About 1 1/2 years ago I posted a message on a Weight Watchers support site complaining that whenever I tried to eat leafy green salads, raw veggies and all those "high fiber" grains, I ended up with explosive diarrhea. I was mystified and wanted to know if anyone else had such problems. The turning point in my gastric life came when another person replied, "it sounds like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You might want to check out www.helpforibs.com." I did so, and experienced one of those hair-on-the-neck-standing-up moments when I recognized what I had been living for the past decade or so. For years, I'd attributed recurring explosive or fatty diarrhea to any number of culprits: antibiotics, stomach flu, stress... and certainly those things didn't help. But it was not until I learned and applied the principles of EFI that I experienced a "normal" stool for the first time I remember. (Even when not explosive, I was always "loose.") I actually had to "relearn" how to expel a normal stool, as it felt like I had to strain to expel a plain old soft play-doh consistency!
About 6 months after I had stabilized on Heather's diet, I (as suggested in Heather's book) consulted a Gastroenterologist and was diagnosed with "microscopic colitis" - inflamation was identified, but not ulcerative. I sometimes wonder if, had the colonoscopy been done a year earlier when I was in the greatest pain, the diagnosis might have been "ulcerative." Even with the colitis diagnosis, the EFI approach has been the best approach for me. And I believe I also have IBS-style reactivity to some foods.
I have continued to abide by the EFI principles, with the occasional falling off the wagon, and learning from the pain and embarrassment. I am gradually learning which things are the worst triggers for me (raw tomatoes actually cause blisters in my mouth!), and which ones my body seems not to mind (after eliminating then reintroducing carefully after stabilization).
I've read some people complaining about the restrictive nature of the EFI diet. I heartily disagree. I do find that home-cooking agrees with me more often than eating out, but the variety and tastiness are endless. I have found that a lot of my childhood comfort meals are easiest as well. More to the point, the resulting freedom from pain and embarrassment (I've had to hang up on conversations - and still not made it to the toilet in time!) are worth any slight inconvenience. Ironically, the worst thing for me has been the tsk-tsk looks I get when I grab a starchy snack rather than a salad, or when I ask for white rice or white bread in restaurants. Easy enough for me to live with, and an incredibly small price to pay.
As an aside, my mother had chronic gastric problems and also attributed them to prescription medications. And I remember her insisting that she could not eat tomato peels. I thought she was being a hypochondriac. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in her 70's (successfully treated). I often wonder if the continual irritation contributed to her cancer. My daughter, now 20, has also has recently noticed bouts of what sound like IBS-C with painful gas and bloating after she eats foods high in garlic. I've referred her to this site for basic principles of eating to treat your bowels gently!
All this to say, "Thank you, Heather. Your information has helped me heal my body so I can enjoy life more."
Wordfiend
--------------------
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
EFI really does make a difference
