Food sensitivities and fibro

Hi.  I'm new to this board.  I'm 60, 5'11", 170 lbs. with my pockets full.  My meds consists of tramadol, lyrica and xanax, with an occasional vicodin.  For all of my life, I've been a small framed fellow, even skinny for the better part of it.  Gaining weight has always been difficult for me.

about a year ago, I discovered I could tolerate -- at least, at first -- senna for dealing with the IBS-C that I've had since 1983. It felt terrific at first and led me to tossing aside all restraint, and so I ate lots of wheat products and even drank beer, which allowed me to gain nearly thirty pounds.

As I should have expected, here a little, there a little, I was adding misery to my life.  Gas, bloating, reflux, and overall discomfort hit me hard.  Now, I am facing a four day cruise with friends next month and I'm dreading all the foods (and beer).  So, as of today, I'm again giving up wheat products, returning to millet and oatmeal breads, and only a small amount of potatoes and rice.  Overall, carbs are not my best friends as they raise my triglycerides very quickly and slow my digestive system.

As for the all over pain that fibro causes throughout my day, I need a pain med, all of which cause constipation.  And so, I feel like I'm in a no-win situation.  Eating nothing but vegetables, which are difficult for me to digest easily with IBS, would leave me to eat nothing more than chicken and fish (no red meats), a few veggies, a small amount of fruit, and a little rice or potatoes, with almost no variety.  It sounds healthy, but it's very boring to maintain. 

I lived on chicken, rice and peas for many years.  My weight in those days was in the low 140s.  I don't like being at that weight because of how thin I look.  My legs become like strings, and being that I live in Florida, shorts are a necessity. 

Fibro fog has also been giving me problems.  I'm always having to search for words that simply aren't there, like they're right on the tip of my tongue but won't come out.  Even names of people I've known for years don't want to come to mind when I'm in their presence.

Well, so much for me.  It's your turn to write, if my rambling sparks any comment at all.

Dave 

Thank you for the reply, AMF. Because I have IBS, I've had to limit myself for years. Fibro was the kicker that appeared about twelve years ago. I hit me like a brick and caused me great confusion.

My latest challenge, as I wrote, is that I got fooled by the senna. It seemed to allow me to be a bit more "normal," but instead it brought me to where I am now. Too many of the wrong carbs. A website called helpforibs I've been with for many years. It was a big help in teaching me about soluble fiber vs. nonsoluble fiber. The supplements recommended by those on that board I've tried, and I even bought a brand of fiber sold by the website owner, Heather, but it wasn't to my liking. Acacia, I believe was what I bought.

Tonight, I had a turkey burger on a health food store brand of oatmeal bread. I plan to return to eating sweet potatoes which I existed on for years. How boring life can be with such increasing restrictions. Your protein selectiion is exactly like mine. For a while, I allowed myself a couple of beers each week, but they are not wheat free, so that worked against me.

I've tried the Ezekiel products, especially cereals. I prefer to not do whole wheat as it's too hard to digest. Your fried bread idea sounds good. I've not tried hummus, although I did, for years, eat only almond butter.

Pain meds help to diminish the pain but, as you said, they do have side effects. I admit, I like it when a vicodin kicks in, but it, as well as most pain meds can constipate. Lyrica causes me to forget, and in fact, slows my thinking considerably. I take it only to help me get some rest.

Because I have moderate to severe tinnitus, for which I am service connected (artillery), I am forced to monitor my salt levels and the meds that tend to increase the ringing. Also, sinus problems, along with Eustachian tube dysfuction, demand I take either zyrtec or guaifenesin daily. My sinuses run inevitably during and after every meal. Food allergies I've been tested for, but nothing was uncovered.

Actually, it's kind of ironic how far apart the results were of the tests I was given for allergies in general. The VA hospital said I didn't have any, while an outside allergist gave me a long list of enemies, including roaches. By my board name you might have guessed my occuaption. I have for thirty years been the pest mgmt professional for a VA hospital. Depending upon how I feel, I may choose to retire in less than two years.

Herbals, I don't digest well. Most of them turn my stomach, except for a few teas. Digestive enzymes are okay.

I'm off work this week and spent the day building better lifts from some excess wood. They were made to fit under the head of my bed. A couple of inches wasn't enough, so I raised it to five inches. I'll see how that goes.

Thanks for your friendly post.
Dave

Hello Dave,

Another welcome! I'm sorry you need to be here, but it is a great place. Let me direct you to "Fibro 101," our 1st thread. There's so much good information there.

Your post rang several bells with me because I also have IBS, have trouble keeping my weight up, and follow a lot of the advice on the helpforibs site. I found it when I was desperate; I had tried going gluten-free and that had caused my constipation to go off the deep end, wierdly enough. That's the only thing that helped - increasing SOLUBLE fiber. After eating whole wheat bread for a good 40 years, I now eat white! I also take Miralax and Citrucel daily, which my gastro doctor says is fine indefinitely.

My daughters are probably going in on a juicer for me for Christmas, because, as you said, veggies are generally hard to digest - salads - forget it! (and I'm a vegetarian - go figure! Talk about a restricted diet.) Most nights, I have a flour tortilla w/black beans and cheese or a sweet potato, maybe some brown rice, and cooked veggies....and a chocolate-chip cookie...but too much chocolate, dairy, or fat, and the bloating and cramping starts. I know this meal won't upset my digestion too much and it's got the basics -protein and soluble fiber. And it's easy. But I realize I'm missing out on some nutrients. Bother.

I also hear you on not liking to look too thin. It sounds so easy to just eat more, but sometimes it's not. I am really trying, and I'm uncomfortably full after every meal. I'm lucky to hit 110, and I'm 5'4, medium-build. I feel like a wizened little old lady. Up until my late 40s, I was a typical American woman, wanting to lose a few pounds...I'm now 57.

I am taking Vicodin too, as of last January. Weaning s-l-o-w-l-y off, after spinal surgery. It has made me even more mentally incapacitated than I already was, so I hear you on that score, too. Ugh.

We just do the best we can. Good luck to you, and I hope you'll keep posting.

Debbie

My siblings all had/have some form of IBS. I have been diagnosed (years ago) with Ulcerative Colitis. I am lucky that food does not seem to trigger UC flares. Stress and infections really get it going, though. I can control my UC with meds. I also no longer have a gall bladder, so I do eat fairly healthy and avoid fats with avid passion.

I like to cook, and enjoy lots of various ethnic foods, including spices and chilis. Dinner tonight is a Pad Thai made with spaghetti squash.

My sister had many food allergies along with fibro, specifically gluten and dairy. My niece also has tons of various allergies. I probably do, but am in no hurry to discover them, as I have no real wish to limit my foods.

I have noticed recently responses to MSG-headache, stomach issues, nausea, etc.

My sister avoided gluten as well as dairy, because it made her IBS and her fibro worse. I dothink, at a certain point, she, like me, just flat out refused to completely eliminate all the time things from her diet that she liked. My family really likes food.

My partner is in training for a long distance bike ride for the summer and he has had several different diets he is trying recently. The most recent is no white carbs, no beans, no dairy, no sugar or sugar subs. He is thankfully back to eating pork and lamb, which made me cranky for a year. BUT, the lack of beans is hard for me, because I prefer the beans to meat.

The squash pad thai was disappointing. Not very satisfying for all that veggie prep work.

My niece is working with an allergist and doing elimination and addition to find out what actually she can eat. It's tedious, since she can only add or subtract every week, but at least she is finally gaining weight and seems stronger.

I avoid salt and sugars, but use spices and herbs freely.