Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: very depressed about this whole thing

Let me preface my comments with:

[[[[[HUUUUUUUUGE CYBER HUGS!]]]]]]]]

I have only been recently diagnosed - only a few weeks ago - so this is new to me too, and at first, I was extremely depressed about it.

I'm from Wisconsin [originally], so I understand how difficult it is to give up dairy - oh believe me, I understand!

I am still struggling with giving up cheese. I still put just the smallest amount of cheese on some of my meals, and I actually do not have a problem with it if it's in small doses...but it's hard when I want to snack on cheese, because I really can't anymore. My days of eating an apple with string cheese are over, and...it could have made me sad, but in this day and age, there are so, so very many food options available to us! - I'm seeing this as a reason to explore more possibilities rather than become restricted. It takes some work, but it is possible!

For milk, why don't you start out by getting Vanilla soy milk [my favorite is Silk] and drinking half skim milk combined with half Soy milk? - Then slowly increase it to 1/4 skim milk to 3/4 soy? Then try a whole glass of vanilla soy milk? I bet you'll actually love soy milk - especially vanilla. I love it so much, I don't even like milk anymore! Me, a Wisconsin girl, doesn't like milk?! That's right!

Speaking of Wal Mart, there is a "generic" vanilla soy milk available in all Wal Marts for less than "Silk" brand, and it's just as good. I've actually been pleasantly surpised at the amount of veggie "meat replacements" now available in Wal Mart, AND soy cheeses. -And truly, not for that much money. As another post said above, rice is SO cheap! As are potatoes and pasta. It doesn't have to be expensive.

I look at it this way. The budget that would have been devoted to meat, fats and "bad" dairy now goes towards a WORLD of "safe" foods that are not as bad or restrictive as you'd think.

You may actually like this new way of eating! Just be patient with yourself and take it one day at a time. Try to slowly wean yourself off of dairy. As a matter of fact, now that I've written this, I'm going to try the same with cheese! I'm going to try blending half "real" cheese with half soy cheese and then slowly increase the soy cheese...I have a feeling that I'll become accustomed to soy cheese AND even start liking it.

You can overcome this. And we can help you!

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-NiNi

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