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pearlmaj,
I have the SAME problem as you!! It is so hard and frustrating for me to figure out what makes my stomach hurt! I mean, I used to drink a gallon of milk every week (to use with cereal),and some days I never had a stomach ache, but other days I did. So if it's really the dairy, wouldn't I have had a stomache ache every day??? I drank lots of milk every day (think 4 cups maybe).

So, yes, I feel your frustration. It is so frustrating to know exactly. Plus, for me at least, I never notice an immediate reaction right after eating any one thing. Sometimes I'll get a stomach ache first thing in the morning, when I haven't eaten anything in like 14 hours!! So is this just a delayed reaction??

I wish that everything we ate affected us RIGHT away so we would KNOW that it was a no-no for us, don't you??

Very frustrating!!!

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EXACTLY! Before going on this IBS diet, I used to eat Mexican food -- I can recall eating it two nights in a row, and having no problem the SECOND night! And from childhood through college, I drank a big glass of milk with dinner every night.

There are three things I know are triggers for me, though -- the results are too consistent, and are much more immediate for these things, or I would never have known: (i) a bowl of ice cream, (ii) goat cheese, (iii) dark meat chicken (this one was highlighted for me by an allergist I saw a few years ago when I did a food diary for him -- too bad it is the only kind of chicken I really like ). Oh yeah, and too much beer! But I think that is pretty common for most people -- a college friend called the results "beer bowels" (sorry if too gross -- ).

I already did the no dairy thing for 2 weeks back in grad school, and noticed no difference when I went back on (in other words, I had some problems during those 2 weeks and I had some problems after, too). I guess all that means is dairy could be one of many triggers, as I did not do an elimination diet at that time.

Now I am pretty much on an elimination diet but I still can't tell! I keep having D anyway -- but I only have BMs every few days, so who knows what is causing it? If this is so hit and miss, I am tempted just to eat what I want!! But then I remember why I started this diet in the first place and I can't help thinking that if I can just figure out my triggers... I am making myself crazy with this.

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