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I have already read that kind of thing, and did not find the simple answers I wanted to find.
And that's your problem. IME, there IS NO simple answer to the complex of symptoms that is IBS.
And, IBS can be a moving target.
I self-diagnosed as IBS about 10 years ago. Self-diagnosed because I refused to take a celiac test. Wheat is definitely one of my triggers, and I had learned that much by the time I ran across the idea that I might have IBS. There was simply no way I was going to start eating wheat again just in order to take a celiac test. Also, I knew by then that it wasn't just wheat I was reacting to.
But there are other elimination diets out there that would get you to the same place.
IMO, the best single resource on IBS is Monash University in Australia - https://www.monashfodmap.com They had an active research program when no one else did.
And that's your problem. IME, there IS NO simple answer to the complex of symptoms that is IBS.
And, IBS can be a moving target.
I self-diagnosed as IBS about 10 years ago. Self-diagnosed because I refused to take a celiac test. Wheat is definitely one of my triggers, and I had learned that much by the time I ran across the idea that I might have IBS. There was simply no way I was going to start eating wheat again just in order to take a celiac test. Also, I knew by then that it wasn't just wheat I was reacting to.
But there are other elimination diets out there that would get you to the same place.
IMO, the best single resource on IBS is Monash University in Australia - https://www.monashfodmap.com They had an active research program when no one else did.
Thank you, I will check that out.
I know I don't have celiac disease, because in the past I had tried a no gluten diet because I had a bad skin allergy. It did not help.
I very seldom had any digestive or intestinal problems before the covid vaccines. I had allergies, lyme disease, etc. But my intestines were usually ok.
These vaccines are experimental, and there is still not much known. But I am hoping that somehow modifying my diet will improve it.
As long as you have been properly diagnosed and evaluated then you are welcome to believe and do as you wish. If you don't see a doctor then that would be a mistake in my eyes because it can cause delays in a proper diagnosis.
If that has been done and go ahead and find any food that you find offensive and eliminate that food.
Old people like us are set in our ways and not very introspective (listen to people). Cognitive behavioral approches are more applicale for older people (drag the horse to water).
As long as you have been properly diagnosed and evaluated then you are welcome to believe and do as you wish. If you don't see a doctor then that would be a mistake in my eyes because it can cause delays in a proper diagnosis.
If that has been done and go ahead and find any food that you find offensive and eliminate that food.
Old people like us are set in our ways and not very introspective (listen to people). Cognitive behavioral approches are more applicale for older people (drag the horse to water).
I am very introspective -- that means inward looking and thoughtful. I also listen to people, and read a lot.
I am not against seeing doctors, but it can be a waste of time and money if you don't educate yourself first. Doctors are busy and they don't spend hours every day researching every disease. We are more interested in our personal health than anyone else, and we should take responsibility.
I have no signs of anything life-threatening or serious, no pains. I don't have to rush off to a doctor this minute.
As I explained already, over and over, in this threat, most doctors are not open-minded about covid vaccine side effects. They trust the CDC and other authorities. They don't have a lot of time to question and doubt. I have ZERO interest in spending any time arguing with a doctor about this.
I also don't want any invasive tests. As I said, this is obviously not life-threatening. I have to go away soon, and when I get back I will try more things, read more things. And then maybe see a doctor if I feel I need blood tests or something like that.
The odds of going to just the right doctor who has the answers are extremely low. I already have a good healthy lifestyle, so they don't need to explain that to me.
The hard part is gathering info and trying things. Running around to various specialists is what you do if you finally get desperate. I am not that desperate yet.
I knew I would get that answer. So why have a health forum? It makes sense, to me, to figure out as much as possible BEFORE seeing an MD. Why not find out if there is a specific trigger that I can just avoid?
If I can't figure it out, eventually I would probably get tests. I am pretty sure it's autoimmune, since it started after covid vaccines, and I never had it before. (But I won't say any more about that, since this is not a forum for debating vaccines).
MDs are not good for treating autoimmune disorders, unless you want to be on prednisone for life. So my hope is that I can at least improve it by avoiding something.
But I am at a loss right now. Unless it takes more than 3 days, typically, to rule out a substance. But let's say the trigger were coffee -- after 3 days there should be no more coffee in me. Or would there? This is something I do not know, so I figured it would make sense to see if anyone here knows.
Sure you can always answer every question with "Go see a professional." That goes without saying, so we don't need to say it here.
I've had IBS for over 37 years and started seeing a gastro enterologist back then. I've learned over the years what I can and can't eat. Sometimes a food I've eaten for years starts a flare up. IBS is not easy. Stress makes it worse, too.
Since you don't want to see a physician maybe a dietician can help you get started with an elimination diet and help you get back on track.
I've had IBS for over 37 years and started seeing a gastro enterologist back then. I've learned over the years what I can and can't eat. Sometimes a food I've eaten for years starts a flare up. IBS is not easy. Stress makes it worse, too.
Since you don't want to see a physician maybe a dietician can help you get started with an elimination diet and help you get back on track.
I NEVER said I don't want to see a physician. But I should try to understand first, and try to help myself if possible.
A dietician would just tell me things I can find online or in books.
I have not been having any stress, so that isn't it.
I think the 3 day fast I had done might have helped a little, so I can try more fasting. Yoga stretching of the lower spine seems helpful also.
I want to find the triggers if possible. I LOVE coffee, and caffeine in general, so I only gave that up for 3 days. I might have to try that for 2 weeks, sadly.
I have much less desire to eat, because the IBS is making me less hungry. It's easy to give up whatever food I have to give up. It's the coffee, and also seltzer, that I would rather not give up. I give up beer and wine off and on, and I am giving that up this week. I never drink a lot, but sometimes before going to bed.
This is what an allergy doctor did for me: for 48 hours only eat white rice and meat.
Ha, did not even say organic or grass fed back then...1996.
No salt, pepper, herbs, teas...mainly to eliminate molds?
Water only, meat and white rice. Morn, noon and night.
Any little arthritis and a need to 'crack my knuckles' went away...weird.
All dizziness, lethargy, brain fog - gone...my bowels were fine, btw.
Then, she simply added things one by one. Bingo!
I have an iron gut now ...and no seasonal allergies.
PS non-org white or brown rice is grown with probably the most synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides on the planet.
Glyphosate is not banned in many countries...not even in the US.
If you only buy TWO organic things in your life ...buy org rice and coffee.
(Celery and green leafies catch all the chem sprays and cup it, so those too.)
So is the food causing IBS or all the other stuff?
You are reminding me that when i was in my 20's and living in San Francisco Bay Area (this was summer of 1977, long before the ghastly GMO stuff), a co-worker took me to his Chinese acupuncturist who was the real REAL deal. He put me on a diet of white rice, filet mignon and pears. I ate that for I think it was a month or so. I'd had a bad bout of bronchitis which turned into my first case of pneumonia. Because I was only eating those three things, I could afford the filet mignon. Filet Mignon because it is tender and easily digestible, as is white rice and pears. It really helped clean out my system and reset it.
You are reminding me that when i was in my 20's and living in San Francisco Bay Area (this was summer of 1977, long before the ghastly GMO stuff), a co-worker took me to his Chinese acupuncturist who was the real REAL deal. He put me on a diet of white rice, filet mignon and pears. I ate that for I think it was a month or so. I'd had a bad bout of bronchitis which turned into my first case of pneumonia. Because I was only eating those three things, I could afford the filet mignon. Filet Mignon because it is tender and easily digestible, as is white rice and pears. It really helped clean out my system and reset it.
Did you take vitamin pills during that time? I would be worried about not getting all the required nutrition. Otherwise, it sounds like a diet I would not mind being on for a month.
I wonder if fasting is also good for resetting the digestive system. I did a 3 day fast recently (but I drank black coffee and tea). It seemed to help in some way, but not a lot. I wonder if doing that more often would be a good idea, probably.
Usually you do an omission diet. You start with the least likely culprits like rice, and whatever else is the least likely, add stuff each week to see what happens.
That's what it used to be, perhaps they came up with a diagnostic to test? I had a full panel of allergy tests way back when (due to digestive issues) and I wasn't allergic to anything.
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Usually you do an omission diet. You start with the least likely culprits like rice, and whatever else is the least likely, add stuff each week to see what happens.
That's what it used to be, perhaps they came up with a diagnostic to test? I had a full panel of allergy tests way back when (due to digestive issues) and I wasn't allergic to anything.
I had a very expensive food sensitivity test years ago, because I had a terrible skin allergy. I had some mild sensitivities, according to that test, but not much. I don't actually remember what they were.
I also had lots of allergy tests, and the only bad allergy was dust mites. I don't have any terrible allergies anymore, except once in a while.
I don't think this is a food allergy. There is no kind of food I eat every day, and I have this every day.
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