Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | My elimination diet (for those who asked for it)...

I am hoping maybe this will help someone else on the board at some point! Here goes:

I began to feel better after going gluten free s little over 2 weeks ago. I still have bloating, but it's not nearly as bad. The pain has significantly decreased in frequency and strength. The burping and gas are also much better. BUT--it could be the hypnotherapy tapes? I have been continuing with them! My plan was to eliminate gluten 3-6 months and then add gluten back in. If I saw a negative difference, I would know the culprit, and if not then I would eat gluten again. I do know I have probs with dairy (lactaid free milk and lactoste tablets don't help), pasta, bread (even my husband's plain french bread with no oil and no eggs--just yeast, a drop of sugar, flour and water), corn, soy, applesauce, (both sweetened and unsweetened), citrucel, food coloring/additives (any candy that is colored is a problem), anything with Matzah meal in it, chicken seems to be a prob (I have to try it once or twice more before I can put it on the don't eat list), cranberry sauce from a can, honey (we buy the Shaw's pure honey--no nutritional info. is on the label), matzah (VERY gassy), oatmeal (which I LOVE), rice milk (it gives me bumps), soy milk of any brand/flavor, (even a soy derrivitive is a problem), ketchup, mustard, vinegar (I am planning to try different types--so far clear vinegar is a prob), orange juice, soy sauce, tuna from a can (which contains soy), and bananas (makes my tongue tingle). The symptoms I get from the foods that are a problem range from tingling tongue (I get this with bananas, strawberries, pineapple, coconut, and mango), to bloating, pain, gas, and even a bit of nausea. I know I CAN eat potatoes, (I only eat them baked, plain, or is soup, pureed--russet organic, white sweet potatoes organic, and sweet potatoes organic are all fine), Jasmine rice, Lundberg rice cakes (I can't eat Shaw's rice cakes for some reason--they make me gassy), kasha, fresh salmon, and that's it so far. (I began this strict elimination diet about 2.5 weeks ago). It's also interesting that I've noticed certain foods are ok from the whole food market, and not from the regular grocery store! Also, I can only eat Jasmine rice from one company at the moment--I still have another comapny to try. Minute instatn rice of all kinds seem to upset my tummy. I can only eat rice that is not pre-cooked! Just a note: everyhting I eat is plain--the only thing I add occasionally is salt (I had to buy Kosher salt because most salt contains a corn derrivitive in it). I also had to discontinue my probiotics as they contain maltodextrin--corn!

It definately seems like diet plays a BIG role in this for me. Also, I notice problems right away after I eat something typically. Like, a few bites after I would eat pre-cooked rice, the gas and bloating started as I was eating! My questions: Is this normal for IBS? Is it possible to have such specific food problems from IBS? My mom thinks it might be an ulcer--but I don't get stomach pain without eating. In fact, in high school I ate very little and my symptoms were very mild (I just got a little gassy--the pian was better and the bloating I kept at bay by eating next to nothing). On Friday nights for Shabbos, I would drink grape juice and eat tow pieces of Challah (egg bread), and that was enough to start my tummy doing flip flops. I'd have a sliver of apple pie, and I was done! This was my whole dinner! I knew it would upset my tummy every time I did it--but it was so yummy I didn't care!!! LOL It's a custom to eat these foods every Friday night (I haven't been having either recently). Fruit juices are also a killer for me! But it doesn't take more than a few sips to get me in bad shape.

I hope this info. is helpful if not just interesting! I've been working very hard to figure out what I can/can't eat--and I fianlly feel like I'm getting somewhere. I just wish I knew what this all means! I wish I could piece it all together and say "This is what I have" and get on with my life. I know I will be able to do this at some point--hopefully the next doc I go to (I have an appointment with a new GI for Monday), will be able to help me solve this mystery. I've been battling with my stomach since I was 5 years old...almost 20 years now...so I'm anxious to move on! It's been rough, and there are days I don't know how I got through...all the frustration, tears, pain, anxiety, etc.! But one day I'm gonna come on this board and say "I made it!"

Sorry to ramble on and on--I guess I got carried away *blushing* Thanks so much for listeing and for caring!

I hope that everyone is feeling good and getting somewhere with their individual battles! I love you all!

((((hugs))))

Ruchie

Sincerely,
Ruchie

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Formerly known as Ruchie

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