Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: catlady on September 02, 2013, 05:51:08 PM
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I am going away on holiday soon but not really looking forward to it as what to have for a meal
is a nightmare for me. I can't eat so many things due to IBS, nothing spicy, greasy or sugary.
I can't even eat salad. :(
I can't go out for a meal due to my problem with food. Anyone else with this problem
and if so what do you eat ? I do miss fish & chips, baked beans, sausage, oh so many things. :'(
Ann x
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Can I ask what kind of IBS do you have. If it's the runs kind then there is a herbal preparation called Tormentil by A Vogel. It stops the churning and the rush to the loo.
Might be worth a try. You can buy it online.
Honeyb
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Hi Honeyb.
I get terrible stomach pains and the runs, but it's the pain I can't cope with.
I think I have Interstitial cystitis too as I get awful "burning " pain in my bladder.
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Tormentil is an anti spasmodic so it eases the cramps and stops the runs. I also had/have a stomach that sounds like a washing machine. It also stops that.
My sister has had her gall bladder removed and now has dumping syndrome which is very very unpleasant. She also uses the drops and on some days would not be able to leave the house without them. Have you tried Buscopan for the cramping. It can help too.
Sorry I can't help with the bladder problems.
Honeyb
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Yes, eating out can be a nightmare if you have food intolerances. In this country I have my favourite restaurants, where I know there will be something I can eat. If you are going to a country where English is not the main language, see if you can get someone to translate the foods you cannot eat so you can show this to the waiter. Nowadays there is so much awareness about food intolerance and allergies and in most restaurants, they are keen to check, advise and if necessary, leave out or substitute an ingredient. If they don't, we just walk out. Just ask, relax and have a wonderful holiday.
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It's awkward. For YEARS I carried my own grub especially to his family because they would suggest a meal time but never stick to it >:(. I asked them to treat me like a diabetic who requires regular meal times but all I got was 'but you aren't' :'(.
For YEARS we went self catering as I cannot risk food stuffs with onions. I stick to 'safe foods' even now. I have to be absolutely secure in my anxiety levels to even consider eating 'out'.
Where are you going to?
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We are going to Windermere in Cumbria, it's self catering as no way can I eat out.
I too have to stick to regular meal times otherwise I start to feel really ill.
The problem is my "safe" foods are so few, if I eat any less I will fade away!
I just wish I could think of some other bland foods to try but everything is too greasy,
salty, acidic etc. :(
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If it's self catering then you will be able to eat what you eat at home.
How are you treating this because it won't get better on its own. My life was ruled by my stomach for years. Could not eat out, could not eat anything spicy......got so fed up and took more and more pills. I eventually went to an alternative practitioner and got sorted. Ok it's not perfect but I can eat curry and Chinese food and garlic now.
You really need to try something to help.
Are you on any medication at all.
Honeyb
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My diet is:
round of toast for breakfast or a croissant
sometimes I can face a smear of honey on the toast and usually butter
mid-morning - a cuppa - black, 2 sugars - with a bun of some type or a toasted tea-cake or Italian biscuits
lunch - light as possible : soup, salad usually cheese or ham ....... this is whether I am at home or out for the day
DH cooks our evening meals: for example, pasta lightly boiled in salted water, drained well - on a good day I can add cheese otherwise he fries strips of chicken/ginger/garlic
Dry curry is a good standby - lots of healthy spices in a stir fry chicken mix
Occasionally I can 'face' chish and phipps ..........
My stand-bys are: Dextrose tablets for energy; bottled fruit juices or fizzy water; tea; dry cream crackers; mixed fruits and nuts for nibbling, instant energy boost; LIVE yoghurt to help any gut irritations; Actimel ...... though I have 'gone off' those in recent weeks ::). Pancakes!
The trick for me is to eat before my stomach feels hungry as I still don't always recognise 'hunger'. :-\ ........
Gives us a clue as to your diet?
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I've been increasingly having stomach problems too and had IBS (diarrhoea kind) twice on holiday abroad this year. I tend to get it if I eat too much and am trying to eat smaller amounts more often rather than a big meal all in one sitting. I've had it at home with chinese too but again, usually if I've been too hungry and eaten it all. I try to have some 'dry' foods during the day such as crispbread to soak up any foods which might make me a bit iffy, but have had to stop some things like brown sauce, tomatoes, coffee (only have a weak cup every other day) and I'm not very good with wine now.
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My diet consists of Breakfast - Rice Cakes. lunch - turkey sandwich.(I can't eat cheese or ham)
Dinner - sweet potato, carrots, chicken or fish fingers. All other veg is out.
I only drink water as anything else gives me pain.
I can manage a chocolate eclair but only ones from a certain shop (not real chocolate topping)
Any tips on what to try as this is really getting me down. I have tried an alternative practitioner
but what they prescribed only made me worse. :'(
Ann x
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What did they prescribe?
Have you been to your GP and had any tests to rule out any nasties like an ulcer. I had an endoscope and a barium swallow long before I turned to herbal medicine.
Might be a good idea to get checked out as your diet is very limited.
Honeyb
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I worked with a lady that had a problem with her stomach/bowels. She was going to the hospital for tests for a long time. If she ate the wrong thing was on the toilet for hours. She lost a lot of weight. She loved cakes and chocolate but couldn't eat them. I remember her saying that she can tolerate nuts (she used to snack on them during the day) and Jelly.
Perhaps you could try those?
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Ann- you need to find out what is wrong. Your diet is seriously lacking and can give rise to other problems. Do you take a multi vitamin supplement?
Taz
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Honeyb, Iv'e been to my GP many times, had a barium enema, ct scan, showed up I have
diverticulitus, nothing can be done.
Taz, I can't take a multi vit supplement as they upset my stomach.
It's the "burning" pain in my lower abdomen I can't cope with, especially after a bowel movement,
pain lasts for days, then another bm and pain again, it's a never ending cycle.
Ann
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I'm a chocoholic who can't eat chocolate! I was in denial for a long time, ate it and felt ill afterwards.
I am intolerant to wheat and cows dairy, along with meat and fish unless cut very small and cooked in liquid. A lot of processed food causes problems. Can't eat free from bread. So I am condemned to cooking from scratch and eating healthily! :) I miss toast.
A nutritionist advised me when planning a meal is to start with loads of veg, then add protein and last of all carbs. She also said also have some protein with every meal and eat little but often.
The good news is that after years of problems with certain foods, I can tolerate small amounts occasionally without instant payback, so eating out is not as stressful as it was.
Just seen your last post, though it seems to have disappeared It might help to seek advice from a nutritionist or dietician. My mum has your condition and saw an NHS dietician several times, while fine tuning her diet.
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I also have diverticulitis and find a good pro biotic helps a lot.
There are so many things you can take to sooth your stomach. Aloe Vera is good as is slippery elm.
Has your GP given you anything at all to help.
Honeyb
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Hi JuJu
I have seen a nutritionist, she could only give me liquid meals which gave me so much pain.
Something must have been in them that I can't tolerate.
Honeyb,
I take a probiotic every day, it seems to help a bit. Iv'e tried slippery elm, didn't help much.
All my GP offered was to take me off of the fybogel sachets that I'd been on for years and put me on Laxido. I feel better off the fybogel but try not to take the Laxido if I can help it as it gripes me.
Ann x
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Ok confused now. Is fibogel not for constipation?
Can you not ask your GP for something to help the burning sensation which will be caused by too much acid. PPIs can be great short term. They could calm your stomach down and once it's settled you could then look at a alternatives if you wanted but leaving you with nothing is ridiculous. If they won't prescribe then you can buy zantac over the counter and double the dose to prescription strength.
You need to try something because as Taz says your diet is really not good which will make you feel more run down
Honeyb
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Fibrogel is often prescribed to stabilise bowel function. I found it helped for a short time but ineffective after a while. Contains sorbitol I think, which can be an irritant for IBS. Lots of meds do, so watch out.
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Is the pain along the bikini line? Between the belly button and pubic area? In the bowel area or back passage? It could be spasms .......... have you been able to tolerate Actimel or LIVE yoghurt to aid 'good' bacteria ...........
Is there an on-line support group ............
Also; goat products are good for people who have allergies and gut problems ......... there are Companies who send products World wide.
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Any improvement?
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I'm lactose intolerant and though I hate making a fuss over what I can & cannot eat, have found most restaurants are pretty good at making allowances. If I can, I phone beforehand to check.
I'm lucky in that I don't get the pain, just the usual discomfort of the runs.
Before finding the cause of my problem I had heaps of tests done, they were worried I was in early stages of bowel cancer. My grandmother died of bowel cancer & my mum had diverticulitis. My niece suffers if she eats dairy or wheat.
I cannot tolerate goat or sheep products either. Just have to do without.
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It is very unusual that someone who is lactose intolerant is unable to take goat products as the lactose is totally different. I don't like goat/sheep products because they smell like the animal ::) ........... I can eat a very mild goat cheese and will at a push drink VERY cold milk but oh the flavour ;D
I've been OK whilst away this week ........... but we have taken part in a raffle today which will give us a meal for 2 in a Pub. .......... where we like to eat but I can see that, should we win ...... >:(
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Yeah that's what I was told CLKD, so tried goat's & sheep's cheese exactly same reaction as with cow's. A right pain in the butt in more ways than one! ;D
You'll be fine, if you win, speak to them before you go. Fingers crossed for raffle.
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I am very allergic to goats as I found out at a farm park when the children were small. I thought I was dying ;D my face was swollen and I had trouble breathing. I ended up in a very small cottage hospital. I was given anti histamines and ended up feeling very foolish. I have never tasted any goat products as I am scared I may have the same reaction.
I have a few....well quite a few strange allergies. Thought I might grow out of them and perhaps I have but I am not prepared to take a chance.
Honeyb
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I am so lactose intolerant that slightest amount sets me off. Ibuprofen tablets for instance - have to take capsules. Even some asthma inhalers are a no-no. Lucky I can take ibuprofen with asthma as it is often contra-indicated.
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I think we need to give up or give in.
My mind is fine (ish) but my body is giving up and letting me down.
What next is something I often wonder.
Honeyb
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As long as the meal isn't within a set period I will be fine: if we can go on the 'off' and even perhaps stay over-night .......... ;)