Tummy Talk Thursday
“What Your Gut is Telling You”
For one, I have greatly increased my fiber content lately. Lots and lots of fiber. I eat Fiber One bars for snacks, whole grain breads for sandwiches, Kashi whole grain cookies, and oatmeal. Yikes, it’s not wonder it’s rumbly and odiferous. I started eating this way because I tend to have IBS with constipation, not diarrhea. So what is supposed to cure constipation? Fiber, of course. And now to top it off, I was just reading that all kinds of fiber may not good for IBS. Great….confusion remains.
Secondly, and I think this is the biggest reason for my bloating and gas lately, it’s summer. Summer for me means ice cream. Lots and lots of icecream. I love it, anyway you serve it. I eat a huge bowl of it every night lately. Not just a couple scoops but about 1/4 gallon of that blessed creamy scoop of heaven. Then I go to bed. Then I wake up. Then I am bloated and gassy all day. Hmmm….a trend?
One would think that a person who has IBS would be more aware of triggers and symptoms. “De-Nial” ain’t just a river in Egypt for me. It’s a state of mind for this self-controlless individual. It wasn’t until a fellow blogger (Finding the Pieces to the Health Puzzle) pointed out to me that it might help to remove dairy products from my diet. Come to think of it, I did have a strong lactose intolerance when I was young. I thought I had grown out of it but maybe not.
Reinforcing this thought, I was just reading in the book “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About IBS” by Richard Ash, MD., that most IBS patients have a lactose sensitivity or milk intolerance. I am in so much trouble with this. I LOVE dairy!!! I practically moo! But it makes sense, I just need to make a commitment to end the dairy cycle.
My goal for this next week: Reduce the bloat and gas by eliminating as much dairy from my diet as possible. Maybe the following week I can eliminate all of it, I don’t want to rush into anything. I am also going to look into my insurance and allergy testing. Hopefully, allergy testing will identify some actual triggers.
Off I go now, to mourn the loss of my icecream. Maybe I can find some good soy product to fulfill my cravings.
I started my epic journey in gastrointestinal health in the 5th grade. Yes, you heard correctly, the 5th grade. That was the first time I really remember receiving treatment for stomach issues. Well, besides Mom adminstering different treatments for chronic constipation since birth, but we’ll leave that aside for the moment. I have gone through life always waiting, always sensitive to the next moment my stomach would fail me. I have lived a life filled with anxiety and fear over this. When? Where? With who? I am determined to stop this monster in it’s tracks once and for good!!
