more stomach issues

[Zoe Girl]

i have been writing off my continued stomach issues as stress, but today was just one more day starting with cramps and loose stools. I go to the bathroom about 3 times in the morning. I am fructose intolerant and so i am using teh FODMAP diet, but i rechecked and found out that there are more no foods than i thought. Specifically they recommend no wheat. And yesterday i made the 3 sisters stew with onion and garlic (no) and butternut squash (limited). Argh, the only good news is that very small amounts of avacado may be back on my ok list and there are more fruits than i thought, mostly berries. my typical breakfast of oatmeal is also good.

i am just miserable enough to at least go super strict for a week and see how it goes, and i just paid for an app on my phone for the low FODMAP diet. the cost goes towards research which is good

[ApatheticNoMore]

If I was to blame something in the 3 sisters stew I would say maybe the squash but probably it's the corn!!! But that may be more my issues than anything.

I have had times in my life where I could not eat any corn without rushing to the bathroom (and beans were also contributing - but corn was even worse including anything made with corn especially if it's like whole grain corn tortillas - combine corn with beans and it was "surely I must have lost my mind to eat that"!). I didn't eat almost any corn for a LONG time (ok tortilla or chips might happen once in a blue moon at a Mexican restaurant). I didn't eat beans in any quantity for awhile - oh a couple tablespoons might get added to a salad that is all. My gut gets stronger. I can eat them again. Still heck if you will ever get me to eat whole grain corn tortillas ever again. And no I don't eat beans every day or for several meals a day (good luck me ever becoming a vegan I suppose). My tolerance for foods mostly builds so I mostly don't feel food crazy now. I think it was probably at a weak point then anyway (where I felt beyond food neurotic as fruits and veggies (real veggies not corn!) were mostly perfectly fine, but it felt like almost every protein food (except fish) was driving me nuts - not all with digestive problems but dairy would make me congested with a sore throat, eggs would make me incredibly nervous (crazed) and have stomach problems (I still do really distrust eggs - only rarely), beef would be indigestible and sit like a lump in my stomach etc.), I'm sure things like antibiotics contribute to that, I haven't needed them for a little while, maybe that's why I'm better. I'm also very careful to eat all problematic foods in more moderation now. I have no fructose problems and never have. I eat minimal wheat. I feel almost food sane again! But I am careful, everything risky in moderation.

[rosarugosa]

It does depend on what the issue is. For IBS, the corn and the onion would both be issues, and maybe even the squash. Sometimes it's a matter of degree. A few problematic ingredients eaten together in generous quantities can have a more extreme effect than a small amount of one of the offending foods. And not everyone reacts the same way, so it's a slow, individualized learning curve. I hope you feel better!

[Zoe Girl]

oh sweet corn is on the no list as well, i really took a healthy meal and included almost everything that is a bad idea. corn chips are okay, thank goodness. Honestly i am not trying to figure this out, just follow it for 1-2 weeks and then start adding in a food at a time. am sure i will get many of them back but right now who cares.

i was reading something about how people with celiac gain weight because they keep eating to soothe their stomach, anything that won't make it hurt. that is how i feel right now. i had a good breakfast and my food was good today, but i got a soy chai at starbucks (i am sure that wasn't on the list 100%) because it coated my stomach. tonight is quinoa with squash

totally funny note, most of the research is being done in Australia so some of the names of vegetables are different. it is a pretty international list actually, but the Australia shows in the meats which included kangaroo.

[lessisbest]

I'd suggest getting a copy of "Digestive Health with REAL Food" a practical guide to an anti-inflammatory, low-irritant, nutrient-dense diet for IBS and other digestive issues - by Aglaee Jacob, M.S., R.D. It covers FODMAPs, and much more - things like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), IBS, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, non-responsive celiac disease, food sensitivities, Gallbladder issues, leaky gut, Gut dysbiosis, Fructose malabsorption, and more. Includes meals and snack recipes and ideas, helpful charts, food lists and meal-plan ideas.

[Zoe Girl]

thank you, i will check that out. i have a end of year goal check in with my supervisor and we will see how much of this is also stress and then probably make a dr or nutritionist appointment

[Zoe Girl]

so an update on this, a lot of better days and the bad ones are not as bad (thursday however i had a bad few hours that i haven't figured out). So i keep re-reading the list (and there are slight differences to lists) and figuring this out. the biggest challenge is school starts Monday and i have really long days i need to pack food for! Cooking at home is one thing but i like to bring food i don't have to heat up or do much with for work, and it is a really long day (did i already say that)

Last night i had a dream that i was in bed with my dr. hmm, then i read about dream things and i think i am at the point i need to go in. the stress thing may be a factor, i got a bad review and can't really argue some of it. i am not sure if stress is higher or lower because of that. however i can be in regular meditation and get stomach issues so i think that it is not primarily stress.

[Suzanne]

I'm highly sensitive to legumes, which can be rich in FODMAPs. I love beans, peas, and lentils, but have now proven beyond any shadow of doubt that my biochemistry just can't handle them. Have you tried keeping a food and pain diary? I did this for chronic migraine, and while it is very time-consuming to do, patterns do show up quite quickly. I found that both IBS and migraine attacks were triggered by any kind of legume and all nuts except almonds and pine nuts, for example.

[Zoe Girl]

suzanne i am keeping better track in case i go to the doctor. i use my fitness pal app on my phone which is super helpful. i used to use it in order to lose weight but i haven't been worried about weight as much as health lately. it is good, you can keep track during the day and print it out if needed. i also put in some notes about my stomach.

Here's to another day of hopefully getting it right and feeling good.

[JaneV2.0]

I like the idea of an elimination diet, and food journaling--at least until you can identify a problem. Grains--especially gluten grains--and dairy are always likely culprits. I'd be in serious trouble if FODMAPS caused me pain, because I have a "from these cold, dead hands" attitude about onions of all kinds.

[rosarugosa]

Jane: I avoid onions like poison; you can have my share! :)

[iris lilies]

I like the idea of an elimination diet, and food journaling--at least until you can identify a problem. Grains--especially gluten grains--and dairy are always likely culprits. I'd be in serious trouble if FODMAPS caused me pain, because I have a "from these cold, dead hands" attitude about onions of all kinds.

truly we were separated at birth. The Allium family is my favorite plant family, they are fab for both ornamentals and culinary use.

i use onions like a vegetable in my cooking.

i always know, within a scape or two, how many full garlic heads are in my fridge.garlic is the best spice.

leeks are fun for both lovely soups and amazing landscape displays.

[bekkilyn]

Yesterday, I stir-fried six large, chopped onions to use in my meals throughout the week. The pan was so full of onions that it took quite a long time for them to turn golden. :)

[JaneV2.0]

truly we were separated at birth. The Allium family is my favorite plant family, they are fab for both ornamentals and culinary use.

i use onions like a vegetable in my cooking.

i always know, within a scape or two, how many full garlic heads are in my fridge.garlic is the best spice.

leeks are fun for both lovely soups and amazing landscape displays.

It must be the Stuart/Stewart thing. A stinky clan, no doubt. :D

I remember telling my beloved when first we started seeing each other that he had better like onions. He didn't much, but he learned...

I get nervous when I'm running low on at least two kinds of onions, and garlic.

[Aqua Blue]

Zoe girl, this is probably not the right thing to say, but maybe you really need to look for a different job. I think your body is trying to tell you something. Seriously perhaps this job isn't a right fit for you. Find something that is low stress and pleasant to do. Working at something where people don't appreciate you takes a lot out of you.

[Florence]

Five years ago I was in a never-ending cycle of GI problems. Nothing helped until I admitted I was stressed from a variety of issues and I was very depressed. A very kind MD helped me see how the stress and depression were integrally part of each other. It was not an easy process to deal with the stressors but I did and while I was working through it I took anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication. The GI issues resolved as I dealt with the stress and depression. I wonder if your stomach and depression issues may be related.

[Simone]

Zoe Girl, I read your posts fairly thoroughly and concur with Aqua Blue and Florence that it is likely some of your symptoms are stress related.

I hope you will solve this health issue before you get much older; I am here to tell you the condition worsens with age and can cause permanent damage to your intestines in the form of diverticulosis or worse!

Also, chronic diarrhea is robbing you of the value of your food and robbing your gut of intestinal flora.
Please consider trying a good probiotic to restore not just lactobacilli like acidophilus, but also other microorganisms that support the gut.

Organic, whole husk psylllium will slow down the diarrhea by adding bulk. You might see a positive change within a day if you take psyllium husk.

And, to echo AB and Florence again, sometimes we don't have the "guts," the "intestinal fortitude," or the "stomach" to persist in doing things that aren't right for us. The language tells us what the body is saying.

I appreciate how hard it is to listen and heed. I often couldn't and wouldn't.

Good luck. I hope things are easier for you this school year.

[Zoe Girl]

thank you all, i have not seen any change with the restricted diet so i am adding wheat back, i will keep milk off the list for now.

i had some revelations when i had another episode while on the careful diet and some other things seemed to be an issue (insomnia seems to be related). So i think there may be a relationship to my brain chemistry issues and/or the medication. i do NOT debate my medical treatment in this area, i have peace with it however i need to regularly deal with it like any other chronic illness. And overall i feel that i am not disabled by something that other people are. with that disclaimer i made an appointment with my psychiatrist for next week, saw my job coach last night, have retreat time planned in September and the new school year is starting out much much better. i have moments of being embarrassed about my big mistake and other frustrated times however i have a list of things to put it in perspective. Meanwhile i have a chronic mental illness, i am likely to struggle in most jobs and this one i love so many things about and earn enough money. however in the middle of an 'episode' i really lose perspective.

[Tussiemussies]

Also corn is GMO unless you eat organic. It could effect it. When I was working at a particular job, I would have extreme diarrhea on Friday nights and thought I couldn't tolerate salad since before my SL days we would always go out to eat on Fri. night. After I left that job I have been fine since, and that was seventeen years ago. I realized I was under a lot of stress there and when the weekend came my body was letting go of the tension. Hope you are feeling better soon...