I'm Claire, 41 *she whispers* and I have IBS. Wow, I feel like I've just stood up at rehab and declared my addiction. I am seriously not addicted to the IBS, far from it!
I've these symptoms for at least 16years, if not more. When I originally went to the Dr about it, I was told it was IBS, given some tablets for an inflammed colon - no examination etc to confirm this - and sent on my way.
Several years later (I ditched the tablets, they were pointless) I was prescribed peppermint oil capsules and again sent on my way.
The symptoms would come and go, sometimes I'd be fairly ok and that point the problems mainly occurred when I had really, really overdone it. Infact -and I hang my head in shame- I would crave a big bar of dairy milk, so take the peppermint oil before eating the chocolate to lessen the aftermath.
These days however, I seem to just have to walk within 2 feet of a bar of chocolate and I'd be in agony.
It was suggested that I try a gluten free diet for a while, not by a Dr, but strangley enough my physio therapist. I agreed and was amazed that within just 3 days I felt a huge difference. I was overjoyed. I was on the diet for about a year or so and overtime I felt it wasn't having the same affect anymore.
I then came off the g/f diet as I was to be tested for coeliac disease, which in hindisght should have happened before I went g/f. Going back on gluten was dire, I felt so ill. It didn't affect my digestive system to start with, it seemed to hit the nervous system. I remember eating a tuna sandwich, getting a dire headache, pins and needles all over, my limbs felt like dead weights and I promptly fell asleep right where I sat and stayed asleep for over an hour. After a week or so, I was getting less headaches etc, but the digestive system started to complain....alot.
After several blood tests it came back as negative for coeliac and negative for even a gluten sensitivity, so I was back to square one.
In Novemeber and December last year I started seeing a Gastroenterologist, after 16+years, they decided it was probably best to investigate.
I had a barrage of tests, scans, bloods, radioactive tablets and cameras to look into the stomach and into the intestine...lovely. All the tests came back fine and I was finally given an official diagnosis of IBS, so I was back to square one.
I asked to see a dietician about the FODMAP diet, as I had read alot about it and the previous year I went to a talk in London on IBS and was really interested in the FODMAP information.
So this brings me uptodate.
Last week I saw the dietician and Monday I started the plan.
FODMAPs are Fermentable, Oligo-saccharides, Di-Saccharides, Mono-Saccharides and Polyols. Yep, clear as mud.
I'm not going to go into masses of details about the can eat and can't eat of the diet, as it seems never ending and you can easily find out about it online.
This blog is mainly for me to keep track of my own journey, as I have a memory like a...well, I forget what, but it's rubbish.
So, Monday. Hmm, to be honest, Monday is already a bit of a hazy blur to remember. I know the day started with porridge and a cup of redbush tea, the same as everyday, but the rest, I truely don't remember.
Tuesday started off the same, a couple of slices of g/f toast at lunch and then disaster struck. I really wanted something to nibble,so had bought some dairy free choc covered raisins, duhh, raisins are a 'limited allowance' food, or a 'caution' food. I don't know if it was the raisins, the choc, even though it was dairy free, or something else lurking in my system from the weekend, but I was doubled up in pain and my insides were knotted up like a pretzel and the outcome was it's usual gruesome self.
My son...bless him...had kindly made tea for us whilst I was 'othewise engaged' and I came down to find a g/f chicken burger and a few oven chips for me. To be honest the last thing I wanted to do was eat anything, but I did eat a little and no dire consequences.
I spent the evening with my usual 'after pains', dehydration and general lethargy and developed a hatred for raisins.
This morning I woke to a very tender tum, but nothing more than that, so hopefully I'm back on track.
From here on in, I hope to keep the posts short n sweet, I felt this one needed to be a long ramble to get me to this point.
Wednesday.
Breakfast: Porridge and Lactose free milk and a cup of redbush tea, no milk or sugar.
Lunch: G/f seeded bread, with ham, lettuce, cucumber and a little salad cream. Lactose free strawberry yogurt. Redbush tea.
Mid afternoon, I had a g/f ginger cookie....nom, nom, nom and several cups of r/b tea.
Dinner: FODMAP friendly meatballs that I had made earlier today, with a homemade tomato gravy, mashed potato, a very small amount of peas and some carrot. Followed by a couple of chunks of honeydew melon covered in a small amount of plain soya yogurt. Oh wow, Im not feeling the love for the soya yogurt - bleurgh! I won't be having that again!
I'm pleased to report the kids loved the meatballs, they seem to be turning into fussy eaters as they have got older, Jack is 15 next month and Alfie has just turned 11. But I got the thumbs up from them both. The recipie for the meatballs and sauce was from a book by Sue Shepherd who is the fountain of knowledge on all things FODMAP. The book is big and a tad overwhelming, but well worth getting.
Yes, I'm aware that this was taken before I thought...arrghhh, the veg are still in the pan!
Overall today, my stomach has been quiet, which is unusual for me and I only had a little bloating after dinner, previous to that I survived the whole day with my jeans done up, another rare occurance.
This evening I'm having palpations, but this isn't unusual for me and not connected, but apart from that all is pretty good. I've not got the hotwater bottle on my belly, which is usually with me each evening to lessen the aches and pains. Long may it continue.
Through most days I drink several cups of r/b tea or boiling water and I will probably forget to log them, but I'm a bit of a tea monster, so there are usually several mugs worth throughout the day.
I will try my hardest to keep this going for myself, to keep an eye on both foods that I'm eating and any symptoms I may have....or that have dissapeared.
Bedtime now, off to dream about cupcakes and haribo I expect. I may wake up tomorrow to find I've eaten my pillow in the night!
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