Thursday, April 7, 2011

lactose... free?

hi Again

seems that things keep changing for me... my dietician gave me the advice to try to eat lactosefree for 2 weeks. thanks to my food diary, she suspects a lactose intolerance, and upon my question, she also agreed upon the possibility that it also involves soy.

by replacing all dairy by soy I am afraid I will not get any step further in getting my tummy to a rest...Especially because I can clearly feel that soy-yoghurt rests heavier on my stomach than yoghurt.


actually I am quite convinced this is not it, but it is worth trying. I mean, yoghurt actually feels good in my tum, but I know I cannot overdo it. But that counts for everything.

Anyway, let's try, and after that try to convince my GP to do some testing because this is getting quite nerve wrecking I can tell you!

by for now, tonight I promise to upload some photo's!

James



Saturday, April 2, 2011

hello again!

hi everyone!
I am back. after a while; you know, sometimes it is good to realize that being too busy with food and health (including a blog) can make you a bit obsessed. 
With what you will eat, will cook, will bake, will buy for dinner, will take along as a snack, don't forget to make pictures,.... so much to think about!

But since quite a few weeks I started thinking seriously about my health. You see, I thought I ate and lived quite healthy, but I kept (more and more) having troubles with my tummy. IBS they call it... so I went to see a dietician, to check if I had the healthy habits I thought I had, and if any dietchange could help me get rid of the stomach cramps, bloating, abnormal toiletvisits ;) (constipation or loose stool) and also, especially, getting obsessed about that all.

But, actually unfortunately, she thought I did fine. Also told her about my ED history, thank god without any laxatives or boulimic stuff because I thought that was only for weak persons. Persons without enough discipline (to stop eating, I know, I was a weirdo). 

After a month or so, she found that maybe this is all caused by things like fruits, especially apples (after me mentioning maybe... that is the problem) and raisins, other dried fruits and lots of fruits at the same time in the morning.

I think I do have FM (fructose malabsorbtion) and after agreeing with my dietician that I would stop eating apples, dried fruit, and peel all veggies, I decided myself I would limit myself a little more.

Also went to see my doctor to check if he did not think anything else. you know, maybe it was all something else, a disease, parasite or whatever.

But my stool had already been checked before after returning very sick from India, also my blood had been tested, nothing wrong. So he said it was a very good idea to see the dietician and wanted to see me back in 6 weeks.

My dietician also mentioned a Bekkenfysiotherapeut (fysiotherapist) who gave tummymassages and could help as well, as of course, it might also have to do with stress and so on.
As my eating less fruit led to more constipation (and thus still stomach problems and aches) I decided to make an appointment. She was the one, actually saying to me it probably all was a nice heritage from my ED....
I know. I ate too little. verrrry little, but I never guessed it was sooo bad for me.

anyway; the combination of her and my dietician, who cooperate in treatment of people like me, seems fine.

to add up, and be sure not to get obsessed without any reason, I ordered a lactose and fructose malabsorbtion breath test from Australia (Stream Diagnostics, extremely helpful!)
In the Netherlands it is hard to get one. It will cost me a lot, but it is worth it. and if positive, I will try to get it back from insurance.

Anyway, long story; I am trying to follow the low FODMAP diet, to see if stuff improves, and hope to receive the test soon to check it all out.

In the meantime, eating regularly, also in between meals, eating less spicy foods, less legumes, beans (sniff.. I love those!) and no onion and garlic, no apples, no flax on an empty stomach, no fruit on an empty stomach, more bananas... I am trying to cope and to not get obsessed, but that is hard while finding out what is the best diet for me! 
Since no IBS patient is the same, it is really hard. And no one in Holland seems to blog about it, so I thought I could share my experience to hopefully save other girls (and boys) the trouble I am going through.

First message, guys, do not ever think you will get away with 10 years of eating too little. your intestines won't know what's happening and get so confused it does not get any better... it gets worse. And healthy food will be a problem, believe me, you don't want that to happen after curing from your ED!!

Anyway, let's get started and hopefully you will comment on my blog as well to help me out if you can. 

love,
Jamie