I’ve mentioned it here and there before. I’ve been having, what I call, “stomach issues” for years. Only it’s not really my stomach it’s intestinal. The beginning of this year I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I’ve been taking meds to treat it which really do help but I was still having “bad days” about once a week or so. I always linked it to days when I was a little more stressed at work or I had a worry on my mind. Talking to my doctor about this he thinks I may also have IBS along with my UC. Sooo, I’m going to see a dietician on Thursday. He wants me to try a low FODMAP diet. He says some people get relief from their symptoms with this diet. He can’t guarantee anything of course but I need to try it. I do NEED to because my symptoms are most inconvenient at work and other situations.
I’ve never been on any diet in my life really. Sure I’ve tried to cut back on sugar. I did attempt to cut out lactose from my diet for a while before I knew what was really going on with the UC. I had only briefly heard about low FODMAP diet. I didn’t really know what it was. I looked it up and it seemed very overwhelming to me. Me, being someone who never had to follow anything like this before and now having to follow a pretty restrictive diet. A week before Thanksgiving and I have to make a BIG eating ….heck lifestyle change in regard to what I buy, what I eat, paying more attention to my food labels beyond sugar content, calories, and if something is natural or not.
Thanksgiving will not be what I’m used to. Turkey yes, stuffing no, mashed potatoes ok if it has real butter and lactose milk, apple pie is totally out of the question. I’m researching to see if there’s a way to make pumpkin pie on the diet. I do know I can make a blueberry or strawberry pie if I’m sure to use gluten free pie crust, real sugar, and real butter. But the more I research the more I think…I think I can do this. It won’t be so bad. Now the hardest part for me is going to be spending the money on gluten free flours, and finding gluten free things like granola bars that don’t have things like raisins, apples, and cherries in them.
So my question, does anyone else follow a low FODMAP diet? Any tips or recipes you’d like to share with me?
I’ve never heard of that diet before. I wish you the best of luck though. I know it will be hard around the holidays. 🙁