Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: You are on the wrong track...

Snorkie:

I think you misunderstand me. I am simply stating the best (ideal) way of dealing with IBS, in particular for people who have a SEVERE CASE of it. The best way is to prepare everything yourself and use a high quality food source. It is obvious not every person can do this or can afford to do this. But it is common sense that this would probably be a good approach if you are extremely ill with IBS.

I am talking about the people on this board, including the author of the original post of this thread, who are very ill and who have found little or no relief from their current diet/lifestyle regimes even though they are following Heather's diet. In order to be well, these people may have to prepare everything from scratch (unless they can find IBS-safe prepared food somewhere ... for example, I am able to purchase IBS-safe bread from a good bakery where I live) and they may also have to use good quality food (organic is probably the best).

I'm not saying this to antagonize people. I am simply stating a reality. I don't think it's a question of what we want to do (whether we have time to make our own food or whether we can afford good quality food). I think it's a question of what we might have to do in order to be well -- especially for those who are finding that nothing seems to work. We can choose not to take this approach (because we have no time and we can't afford it), but the result could be continued illness. This, again, is the reality.

I continued to be ill until I made some dramatic changes, including switching my food supply to organic (whenever possible and feasible) and preparing my own food. I removed everything from my diet containing additives and other junk. And, of course, I employed Heather's diet rules.

After battling IBS for 47 years, and having a very severe case of IBS, my conclusion has been that generally staying away from most prepared foods (except those you find are safe) and staying away from anything containing additives, chemicals, etc. and preparing my own food from a good quality food supply is the best method for me of dealing with IBS. I have found in my experience that even the most minute ingredient can trigger an attack. So even a pesticide in a conventional veggie can make me ill whereas I might be able to tolerate the veggie if it were pesticide-free.

I truly hope others won't have to take such a drastic journey to wellness as I have, but I suspect it may be necessary for some. If so, one might have to dedicate much more time in preventing IBS attacks (preparing one's own food, etc.) -- which seems to me to be a much better option than to dedicating most of one's time to recovering from IBS attacks.

By the way, organic food need not be expensive. There are sales all the time, just like regular food. Also, prepared food is expensive so if you generally cut it out, you can free up more money for better quality food. I also forego some things I like doing like seeing movies at the theatre, etc. in order to bolster my food budget to purchase high quality food so I can be well. It just depends on your priorities I guess.

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