I've been battling GERD for about 13 years now. Been mostly on Protonix to keep it under control. In April 2008, I started getting horrible stomach aches after eating a very small amount of food. I struggled with the aches and went to a GI specialist. I had many tests done (Endoscopy, Barium X-rays, etc.). Everything came up fine except for a small Hiatel Hernia. I went to a Chiropractor a few times for the Hernia which helped a lot. However, the stomach aches were getting worse. I went to my doctor at least once a week for months! I was so fustrated that they couldn't find what was wrong with me. I couldn't even eat a half of sandwhich without getting a 3 hour stomach ache. Then, I read about H-Pylori infection on the internet. By this time it was October. I went to the doctor and demanded an H-Pylori test. It came out positive! The doctor gave me a 2 week round of antibiotics. After the first week I was normal again and so happy. As soon as I stopped taking the antibiotics, though, I started having symptoms again. These were different though. The stomach aches were from different types of food and not as prolonged. I could eat a larger meal with less pain but I knew I wasn't normal. I went back to the doctor numerous times for months and tried a multitude of medications for constipation, stomach pain, indegestion, etc. It wasn't until December that the doctor attributed my pain to IBS.
Anyways, I haven't had any specific tests for IBS. I doctors say I'm IBS-C. I did notice that once I started eating more (In November), I was eating a lot of 'fiber' to be healthy. I would eat a flax mutibran cereal w/ a small spoon of peanut butter as a snack in the afternoon. It tasted sooo good. But then I'd get a big stomach ache from it. I was also eating a lot of whole grain bread with the same results. Many other foods started to become a problem.
In January 2009, I discovered HelpForIBS.com. I learned the difference between soluble and insoluble fibers. At first, I tried cutting back on the insoluble fibers but that didn't help. Then, I switched back to eating my beloved oatmeal in the mornings like I used to in my early 20's. I started eating more bananas. I started eating pasta instead of brown rice. I switched to fresh white breads. All of these things really helped!!!
I also stopped drinking espresso drinks. I always had only 1 latte in the mornings because my GERD couldn't tolerate a cup of coffee. I never thought I'd be able to give up coffee but I started drinking Teaccino instead. I always had a very healthy diet but I gave up the miniature hershey bars and 'healthy' potato chips, peanut butter, grapes, etc. This all helped.
Since January, I became pretty stable. I still suffer bouts when I can't eat my regular diet. But I'm learning what I can and cannot eat at the occasional restaurant outings. I've also been drinking plenty of fennel tea, taking FiberCon, and I take the Peppermint Oil caps. My GERD has also completely disappeared or is masked by my new diet. I am also going to the gym 4 days a week and use breathing excersises and chamomile tea to stay stress free at work. My life is starting to get back on track.
Anyways, I appreciate everything on this board and want to thank Heather for putting this info together in one place. I'm excited to start trying some of the IBS recipes and get more variation back in my diet. I do experiment with some 'safe' foods but sometimes I don't have so much good luck. I'll keep trying little by little though.
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