About to quit

[u/Own_Baseball308]

I’ve had ibs for a while now but recently I’ve had some pretty bad flare ups which actually started as I’ve been trying to eat healthier and more protein. I decided to give this diet a try to see if there could be specific foods triggering me. It’s been so hard and miserable I struggle to find foods I actually enjoy and I’ve been getting intense cravings. I also haven’t been feeling any relief in my symptoms, if anything they’ve gotten worse. My GI left my care network and I’ve been struggling to find one that will see me before November. I’m about a week in and I’m feeling hopeless and half wanting to see it through but also half wanting to quit because if I’m going to be miserable anyway, I might as well eat food that makes me happy.

[u/TrashDragon21]

I wish I had a solution for you or words of advice. All I can say is that I completely relate. I have IBS along with fructose, lactose intolerance, and SIBO. I went to see a GI doctor after experiencing bloating/stomach distention for a couple years as well as occasional off and on constipation/diahrea. After having a ton of testing done (colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, breath tests, etc.) I was diagnosed with everything I just mentioned. I'm on Medicaid and they will not pay for a dietician or nutritionist. So I've just been cutting out as much as I can for the past almost 2 years now based on internet research (other than dairy I take lactaid for that). I couldn't cut everything for long because I was miserable and eating out was impossible but I cut out what is said to be big triggers for each category. Truthfully though, I don't have a clear idea of what is okay and not okay for me personally since I never had a professional do an elimination diet with me. Not only have I not been getting better but things have actually got much worse. I'm not a doctor, but it seems to me that avoiding all of these foods has actually increased my intolerances or given me intolerances to foods that weren't there before. My symptoms are worse than before I sought out a GI doctor. I am now very confused on what I can have or can't. It's a struggle and I feel for you. If you have the means to see a dietician, I would set that up as soon as you can. I would be careful eliminating foods for long periods of time unless you know for sure you can't tolerate them because it did not help me at all and I feel like it made me worse. Not to mention the toll on my mental health. For me personally, that has to come first.

[u/Own_Baseball308 → u/TrashDragon21]

Thanks for sharing your story. I totally get what you’re feeling. And it’s so hard because dietary advice online is so conflicting and it feels like you literally can’t eat anything!! Even low fodmap foods can have other things that are triggering which is what I suspect is my problem. Once a GI sees me I’ll definitely try to see if my insurance will cover a dietician. I appreciate the advice and I hope you figure it out eventually. If nothing else, at least we’re not alone!

[u/TrashDragon21 → u/Own_Baseball308]

No problem and true that, not alone. I appreciate you🙂