The perils of stress

People talk about stress allot, its all over the news. Its making us grumpy, sad, depressed and most horribly its killing us. For those select few of us with IBS stress holds an especially horrible reality, it either blocks us up or makes us go like nothing else.

My partner also has IBS, not anywhere as troublesome as me but it comes and goes. An especially tense argument has lead to a colon cleanse like no other. When these bouts hit they leaves him physically ill, he is dizzy and disorientated. He tells me that afterwards he needs to sleep. His body forces him to rest, he recons so that he doesnt have to endure it, that he can just sleep through it and wake up better.

Needless to say we avoid these kinds of arguments now... its just not worth it.

I too have encountered this problem... but very rarely. There is something about the effects of an argument that release all sorts of things... and inevitably tense up others.

Generally stress tightens everything. My shoulders are tight, my stomach muscles are drawn in until they start to ache and my body starts to block up, not entirely, but enough to make me feel like a bloated cow. Nothing seems to help, psyllium a fed more pebbles in the bowl, coffee/caffeine cramps reminiscent of period pain, water... sounds like a good idea but when you start really hammering it you just retain it all... until one night, when the stress is just beginning to ease and you think you are going to get that good nights sleep finally... then it comes... every few hours!!!!

I should tell you that for me guilt is a big contributor to stress, I feel it in my stomach first... and then my neck. My shoulders ache and the sides of my stomach hurt from the tension. Its pretty exhausting I must say.

The only advice I can give is Meditate, find a solution or if you cant do anything trust in the reality of  your limitations (as well as eating healthy and perhaps taking some psyllium at night along with a big glass of water... and again the peeing i know) will finally set it right... but in essence what you are doing is de-stressing. If you cant find a way out of that hole... you may have to find more persuasive means of getting your body back to functioning.

All I can say is goodluck!-

FODMAPing - Amy's first year

I have been on the FODMAP diet for over a year now and I cant say that I am a whole lot better in the energy department, and I still have way more gas then one would like... but all in all I am allot better than I was in January 2011.

Back then I thought my body was going to rip open from the pressure. Over the course of the year it actually ended up doing damage to my lower back (along with a heinous ride on a rush hour Tokyo train with a giant backpack strapped to me).

Now I am uncomfortable, but I rarely have to endure the painful, debilitating episodes that were once a frequent part of my life.

I will be honest it took me quite a while to get where I am now, and I am not great. But I am better and that's something. If I didn't stress so much I probably wouldn't be as bad as I am (or have the persistent neck and shoulder that I also get to enjoy daily) but every little bit counts.

So I guess what I am saying is don't expect miracle and stick with it. I have other issues that have proven bothersome to my FODMAP journey, but I will get there and I truly hope you do to. Just stick with it and above all avoid Onion and beans... they are hell!

My war with Carbohydrates

If I don't have carbs in a meal I am just not full. I can eat a mountain of salad and all I will get is those dreadful pains which come from waiting to long.

However, when I overindulge in cards... say too many pancakes, pasta, rice or even veggies, I get FODMAP symptoms.

This is particularly the case with Gluten Free pasta or biscuits. Too many and the 5 different types of grains used blow up like a ball of hell to have me walking like a Nana all day.

This is the same with veg. My dietitian told me to eat 3 1/2 cups a day (an attempt to build up my vitamin levels) but my system just could not handle it.

The only thing that seems to help is a coffee hit or two, but then if your like me and sensitive to caffeine your IBS may act up.

So my advice.... limit your portion size. I know this can be hard, but when it comes down to it its your choice.... carbs or FODMAP joys.

Psyllium is your friend

I have not been so perky lately, so I am off kiwi and orange and anything else that may upset my overly sensitive stomach (low stomach acid... take it from me be careful with Nurofen!)

To get  me through this particularly stressful time I started taking psyllium at night in the hope that an ill effects would move fast through my body. And I am very happy to say it did help a little.

However, when taking this are regularly as a few days in a row my system slowed down as soon as I stopped taking it at night. I am not sure what the answer is, i could of course just take it everynight and probably wouldnt have this problem, but sometimes I just really cant force myself to drink it and metamucil makes me feel perfectly wretched, this is my only option.

I will continue to take Psyllium when I can at night when I have flare ups, and I would recommend it if you have gas issues like me or IBS (C)... I have even heard it read that psyllium helps those with IBS (D).

Good luck

Back to the Kiwi Fruit

I dont think Kiwi is having an impact on my FODMAP symptoms, but I do think that on its own it can be a bit strong for my stomach...i have funny stomach acid.

I think Kiwi can be a problem when its overripe, to be honest I think most fruits are a problem for us if they are overripe.... even banana's sometimes dont sit well.

I try to get our fruit at the local markets because they are normally better, not bananas for some reason, but sometimes they mature too quickly and when your hungry and its all that is around you go for it.... well I do anyway and then I pay the price : (

It wasnt the kiwi fruit

My gut is just having a bad few weeks... probably stress related... ah the joys of IBS.

Kiwi Fruit

Last week my Kiwi fruit was not ripe enough to eat so I went without. My system was pretty good by the end of the week... however I returned to the kiwi over the weekend and I have noticed that not all is well.

So in order to determine if it is the Kiwi's fault, I am going off Kiwi Fruit for a week...I will let you know how it goes.