Food Intolerances

[Cactusflower]

I don't think I can ignore the fact any longer that I'm having reactions to foods. The problem is that it seems to be all food, all the time.

I've had a problem with daily bloating for years, but it's getting really extreme. The last few days have been awful. I've swollen to twice my size and I've had a few gastric episodes. This morning I was writing my three hour police entrance exam and I had to pop out, because my belly needed to expel something. This evening on my 5k run, I stopped dead at 4.5k with severe cramping. Luckily I was close to home.

I'm kinda afraid to eat now, which is also a blessing as I need to drop some weight anyway.

My usual diet is quite high in fiber. I love beans, vegetables, salads and more vegetables. I do eat meat, but not much and most lean cuts or seafood. The trouble is the vegetables and beans. I bloat like mad. I never used to get very gassy, but lately I get both bloating and gas, but the bloating doesn't go away. I can't even eat broccoli or cauliflower anymore, because I feel like it's killing me.

Due to the holiday, I had foods I don't normally eat. I have been drinking milk for the last 4 days, I ate mashed potatoes with butter and gravy, buns with butter and a bit of turkey and turkey soup. I wasn't gorging on any of these foods and I exercise three hours a day, so it wasn't a matter of overeating. However, I've feel like crap. I didn't think it was possible to have my skin stretch this much to the point were I feel I'm going to burst. I'm thinking it's the dairy and maybe the gluten.

It's so hard to nail down what is and isn't an issue with food. Small, occasional amounts of these things don't seem to cause an issue. I don't ever notice anything with cheese, but I don't eat large amounts of it. I'm at a loss.

Anyone else have weird food problems? Any suggestions?

 

[my little pony collector]

I'm sorry I now how that feels I hope you feel better soon

 

[twishy]

I have celiac and lots of stomach issues. Nausea is the norm for me.
I would suggest visiting a GI. I got tested for celiac and H Pylori. If you have celiac you need to be on gluten in order for the test to work.
If you can't do the GI, have you tried a low Fodmap diet? There's lots of resources online to help you get started.
I too can't have Broccoli because it hurts my stomach like crazy. Keep a food journal and include symptoms and times of eating, it may help you nail something.
My guess is the dairy is doing something for sure, just knowing it.

 

[Leave a Whisper]

Perhaps you oughtta go to the doctors and make sure there isn't a bigger problem at hand?

 

[Caseysealia]

I had to get off dairy, wheat, soy, tomatoes, blackberries and all sugar for a year. I detoxed my body as well. Needless to say I felt much better. I deal with same issues. You can develop allergies by eating too much of the same foods, your body ends up seeing it as an "enemy". You can reverse this by switching up the diet. It can be a sensitivity as well, so if you get a test done you might not get results. I'd write down what bothers you, but you should probably stick to safer foods like rice and veggies for a while.

 

[Cactusflower]

@Leave a Whisper I don't do doctors. I'm fairly certain it's a food thing. I've had it long enough and suspected certain foods for several years.

Although you can develop allergies later in life, you can't develop a food allergy from eating too much of the same foods. I'm at my safest when I do eat the same foods. Rice has got to be the safest food ever. I never feel bad when I eat rice. Food journal is a great idea. I've been keeping it in my head, but writing is more reliable

 

[Caseysealia]

@Leave a Whisper I don't do doctors. I'm fairly certain it's a food thing. I've had it long enough and suspected certain foods for several years.

Although you can develop allergies later in life, you can't develop a food allergy from eating too much of the same foods. I'm at my safest when I do eat the same foods. Rice has got to be the safest food ever. I never feel bad when I eat rice. Food journal is a great idea. I've been keeping it in my head, but writing is more reliable

The doctors told me that's what happened. I must be a special case. I was eating too much wheat and it caused infections that soon became allergies. :/ Tbf I also had a very, VERY bad diet. I had infections back and forth and acne that was incredibly painful, even though I ate a lot of good foods. I'd just give your body a break. I haven't done a journal, due to laziness, but its something I've heard a lot about. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[kardemumma]

I've had more issues with these sorts of vegetables (broccoli etc) as I've gotten older. I just have to eat less of them. I've also finally identified that I'm lactose intolerant, which can be similar in symptoms to what you've described. To test out the theory, I stopped consuming dairy products for several weeks and, like magic, my bloating and other distress disappeared. You have to be careful though and make sure you're getting your calcium (or other nutrients, if you stop another food) from other sources during that time. It was shocking to find out how many foods contain dairy (or other ingredients).

 

[twishy]

It was shocking to find out how many foods contain dairy (or other ingredients).

If gluten and dairy is indeed the issue, it is SO HARD to cut both out of your diet completely. It's in so many foods, and hidden sneakily.

 

[Winged Mirage]

It may seem like a weird suggestion, but have you gotten tested for diabetes? Because that’s what was messing up my stomach. Before I was diagnosed and started treating it, I had a lot of gas and stomach issues. It may also be causing you to eat more than you really need to, which can also mess things up.

My stomach still has its sensitive days, but it’s gotten much better.

 

[Jaygirl]

I can't eat gluten or legumes without gut and bowel issues. I've been tested for celiac and do not have it. If you haven't been tested, definitely do the test.

With the gluten, I've noticed that it's not the wheat itself that I have a problem with; my issue seems to be from pesticides. I could eat wheat in Italy all I wanted. There's also a local pizza place by me that uses only organic Mennonite flour which is ground fresh at a Mennonite mill. I didn't believe them when they said people with sensitivities ate it without issues, but I tried it and I was fine.

It sounds like you overloaded your gut with irritating food over Thanksgiving (despite the ongoing problem). When I get "glutened" or indulge the following help:
- Green smoothies (https://ohsheglows.com/2012/11/22/back-on-track-green-monster-banana-free/)
- Activated charcoal tablets
- Ginger tablets
- Peppermint tea
- Probiotics

In general, some things you could try:
- reducing the amount of fibre in your diet
- Cut out gums from artificial dairy products (locust bean gum, guar gum) (locust bean gum really messes up my gut)
- An elimination diet for a minimum of six weeks.
-- Gluten-free
--Someone else suggested Fodmap
-- See if one type of legume bothers you more than another
-- Cut out nightshades
- Change up your diet for a bit
-- Paleo
-- Keto
-- Whole 30
- Work with a dietician/nutritionist
- Work with a naturopathic doctor

I hope you feel better!

 

[poniesthatsparkle]

I've been dealing with stomach problems for years. Saw a GI last year and after several tests, I got diagnosed with gastroparesis. I've cut certain foods out of my diet and I've been feeling loads better. I can't eat red meats, veggies that aren't very well cooked, anything spicy, greasy, or too high in fiber. I also eat smaller meals throughout the day. Eating too much at one time can put me in a lot of pain. These changes were hard to make, but they have been very much worth it.

I strongly suggest seeing a doctor and taking note of which foods seem to make you sick. Try out different diets and see if there's any improvement with that.

 

[Cactusflower]

It may seem like a weird suggestion, but have you gotten tested for diabetes? Because that’s what was messing up my stomach. Before I was diagnosed and started treating it, I had a lot of gas and stomach issues. It may also be causing you to eat more than you really need to, which can also mess things up.

My stomach still has its sensitive days, but it’s gotten much better.

I haven't been tested for diabetes recently, but I'm a very low risk. It's a good suggestion though.

I can't eat gluten or legumes without gut and bowel issues. I've been tested for celiac and do not have it. If you haven't been tested, definitely do the test.

With the gluten, I've noticed that it's not the wheat itself that I have a problem with; my issue seems to be from pesticides. I could eat wheat in Italy all I wanted. There's also a local pizza place by me that uses only organic Mennonite flour which is ground fresh at a Mennonite mill. I didn't believe them when they said people with sensitivities ate it without issues, but I tried it and I was fine.

It sounds like you overloaded your gut with irritating food over Thanksgiving (despite the ongoing problem). When I get "glutened" or indulge the following help:
- Green smoothies (https://ohsheglows.com/2012/11/22/back-on-track-green-monster-banana-free/)
- Activated charcoal tablets
- Ginger tablets
- Peppermint tea
- Probiotics

In general, some things you could try:
- reducing the amount of fibre in your diet
- Cut out gums from artificial dairy products (locust bean gum, guar gum) (locust bean gum really messes up my gut)
- An elimination diet for a minimum of six weeks.
-- Gluten-free
--Someone else suggested Fodmap
-- See if one type of legume bothers you more than another
-- Cut out nightshades
- Change up your diet for a bit
-- Paleo
-- Keto
-- Whole 30
- Work with a dietician/nutritionist
- Work with a naturopathic doctor

I hope you feel better!

You're killing me. I have a very high fibre diet. I love nightshades and beans.
Now that you mention it, I did try Keto a year ago for about 6 weeks. It was the first time in a long time where I didn't feel bloated all the time. I was eating tofu, shrimp and seafood and low carb veggies (mostly cooked), cheese, butter. I seem to be ok with cheese and butter, but I only have those in small amounts. Milk seems to be a bigger problem. Too much and I feel terrible. I think I'm going to start messing with my diet again and see if I can narrow down the issues. Maybe I'll just eat tofu, rice and seafood - foods I know are safe. Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[Tak]

I have thyroid issues and too much fiber always hurts. It sounds like you have a pretty healthy diet, so maybe try just cutting out dairy. If that doesn't help, try just cutting gluten. It can take a while, but it will keep you from cutting out something you love unnecessarily.

My mother has hypertension and is pre diabetic. She had to switch to almost no carbs (fiber lowers the "bad" part of the carbs), she eats lots of veggies, small portions of lean meats, some nuts, hard cheeses, and only very small portions of high fiber carbs. She's smaller than me now. Even with sitting in bed for three months with a broken leg.

Also, isn't it strange that humans are the only animal that regularly drinks the milk of another mammal and considers it normal? Just a thought.

 

[Ology]

I can't eat ice cream apples banana and several types of leafy greens. Going out to eat is hard i mostly just eat chicken.