Update for Shellybum - FODMAP Diet Downunder :)

been wondering how you are post rider cup ;) and thought it was time to post an update on my FODMAP experiment.

been on FODMAP four months now and and have been keeping VERY well indeed. 

No bloating (dropped a dress size on that alone)no pain, no DD and no thrush/candida in fact no symptoms at all.

Finding it very easy to follow and realise some food I thought I tolerated was probably causing some of the problems e.g. apples, pears!

my GI is very pleased and recent colonscopy showed no active disease in large bowel plus resection site looks healthy and disease free. Not sure on small bowel  but GI thinks lack of symptoms speaks volumes - fingers crossed!

Off all meds at the moment, just on a monthly Vit B shot and oral Vit D prescribed by GI. Took a probiotic for a while to up good bowel flora but have stopped that now. Energy levels so much better since Vit B shots started.

had a bit of stress with 7.09 earthquake in Sept and subsequent aftershocks (still coming and now over 3,000 of the not so little suckers) which have left our family home quite damaged and my daughters a complete write off and my elderly mum has been in and out of hospital (failing heart) yet still symptoms have stayed away.

reintroduced lettuce, tomatos, cucumber (summer coming on here) and small amount of raisins in a very yummy gluten free raisin bread (toasted) with no issues.

biggest change was cutting out cola, apples and ice cream and not sneaking anything I should be avoiding - hard as will power is not my strongest trait ;)

I know it may just be a fluke but I feel quitely confident I have found something that works for me (and a lot of other folks this end of the world apparently) so feeling very positive. Suspect eating this way keeps my digestive system happy so my crohns goes into remission.

Of course I realise it is not a cure but it is the next best thing as far as I am concerned.

It has been a big leap from being so ill they could not start me on humira 'until I was stronger' to getting my life back. 

Thought you would be interested after our earlier chats. Have often wondered how you were doing esp as we have just had some lovely Welsh rellys staying.

{{Hugs}} Lesley in NZ

Hard enough for a normal person but someone as food obsessed as you <LOL>

Joking aside your dietician sounds awesome and very supportive so I guess that is a big plus. So good too that it is controlling the flares and I will be VERY interested to see what foods she starts you back on and then, moving on, what foods she adds. 

Elimination was going to be my next step but thankfully it looks like I have avoided that coincidently by starting my FODMAP post flare when I hadn't eaten for a number of weeks anyway. Can't remember if your dietician was into FODMAP or not but will watch with interest so please keep posting your progress as I have thought about you often esp as turkey looms ;)

Every third song in the malls here is a carol and tinsel is starting to make an appearance. I must admit though Wales is my favourite place to be at Christmas - so many people do the lights there now and with it being dark so early the atmosphere is just brilliant.

I always feel slightly silly serving up turkey with all the trimmings in 30 degree temps to a family who have just come in from the pool or beach ..... must be why I drink so much cool bubbly ;)  Yes I am now drinking the odd couple of glasses of dry white wine with no issues - a liquid that is slightly more festive than modulen ! Will be trying a gluten free stuffing this year but avoiding devils on horsebacks (well maybe just one).

Good luck with the rested bowels - hope they embrace whatever food you restart - just take it easy and keep your sense of humour - somehow think that is your biggest strength :) 

{{hugs}} Lesley (still in NZ)