2 Weeks without fruit

After a visit to my Kinesiologist I decided to take my no raw food to the next level and removed fruit from my diet.

It was tough and I cant say it did me any good. All I wanted was sugar and I felt even more lethargic than usual. I would recommend giving it a go though, fruit is such an easy one to over do... I forget that wine is derived from grapes or that tomato is a fruit... it does tend to get me into trouble a little more than it should.

I do love fruit though.. of all the things I miss a fruit salad and croissants is up there.

Its sweet, feels fantastic when it hits your belly and provides you with a light, i am talking orange and mandarines here, airy feeling. My first bit of fruit after two weeks was a mandarine. I was sitting in the car to visit my grandma, and I went halvies with my boy. It felt so lovely in my mouth, sliding down my throat and sat quite pleasantly in my stomach... which is always lovely... particularily when you have our problems.

I would give one piece of advice though, if you are worried about something, cut it out for a week and see how you go. Life is too short my dears and we dont we have enough misery already!

Psyllium Husk

I googled IBS and a Wikipedia page turned up
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritable_bowel_syndrome

In the diet section there was an entry regarding Psyllium Husk. According to Wiki 'There is convincing evidence that soluble fiber supplementation (e.g., psyllium) is effective in the general IBS population'.

It was not properly referenced, but I decided to give it a go. I have been adding just one teaspoon to my porridge in the morning. This has been going on for about a week and a half.

My experiment went awry when I started eating lots of crap last week.

However the body has not been as bad as it could have been. And I think perhaps the husk is to thank.

So I will continue to use it and let you know how I go : )

The dinner guest

When you are riddled with FODMAP intolerance being a dinner guest is especially hard. I feel constantly that i am putting people out. I feel the most for the ones who put so much time into getting it all right, only to realise, after i point it out, that onion is in the french onion soup mix.

I feel a bit of a nuisance... and hungry of course as i am normally left with little to eat and too much to drink. I have had the unfortunate experience of someone getting truly exasperated with me. Rolling her eyes and making hmph sounds (I find it fascinating that some people think more of their feelings then my health. The fact that i will not be able to stand, or sit comfortably in a few hours, doesn't matter to them in that moment of hurt pride). So now i come in fear.... fear of upsetting the host... but luckily most are gracious and kind, but still the horror of bad experiences linger.

I have also gotten to the stage where its not worth the risk, where i regret that beautiful piece of cake or dish and will no longer eat for fear of the inevitable consequences. Leaving my charming hosts a little put out.  But luckily they soon get over it and we chat away for hours about anything and everything.

Wrong

Something is wrong with my body... its not working right and i feel off everyday... it has been like this for the last 3 months, ever since i returned from Japan.

Over there i ate soba noodles, rice and a bit of veg every day and was in better health than this. I became very bored of this diet very quickly.

I have narrowed it down to two things.... yogurt or chocolate..... i pray it is not chocolate....

Easter

Ahh Easter. That special time of year when chocolate flows like a heavenly fountain over all of us.....how i love it.

By ensuring that i had FODMAP friendly gravy, onion in a bowl on the side of the Greek salad i thought i was in for a very happy day... until i found myself sitting right in front of a fruit fulled hot cross bun.... i couldn't help myself ... i reached over and cut it in half, covered it in butter and downed it with a smile.... i also had a teeny weeny glass of red wine....Bad idea AMY!

5 hours later my stomach informed me that it was not in a good mood.  It wasn't bad but it was there. And exhausted as i was i pulled myself together for my dinner guests and tried to forget about it... which i did successfully until i went to bed and realised that my stomach was full to my sternum... well that's how i felt. It took me a while to get to sleep because of the feeling.

I appear to have low stomach acid as well as FODMAP intolerance so as i waited to go to sleep i started to stress about the effect all this would have tomorrow ... luckily it wasn't too bad. Just slight discomfort. But its SO stressful... no wonder my system is so delicate, on top of the food issues the stress must be upsetting it to no end... SO frustrating.

Hint: I find that cook vegetables are easier for my body to process and really help with my FODMAP symptoms.

The expert

I don't really like discussing my FODMAP issues with people, to really explain i would have to go into how all these foods rot in my system producing painful amounts of gas and making my life a living hell, and that's just not pleasant.

What i found most interesting, or rather frustrating, is that based on the small amount of information i release into the world i get harassed, nagged and pushed regarding  what they think is wrong with me, and how they think i should deal with it. The fact that i have paid professionals to give me their opinion does not deter these people. I have been told that i HAVE to get a tube down my throat and see whats happening in my stomach. That i should be able to eat something even though its clearly on my listed on my list of dont's. They dont understand why i shouldn't be able to eat it. I dont care... if its hurts i dont eat it.

It's not everyone, its not persistent, but the experiences i have had were so stressful that i know shudder to say the words 'does it have onion in it?' because then the why's start and my shoulders become my new earrings.... as if i didnt have enough to put up with!

Peppermint oil and reflux

After a nice pasta dinner i waited an hour and a half to have a peppermint oil tea to help my digestion, unfortunately i ended up with some rather startling reflux. I had an awful night of it... and i have an interview today and i am dog tired.

Peppermint tea can have the same effect so please be careful... life is hard enough when your dealing with FODMAP's!