Hello,
This is my first post, but I have been suffering with IBS-D for 10 or more years. I used to get major gas pains every afternoon and certain foods would make me double over in pain. I used to avoid scheduling meetings at work during the afternoon because it was embarrassing and uncomfortable. I used to feel bad enough that I would avoid going out after work or going to the gym. My GI doc and I were working our way through the myriad of drugs available to find something that would work.
Then I got the stomach flu and accidentally did an elimination diet. I couldn't eat for about a week and when I started eating again, all I ate was the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet. Slowly I began reintroducing foods as I began to feel better. The only food I didn't reintroduce was soymilk. All of my symptoms went away!
I had been drinking soymilk instead of regular milk because I thought I had a lactose problem. I would put soymilk on my cereal, in my tea, and even cook with it. I was ingesting it daily but never made the connection since I never had an immediate effect from it.
I don't know if I have a problem with soy or with carrageenan, but I suspect it's the carrageenan. I was drinking Silk and Trader Joes brands, which both have carrageenan in them. I haven't done a test with another brand of soymilk without carrageenan because I don't want to risk feeling like that again!
I have read the articles by Joanne Tobacman. I know about the debate about degraded and undegraded carrageenan. All I can say is that avoiding carrageenan has made a huge impact on my life. Dr. Andrew Weil suggests avoiding it and Wikipedia links to research suggesting carrageenan can play a role in intestinal inflammation and IBD.
I have since found carrageenan in many things including soymilk, toothpaste, whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate milk powders, lunch meats, sour cream, ricotta cheese, frozen dinner, soups, candy, many "natural" products, and basically anything they want to make creamy.
I am thankful for Heather's books and this website, but I wish Heather and more people had mentioned carrageenan as a possible trigger. It's a big trigger for me right up there with sorbitol and MSG.
I'm seeing some posts where people have asked about carrageenan. Try removing it from your diet and see if you feel better. I certainly do! You deserve to feel great and I hope this information helps you get there.
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I cured my IBS by avoiding carrageenan
