So I've had chronic D for just over 4 years now, and have been "diagnosed" with IBS for about the past 3 of those years (although I still wonder about the possibility of Candidensis or whatever, and lately read about SIBO, and wonder if the tests keep missing a gluten intolerance). I've had most of the available tests like colonoscopy, endoscopy, RAST allergy test, fecal samples, etc. I've tried lots of mixtures with diets as I've read books like Breaking the Viscious Cycle, What your doctor may not tell you about IBS, and lastly, Heather's book, which sounded the most promising.
I've now been adhering to Heather's diet fairly well for about a month or more, very strictly for a few weeks. I'm also on about day 14 of the hypnotherapy tapes. So far I'm not finding any relief, but I'm in a lucky situation where I am a graduate from college and being fed and housed by my parents, and thus have room for experimentation to find a solution.
I started at 2.5g Acacia fiber 11 days ago (but had previously been taking smaller amounts of Metamucil caps) and am now at 6.05g. I felt that this was a gradual increase according to Heather's advice, but maybe someone thinks otherwise? Other than that, I've been taking Caltrate, PB8 probiotics, Spirulina, Peppermint Caps, Peppermint and Fennel Tea, and a Multivitamin every day for quite a while. Keeping a log of consumed food and reactions during the days, I've been unable to pinpoint much of any problem foods and am pretty desperate for advice from fellow sufferers.
My base diet consists of quinoa in the morning, boiled chicken breast, white jasmine rice, white rice bread, and boiled carrots for lunch and dinner. I've admittedly not been eating much greens for fear of attacks. Ocassionally tried small amounts of peas and soybeans with Beano and unsure of the outcome. I also fairly regularly eat boiled turkey, canned tuna in water, baked potatoes w/out skin, yams w/out skin, sourdough bread, rice cakes, fat free saltines, organic no additivies applesauce, bananas, butternut and acorn squash. Less occassionally eat oatmeal, Whole Foods vanilla rice milk, Whole Foods rice puff cereal. I put Agave nectar on many things for sweet flavor, and rarely use other spices. If I do use others, it's very small amounts of pepper, lemon pepper, garlic salt, and cinnamon (no, not all together!). I've been using Lomotil every morning to prevent the diarrhea, and it works OK. I used to take lots of Imodium, and still do occassionally to supplement the Lomotil. I've also got a bottle of nortriptyline on my counter that I was going to start on, but I would like to hold off until I decide how much this diet and the hypnotherapy will do for me.
Anyway, apologies for the very long post, but I felt the need to be comprehensive in order not to waste peoples' time on responses. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Oh yeah, I also mountain bike a lot with heavy exertion, and for long periods of time, and I'm not sure how this effects my symptoms, although it's of course not the underlying cause. So I get plenty of exercise between that and pushups and situps.
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Dash
IBS-D(Tenacious D)
Edited by arctic masticator (09/30/06 10:15 AM)
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another desperate plea for help/suggestions
