If there was one thing you could banish from your life, what would it be?

[pomtzu]

Like I just mentioned above, there are meds, but they make me tired and depressive. And sometimes they won't help at all. Since I'm dealing with so many different diseases, there are also different kinds of nausea, if that's making any sense.

Yes - I know what you mean. If you are lactose intolerant, about the only thing you can do there, is to void the dairy products. You could also try lactose enzyme tablets before eating any dairy and see if that helps. Some people swear by them, but they don't help me much, and I never remember to take them anyway, so I end up with the nausea, cramps and bloating and everything else that accompanies it. Ice cream is the absolute worst for me - and I love that stuff!

[Kirsten]

Yes - I know what you mean. If you are lactose intolerant, about the only thing you can do there, is to void the dairy products. You could also try lactose enzyme tablets before eating any dairy and see if that helps. Some people swear by them, but they don't help me much, and I never remember to take them anyway, so I end up with the nausea, cramps and bloating and everything else that accompanies it. Ice cream is the absolute worst for me - and I love that stuff!

I tried these enzyme tablets, but I felt even more nauseous after that. But it's hard to tell because I'm feeling ill anyway since I made that test, so will try them again after a while. Right now, eating dairy products or eating no dairy products doesn't make a difference, I'm always feeling sick. Besides, I don't know what's left for me to eat. No dairy products, no fruit (never tolerated them, I'd bet I'm fructose intolerant also), I'm allergic to soy products and to nuts, I'm not allowed to eat flatulent vegetables or wholemeal products due to the diverticulosis, and I don't eat meat (for ethical reasons). There's basically nothing left I could eat. Yesterday, I ate cooked turnip cabbage, and after that, my belly was blown up as if I was 9 months pregnant. Not to mention the pain, my bowels still feel sore after that...

[Queen of Poop]

I'd banish my IBS.

As has already been mentioned the issues associated with bowel problems are not a boatload of fun!

I cannot eat any meat, veggies, fruit, dairy or wheat products. I weigh under 100 lbs now. I so miss eating "real food".

[Kirsten]

I'd banish my IBS.

As has already been mentioned the issues associated with bowel problems are not a boatload of fun!

I cannot eat any meat, veggies, fruit, dairy or wheat products. I weigh under 100 lbs now. I so miss eating "real food".

I can relate to that, 100%!!!!

[Karen]

Queen of Poop, what do you eat? Rice?

(And people think MY diet is limited!)

Kirsten, that being mentioned, have you tried limiting what you eat, to see if more of your issues are food related? After I have a reaction to something, I don;t eat for a couple days, really just cannot even contemplate it - but then I start back in eating one thing I *think* is safe, like plain rice, then waiting and making sure I have no reaction to that, then adding in cheese (I have no lactose issues, thankfully) and slowly adding back on.

I have been tested in the past for food allergies, and that was pretty helpful at the time to establish a baseline, but my doctor - who is wonderfully patient and knowledgable - told me that not all food allergies - especially ones that cause gastrointestinal issues - will always show up on even the blood tests that they send away, so to literally pay attention to my own body.

I have bad reactions to some things they cannot even test for, but I know for certain that's what the issue is, so I avoid them carefully.

Sometimes I do get bored with what I can eat, but if I am at tempted, I just remind myself of the consequences, and stay safe.

[rg_girlca]

Sorry this is off topic Kirsten, but have you ever been tested to see if you are allergic to Gluten? Apparantly they are seeing it more and more in young ladies these past few years. The name of it is called "Celiac Disease." It's a deficiency disease caused by faulty absorption of food in the intestines and characterized by diarrhea and malnutrition. In fact my daughter-in-law was diagnosed with it a few months ago. The reason I ask is because your symptoms are so similar to what hers are. The nausea, lactose intolerant, stomach pains and losing weight. She has to be on a Gluten free diet. There is a lot about it now on the computer if you care to look it up. I've also spoke with a woman whose daughter is allergic to Gluten and she said it took them almost 4 years before they got a proper diagnosis. It was only from her mother doing research on the computer and going to the doctor with her findings that her daughter got tested for it. I believe it's a special blood test that has to be done. Now the daughter is doing well. It took about 4-6 months before everything got under control. Her iron levels are back to normal and she is no longer lactose intolerant. There are many sites where you can get some really good recipes.

Now, the one thing that I would banish from my life is my bladder problem.

[Asiel]

Probably all my allergies and the incessant pain. Then I would like to take a wastebasket and dump every single med that I'm on and hear a doctor tell me I no longer need them. Dream along....