FODMAP Diet, help!

JenBrown0210
JenBrown0210 Posts: 985 Member
edited February 7 in Food and Nutrition
This might be TMI for some! Read at your own risk. This is not a fad diet I am trying This is a diet recommended by my GI specialist.

I have been having digestive problems for a little over two years. I have cannot remember the last time I had a normal bowel movement. All the test my doctor has ordered have come back negative. I finally was able to get to see a GI specialist. She recommended the FODMAP diet. I am to follow that strictly for 6 weeks and then we are adding food back in one at time. We are trying to figure out what my triggers are. She is questioning if I am lactose intolerant, wheat intolerant, fructose intolerant, or possible gluten intolerant. My previous celiac test came back negative but we are doing another test.

I started this Saturday. I am completely cutting out dairy, wheat, and fructose for the next 6 weeks. Today was day 3. (my diary is private because I am also logging my symptoms in the notes with the time) Each day I have gotten terrible headaches. Is this normal? I have to take tylenol or Ibuprofen to make it bearable. It is not caffein as I am not a daily caffein drinker. I am getting plenty of water. At least 100 oz. This just frustrates me and makes it is harder to stay on track. I felt like I was in a fog today at work. Forgetting things, ect.

I would love any recommendations on websites that could help with food planning. This has become very difficult! I know I can do this just for 6 weeks.

Thank You,
Jennifer

Replies

  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    i assume you cut out caffeine? could you be getting withdraw headaches
  • rie_q
    rie_q Posts: 73
    You could be withdrawing from anything you've cut out, really. If you're concerned speak to your doctor (a phone call to their office, they should advise you over the phone).
  • gamerkiwi
    gamerkiwi Posts: 93 Member
    If you're concerned speak to your doctor (a phone call to their office, they should advise you over the phone).

    This, this, this. Also this.

    Any concerns about your health should be brought up to a doctor if you can talk to one.
  • gigglesinthesun
    gigglesinthesun Posts: 860 Member
    I spent 2 years on the low FODMAP diet due to IBS. I don't have time right now to go into great detail, but if you pm me I will try to send you links and more info this evening.
  • Charlottesometimes23
    Charlottesometimes23 Posts: 687 Member
    I agree that you should check with your specialist about your symptoms.

    During my training as a clinical dietitian, I did a lengthy research project on the FODMAPs diet and some of the better websites i found were

    http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/ (The whole concept of the FODMAp diet for IBS was created here)

    http://www.lowfodmap.com/fodmaps-explained/

    http://fodmapfreeliving.wordpress.com/

    You could also ask your specialist about the possibility of doing a hydrogen breath test. Basically they give you a lactose and a fructose load and see how well you digest it by how much hydrogen you breathe out. If you can digest them properly, then you don't have to restrict them. Your focus would be on restricting fructans (which includes wheat), GOS and sugar polyols, and then adding them in one by one to see how you cope.

    Best of luck with it!
  • gigglesinthesun
    gigglesinthesun Posts: 860 Member
    I agree that you should check with your specialist about your symptoms.

    During my training as a clinical dietitian, I did a lengthy research project on the FODMAPs diet and some of the better websites i found were

    http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/ (The whole concept of the FODMAp diet for IBS was created here)

    http://www.lowfodmap.com/fodmaps-explained/

    http://fodmapfreeliving.wordpress.com/

    You could also ask your specialist about the possibility of doing a hydrogen breath test. Basically they give you a lactose and a fructose load and see how well you digest it by how much hydrogen you breathe out. If you can digest them properly, then you don't have to restrict them. Your focus would be on restricting fructans (which includes wheat), GOS and sugar polyols, and then adding them in one by one to see how you cope.

    Best of luck with it!

    I am back, I'd echo the breath test.

    When I first started I got Dr Shepherd's book to help me muddle along. I printed out a list of fruit and veggies that I could have that I could hang up on the fridge as easy reference. The thing I found hardest to cope with was the no onion and no garlic.

    For those lists
    http://www.gesa.org.au/consumer.asp?id=190
    http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/110518 FODMAPS Fact Sheet_Public version.pdf

    I would also get my favourite meals and print out different recipes for it (one gluten free version, a dairy free version and then see whether I could create a low FODMAP version for myself)

    Like I said before I did the diet for 2 years and I essentially failed at the reintroduction stage. There was always a low level pain and as soon as I would have anything it would flare back up. It wasn't until I made a veggie stew that nobody wanted to eat in my house so I ate it for 4 days straight and all the pain stopped, I discovered that it was actually meat that caused my problems. I don't seem to digest it properly or something. I have now been a vegetarian for 4 months and I still marvel at living without pain. Good luck in your endeavours :-)
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