to introduce so very cautiously (remember, the two teaspoons of oatmeal, the small potato and a few sips of soymilk) but basically EVERYTHING in order to stabilize. For now I cut down the fat by half (a quarter of a teaspoon of sour cream per meal), just a quarter of an apple and a teaspoon of fish at lunch and dinner (because I have to get worse to swallow down just plain rice. Just the thought makes me gag. Too many bad memories). Anyway, I think I can see a very small improvement today.

Gosh, I was so depressed. How can I be so unstable after 8 months on this rice diet??? I hadn't had a 'proper IBS attack triggered by food for 3 months (I did have my 'hormonal' IBS but that's different). I introduced the new foods 'by the book', even more gently, and still, over the past three weeks, I slowly got unstable. Though at first I thought I might be able just to live with the bloating, but then it got out of hand and the pain, and gurgling and loose stools are back in full strength.

I've followed Heather's guidelines to the book since November which wasn't difficult because I had already found out half of them on my own, and it is the only way to keep my IBS in check. But the truth seems to be that my personal equilibrium diet does not allow for anything other than rice, fish and chicken breast in a certain, low ratio, stewed carrot and apple, a certain amount of fat (not my biggest problem) and sweets made of simple sugars (which I need to hold my weight). And of course rice cakes with tiny amounts of margerine, honey or chocolate spread. Of course I need to strictly eat the same amounts at the same time of day every day. When very stable I can also have a slice of gluten free bread (after the rice of course) or a tinned apricot once in a while. That's it. Anything else will rock the boat and eventually, after a while, make me ill.

I was so distressed yesterday because it is so tiresome and so complicated to try and live a normal life in these circumstances. Whereever I go I need to drag along a bag full or rice cakes or even cooked meals in tupperware plus my fibre supplements and medications, and what's worse, at any social event even a coffee morning I can't touch any of the food or drinks on offer, never. If I could at least eat some biscuits or bread. Or potatoes. That would open up a whole range of possibilities for me. I'm having to explain my condition to everybody, and everybody is so understanding, but it's in the long run that they are finding it so weird and unnormal that there is no IMPROVEMENT! All these suggestions, and that I should see another doctor, etc. People get really worked up about my fate which is sweet but I could do without it.

So, today I've resolved rather to be grateful for what I've got: I know I can live more or less symptom free on above diet (as long as my hormones stay under control), I can go everywhere with my family, do sports (job's difficult with all the restrictions) and have friends. That's not bad, is it? Food shouldn't be so important, and there are millions of people who eat rice every day all their lives!

Thanks for bearing with me.

Susaloh

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