When you get to the point where you realize you have to get real, and accept the fact that you have this horrible condition, you WILL begin the road of "healing."
Now, first thing you HAVE to do, lose the coffee! That was the toughest part for me. Heather totally got me to go cold turkey with her post on 12/10/03:
Quote:
Here's what Heather told me that got me to quit cold turkey:
". . . decaf doesn't matter - there's an enzyme in coffee beans that's a GI irritant) would wreak havoc on anyone with IBS. I don't think any dietary measures, or hypnosis, or anything else would overcome that (it sure wouldn't for me). You're just constantly, and seriously, irritating your digestive tract. All of your other efforts may help mitigate this, but I don't think they'll be much more than a band-aid.
I would stop drinking coffee asap, and cold turkey. Since you're not having the caffeine, you shouldn't have any withdrawal symptoms. Try Rocamojo, a roasted soy bean "coffee" that folks on the board love. Do search on the boards for coffee and you'll find lots of good substitutes. . . . coffee is right up there with red meat, dairy, and soda pop. No benefits, many dangers.
I think you're going to be shocked by how much better you feel, almost immediately, if you give up the joe."
As soon as I gave it up, my symptoms went away. No more cramps! Yaaay! You CAN find a substitute, though -- and I did. It's SoyFee, and it's fabulous! It's very healthy for you, and even aids in digestion! Here's the website: The World's Best Tasting Coffee That Isn't Coffee Web Page
Like you, I was originally in total denial as well, which is a shame -- because I lost several years of my life, suffering so badly. Even when I first contacted Heather, I still didn't want to believe it, and I wouldn't follow the advice in her books. Finally, I had no choice. BUT -- and it's a big butt -- I DID eventually get stable when I stuck with the program and STOPPED CHEATING. Now, I haven't had an attack in several months, and I feel GREAT!
You can too, Little One. (And never, NEVER talk about "killing yourself.") We are all here, in the same boat, and what we do is help each other. That includes you. We'll help you with this.
First, after tossing out that horrible coffee, check out the links to your left. Get Heather's book, "The First Year." If you can afford it, go for her other book, "Eating for IBS." The latter contains fabulous recipes, but if you can't afford it AND the other book, get "The First Year" because it's our bible. We follow it TO THE LETTER. You also might consider some of Heather's supplements: you need a good SFS, and Acacia is excellent. Also, her peppermint capsules are great as an anti-spasmodic, if you don't already have a prescription for Nu-Lev, Hyoscyamine, or Donnatal. Her tummy teas are good (although I confess I ain't no tea person!), but you might want to invest in some Ginger Aid tea (at the supermarket) for those times when your tummy is "down-and-out."
Also, be sure to run down to Wal-Mart's or Walgreens and get yourself some Equalactin tablets that you keep in your purse for emergencies. They'll calm your tummy down in stressful situations or when you go out to a restaurant to eat.
Little One, don't despair. We've ALL been there, and some of us still are. You've come to the right place for help, and you've taken the biggest step of all -- acceptance.
Welcome to the Boards!
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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