[ECHOES]

I'm looking into trying the FODMAP diet, after talking to my GP and waiting to see a GI doctor for episodes of awful belly pain that debilitates me for several days about once or twice a month. Possibly IBS, gastroparesis, or ???

Have you followed the FODMAP diet? If so, was it difficult to follow? Did it help?

[geis]

My diet is similar to FODMAP, but not exactly. (I have ulcerative colitis.) It is difficult being on a very restrictive diet, but over time I've adjusted pretty well. Grocery shopping takes a long time at first because you have to scrutinize every food label, but once you learn what foods are safe, it gets quicker and easier, as long as you don't mind eating the same things over and over.

The hardest things for me are social situations and travel. With social situations, there's often food and pressure to eat it, but generally I just tell people I have food allergies. I know technically it's not allergies, but that's easier for most people to understand, and they probably don't want to hear about my GI problems. Travel is difficult, especially if you have to eat out a lot, because you don't always know exactly what's in your food. I've noticed more restaurants seem to be understanding of food allergies/sensitivities these days, but that can vary widely based on location. (I've had much better luck in New England than in the Southeast, for instance.) When I travel, I always bring some safe foods with me. Those microwaveable rice pouches are great, and there's one brand of energy bar I can safely eat. I always look for stores like Whole Foods when I travel, too, because I know I can find safe food for myself there.

Hope that helps, and I hope you're able to get in to see the gastroenterologist soon! GI problems are awful.

My doctor has suggested it. (Stomach pain for me too.)

I haven't really tried it though because I think I have pin pointed the culprit. No more dairy for me.

[kiwi33]

In my day job I teach dietitians in their pre-clinical years.

My clinical dietitian colleagues often recommend a low FODMAP diet to clients who have been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome but not for those who have been diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by kiwi33

In my day job I teach dietitians in their pre-clinical years.

My clinical dietitian colleagues often recommend a low FODMAP diet to clients who have been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome but not for those who have been diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).

I'm surprised at that. I thought it was helpful for IBD too.
The strangest-sounding treatment I heard of a few months go, although it isn't new at all, is fecal transplant. Very interesting in how it can relieve symptoms of UC quickly by introducing needed bacteria into the gut. I was fascinated hearing about it on a radio program. I listened very closely after saying to myself, "Is she saying what I think she's saying?!"

[kiwi33]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

I'm surprised at that. I thought it was helpful for IBD too.
The strangest-sounding treatment I heard of a few months go, although it isn't new at all, is fecal transplant. Very interesting in how it can relieve symptoms of UC quickly by introducing needed bacteria into the gut. I was fascinated hearing about it on a radio program. I listened very closely after saying to myself, "Is she saying what I think she's saying?!"

Yep, there is increasing evidence that differences in the kinds of bacteria which normally live in the gut (the "gut microbiome") are causally linked to UC, Crohn's disease and many other conditions, eg Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This is a "hot topic" for biomedical scientists but my impression is that it is currently at the basic science stage.

You might find the information in this link helpful: What is FMT? | The Fecal Transplant Foundation - something that you could discuss with your health care team.

[geis]

In the last two years, the FDA has made FMT unavailable to anyone but C. diff. patients, and even then, it's extremely hard to access. Apparently the doctor has to apply to the FDA to be named as a clinical investigator, and according to my gastroenterologist, that takes months. Most hospitals won't even bother because the FDA has made the process so onerous.

FMT is cheap and has virtually no side effects, but we can no longer access it. Meanwhile, the drugs I take for my IBD, which the FDA has approved, can cause bone marrow toxicity, liver toxicity, lymphoma, brain infections, and sudden death...but that's A-OK with the FDA. *headdesk*