Eating for IBS (Plus some weight loss!)

I still don't have an official diagnosis from my doctor, but after my colonoscopy/endoscopy passed with flying colors, I think the arrows for my symptoms are all pointing to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). From what I've read of IBS the usual triggers for it are certain foods and also stress.

This week I decided to REALLY try to give the elimination diet a go, starting with wheat. I have been slowly losing about 1 lb or two a week following the colonoscopy, but started to gain back.

Last weeks weight was 225.2

This week my diet changes include mostly eating either oatmeal, fruit n yogurt parfait (McD's), or my new Granola Thins for breakfast. I usually had Granola Thins, applesauce for a snack at work and maybe Oatmeal for lunch. There were a few days I had some lunch brought in by drug reps that hosted....but of course I was avoiding wheat, which meant no biscuits, pastries, etc.

At home I mostly ate regular dinner stuff (rice and some chicken) although Wed I broke down and had Pizza. I was starved and DH had made it already. What's a girl to do?

So, I jump on the scale this morning and my weight was: 220.0!!

That is a 5.8 lb weight loss for this week! It has been awhile since I was below 220...the last time was a month or so ago, but I didn't stay there.  I think after I figure out how to incorporate some more lean protein into my diet, this could be something I do for long-term (until I get preggo).

After looking online, here are some of the trigger foods usual for IBS:

Red Meat (Beef, Pork, Lamb, etc.) Poultry Dark Meat and Skin. Dairy Products. Egg Yolks. Fried Foods. Coconut Milk. Oils, Shortening, Butter, Fats. Solid Chocolate. Coffee, Regular and Decaffeinated. Alcohol. Carbonated Beverages. Artificial Sweeteners. Artificial Fats.

Hmm, I eat most of these foods on a regular basis. I'm hoping Pellegrino will be ok, because I love that stuff. But looking back, I have noticed these things tend to make my symptoms flare up a LOT. Add to that Spicy foods. spicy stuff can leave me in a lot of pain or super heartburn right now.

Last week I noticed I would get especially sick when eating food with fat, meat, or something cooked in oil. So, definitely avoiding some of these things.

I have been eating some dairy products and so far these haven't been too much of a problem, although they may have been a major contributor to the constipation.

So, I was also talking to another friend that suffers from IBS and she was saying that it is mostly stress that causes it to act up. I pointed out that her diet she follows for her hypoglycemia is the suggested way to eat for IBS and could be a reason she doesn't get flare ups often.

She usually eats small portions every 2-4 hours. She avoids mostly fatty foods, chocolate, and sticks to whole grains, fruits and lean meats. So really a healthier diet in general. That was another thing I read, that eating smaller portions every few hours should help with the digestion rather than larger meals and reduce IBS symptoms.

Also, I've been doing some (very) light working out at night. Just moving around in front of the TV mostly. I don't think I would do more than 30 minutes at a time. I want to get geared for that again.

Now, this is not to say I ate super great the whole week. I had some Cracker Chips and Cream Cheese one day and stuff, but so far so good.

Riding the Big Red Wave today...

So, Saturday the spotting turned into full flow. I'm so tired of maxi pads, etc. Plus they are bad for the environment. I had previously looked into cloth pads, but the idea of washing them so often wasn't appealing.

I checked out a thread on TMP that gave a lot of good examples to durable alternatives to disposable pads/tampons. After looking at all the options, I decided to order The Keeper (I actually ordered the Moon Cup made of medical grade silicone). This is a menstrual cup made of either natural gum rubber (latex)--The Keeper or medical grade silicone--The Moon Cup.

The way this works is that the cup is inserted in the vagina to catch the menstrual flow. I'm excited for it to come in for the next cycle.

However, I do have a cardiac MRI on Feb 3. My doctor is going to analyze it to see if there is any real difference and decide what to do. If there is a decrease in function as one of the ECHO's showed, he will call me in for an appt. Otherwise I'll see him in September!

I'm really hoping that I'll be able to actively TTC this cycle! I'm even going to break out my monitor to see if I can start tracking my cycle again. I wasn't before because the test sticks are so expensive, but it is quite accurate.
 
That's the plan for now. Fingers crossed I'll be given the go ahead to TTC!

Blog Design update!!!

So, I just previewed my blog and saw that Shabby Blogs has changed their servers, meaning my background would be gone by the end of January! So, I took this as an opportunity to change designs with the new year. I picked a light design called Molly...I think it suits the rest of my blog colors, etc.

So, just wanted to alert y'all, especially if you are perusing in Google Reader, to check out the new digs!

Gotta go grocery shopping!

Update Endoscopy/Colonoscopy

So, I got there this afternoon and they stated they would be doing BOTH procedures today (Endoscopy & Colonoscopy = E/C).  I was so relieved because hopefully for TTC this means that after the Cardiac MRI the first week of February I should be good to go for TTC! I hope.

The reason I need ANOTHER Cardiac MRI is because the last ECHO they took was too unclear....they couldn't be sure if there were any changes or not. SO, now I get to endure another horribly uncomfortable test so they can get a look at it.

Hopefully whatever they find just means a change in meds and not a halt on TTC, but before I saw my cardiologist in Jan he seemed to indicate that a break wasn't needed.

The E/C wasn't TOO horrible. I had to gargle the numbing agent and swallow. The endo only took 10 minutes. The colonoscopy was ok at first, but then started to feel like the start of bad cramps...not actually the worst ever, but like the beginning of it.

But then it got better and I opened my eyes and saw that I got to see what the camera saw! I know that might gross many of you out, but I was fascinated. I'm usually fascinated by my own injuries/body stuff (except blood, watching it get drawn makes me faint).  So it was very cool.

She took a few biopsies and will know more after that, but overall they think everything looks good and not sure exactly what could be causing my GI issues. Which is relieving but frustrating.  All signs seem to point toward IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)....so I guess I'll find out what treatment if any there is for that.

I also think I really have to look at my diet. I have been needing to go back to a healthier diet for a long time, but now I have a motivation to make sure I stick to a healthier diet.

Plus, I don't know if it was having all liquid diet for one day plus all of the laxatives, but I felt like I lost ALL of the bloat in my stomach. I couldn't find my measuring tape to know for sure, but I just felt slimmer. Now I see why people do those 48 hour juice fasts.

More motivation to get fit in 2011!

Positive Thinking Challenge---Finito--Endoscopy today

So, I'm not updating as much as I should lately. I am cancelling the Positive Thinking Challenge. It's easier than it seems, but also difficult when part of the reason for a blog is to get your thoughts out there. It was a good experience and I will hope to include more positive statements in the future.

Today I'm getting an endoscopy to seek out a diagnosis for my GI issues. SO not fun. They weren't kidding when they say the worst part is the prep work. I had to drink 2 10 oz bottles of Milk of Magnesia about 14 hours apart. Not cool at all. I'm not sure if it was the drinking it or the expelling that was worst. That stuff is so nasty.

Also, I've been on a liquid diet all day and I am supposed to stop drinking at 11AM today. On the flip side, I don't know if it is my imagination, but my tummy seems smaller. Probably just wishful thinking.

I'm hoping if I do have to get a colonoscopy that it can be done in early February.

Positive Thinking Challenge #6--Waiting sucks

So, I have a few medical procedures that will be causing me to wait longer. Le sigh. For my GI issues I have an endoscopy and colonoscopy scheduled. I was tempted to cancel the endoscopy, but as it is set for MLK day (which is a work holiday) I will be able to go without missing work.

However, after seeing my cardiologist now he says the pictures from my recent ECHO are unclear and he wants to be sure there has been a change. So NOW I get to have a Cardiac MRI, yay :-(  My favorite (insert sarcasm here).

So, since pregnancy interferes with these procedures (or vice-versa) I definitely need to delay TTC until after the ECHO in February. It's on the 3rd though, so likely this means we can start trying that month!!! Hooray! One more month of waiting!!!

Positive Word Challenge #5--Back home...AF came...and she's a lot healthier!

So my visit back home was wonderful. It was so great to see my family and my husband's family.

I did get my period right after Christmas and before New Years. I had some painful cramps, but Thanksgivings were definitely the worst. BUT, like Thanksgivings period, this flow was different.

So, TMI ALERT!!!       TMI ALERT!!     TMI ALERT!!


Gonna talk about period flow consistency, texture, etc...



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Most of my periods in the past have had clots, darkish/red or brown blood.  The last two have been amazingly clot free, thinnish, bright red blood. And my flow volume has followed more or less a healthy pattern...M -> Heavy --> M --> M --> Light. The only weird bit is that it seems like I have EWCM mixed in sometimes...kind of yellowish-slippery flow, but also very bloody.

So I did some Googling and found ONE site that mentions healthiness of flow. I found out that bright red, clot-free flow is actually the sign of a healthy period! And this was a second completely B6/vitamin free cycle.  Also, I spotted a mere 2 days before full flow, rather than 5. Hip, hip, hooray!!

I am just hoping this is a good sign for my overall fertility. The only thing hard to judge is whether my luteal phase was shortened. I left my thermometer at home so am unclear on my O date. Looking over my chart it would seem that my LP was max 10 days this cycle. So, I will most likely need to get back on B6 or even try vitex.

Hope y'all had a happy holidays and looking forward to a fertile 2011!!