Comments | goraina: IBS and beyond

goraina

IBS and beyond

Jan 03, 2010 22:01

Thank you very, VERY much to everyone who responded to my last post--I appreciate your comments and thoughts more than you can imagine.

A few more links for you guys, because I meant to include some of them in the original post, and because I've found some other sites that are helpful. I promise this will be the last time I bring this up here!

( Read on if you'd like more information! )

ibs, links, health

Comments 8

guardantares January 4 2010, 05:01:56 UTC

I'm bookmarking these sites. I'd probably be reading through them if it wasn't midnight. Thanks so much, Raina!

tammylee January 4 2010, 17:04:44 UTC

I totally missed your original post but you have my empathy.

I was diagnosed eight years ago and it took at least four before I felt somewhat comfortable eating outside of my home.

I find the strangest thing about IBS is that certain food smells can set me off. Roast turkey or chicken, cream soups with real cream, certain strong spices... I was triggered three times by a certain food sample table at Costco before I figured out what was doing it and went up another aisle. XD Still, it was good cardio running to the bathroom that many times.

There should totally be a comic about IBS if for no other reason than other sufferers can be entertained and relieved they aren't the ONLY ones who've been in awkward situations because of it.

goraina January 9 2010, 03:10:58 UTC

Interesting!! I am sometimes set off by cooking. It's like my body knows what's coming, and starts to react to the thought. I used to cook myself more complicated meals, but have scaled it back because there's less pressure to enjoy a meal that didn't cost too much money or time.

There was a guy who wrote a comic about Crohn's Disease a while back, and it was really good, although short (it was a 24-hour comic).

tobycraig January 7 2010, 02:30:52 UTC

Good links! Thanks! I've definitely not done enough research personally, I must constantly remind myself that I'm dumb and mistook most of my issues as back/spinal problems for a long time.

Off and on I've been using goodbelly and some coconut milk based yogurt things for probiotics. I've tried other things, but haven't really compared too many (or again, done the research). I do feel better when I have a good supply, they seem to work and aren't horrid (the coconut yogurt is actually awesome), but they are expensive and let myself run out.

goraina January 9 2010, 03:12:49 UTC

It's good you've found something that helps!

I've had to pretty much cut out both yogurt and coconut. Yogurt is too much dairy for me, and I only like Yoplait brand, which has high fructose corn syrup and generally not much of anything good in it. And coconut is too high in fat. I've heard people rave about coconut yogurt though, so sometime I might sneak a bite.

artemna January 8 2010, 18:37:44 UTC

Wow ... I just read your last post and I'm super glad you have found something that works for you. Stomach issues are so random and weird and seemingly impossible to figure out! What's troubling too is that so many people seem to have them ... myself included, big time. I don't have any consistent problems but I'm totally keeping all this information for the next time I worry and wonder. It's interesting that you had to stop being full on vegetarian too -- I've wondered a lot if I'm ingesting way too much soy than is good for me. I've also had the frets that I'm gluten-intolerant and have a thyroid disorder. My doctor randomly mentioned IBS in passing, but it wasn't the beginning of any sort of discussion or, like you said, anything they could prove.

Anyhoo, I'm sure you've heard enough about OTHER people's stomach probs -- thanks again for putting this info out there! :)

goraina January 8 2010, 18:47:57 UTC

Monica I'm always happy to talk more about it, if you ever want. Email's cool, or catch me at a con sometime (when 9 times out of 10, I'm in the middle of an attack!).

This book helped me sooooo much: http://www.amazon.com/Eating-IBS-Delicious-Nutritious-Low-Residue/dp/1569246009 Just reading the intro put a lot of puzzle pieces into place. It's a stupid disorder, and one I wouldn't wish on anyone, but it's possible to manage it. I'm impressed you stay as active as you do, with tummy troubles! Mine have pretty much turned me into a slug. :)

artemna January 8 2010, 19:02:36 UTC

Ooh, I might take you up on that! You've at least inspired me to do some research and stop ignoring things. ;) I'm lucky that I don't have it as bad as you have, or others, but it's definitely a random, troublesome thing. And as far as staying active -- I'm having such a tough time figuring out the right things to eat for when I need to exercise for hours! And most of the time, what I choose makes me feel like crap. Ha!