Hi there Lynijo,
Are you new to the Boards? If so, WELCOME! If not, how come I don't recall your name? Have you posted before?
Your question is a good one. I'd have to say yes, there are times when my system is "normal" (if there is such a thing). I got stable when I followed the program. Do you have Heather's book, "The First Year"? Are you following the diet? What about coffee? Are you drinking coffee? Even decaf? It's THE WORST trigger of all!
It takes a lot to get back to "normal," but it can be done. You need to stick with the program STRICTLY -- no cheating! (I cheated and refused to give up my beloved cuppa. As soon as I got real about it and gave it up -- and it was immediate -- I got better!)
I still have my bad times. If I stray too far from my usual IBS-safe meal, I'll have an attack. I keep a food diary (and have for almost 3 years now), and when I have an attack I refer back to the journal; I can always find the culprit. Last attack was over a chicken-apple sausage; no doubt it was full of sodium nitrate, but also dark poultry meat and of course pork casing. My sensitive system SOOOO did not like it!
I don't take meds every day, just as needed. Thankfully, I haven't had to take a Donnatal for months; my prescription is going to expire -- and I've already had to throw out my first prescription for the stuff that had expired 3 years ago. While the meds are expensive, consider the cost of all the things you've had to give up. I think you'd find it's a wash. I know that if I added up what I paid for all the coffee I drank over a year's time, it would easily pay for all my meds in that same time frame.
Frankly, I think I spend less on food and meds (combined) now than I did before I went on the program. After all, my favorite med (Equalactin) is only about $7. I paid that price for a package of coffee beans -- and the Equalactin lasts me five times longer!
You referred to "food changes." Okay, you're right. There are a lot of food changes. But they're for the best. The diet is MUCH healthier than any other diet out there. I also happen to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. My doctor sent me to a nutritionist who took one look at my IBS diet and said, "this is exactly the diet I was going to put you on for your high cholesterol!" I expect my next visit to the doctor will show that my high cholesterol has dropped drastically.
I'm on this program for life, even when my IBS goes into remission. And, yes, right now, I am IBS-symptom-free.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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