Not a question, just some info

[tschock]

I posted this in the IBS forum and thought I would share it here as well.

As some of you know, I recently had my teeth removed.

I have been suffering from IBS/GERD for as long as I can remember. I think I was around 12 when I started getting the ever worsening pains. They kept telling me it was growing pains, until a "good doctor"  told me at the age of 22 that "growing pains" should no longer be a factor in my life. This is when the testing began and I was diagnosed with IBS/acid reflux/GERD...and a quivering bowel issue...due to the diarrhea attacks is my guess.

Anyhow, to make a long story short...
I have found a solution! For ME anyway.
After YEARS of trying to figure out exactly what and which foods etc were causing my ailments, I finally figured it out!
And all because of the reflux destroying my teeth to a point where they could no longer be rebuilt...at least "something good" came of it.

I had nothing but tea, coffee, soup ( homemade, no salt or pepper added ) to eat/drink for 2 months. All room temp or just a bit warmer...nothing too hot or too cold.
I slowly started adding more to my vague diet.
I have had NO red meat, raw veggies, processed foods, processed cheese, preservatives, etc for months.
I recently added mashed potatoes, cooked peas, beans, carrots, avocados, homemade soft chew oatmeal cookies,
fish, oysters, soft baked items such as "soggy" egg rolls, pasta, and any other "gummable" foods...including breads. I HAVE eaten oranges, grapes, strawberries, and bananas with no problems as well. Also had some ground turkey during the holidays ( thanks mom )...with gravy! And gravy was another thing that I used to blame. lol
* update to oranges...Japanese oranges do NOT agree with me. lol
Not ONCE in the past few months ( From September 23rd on) have I had one single attack!
Unless you take the flu that went around here into consideration. lol
I used to eat salads, cheezies/potato chips, steak, raw veggies and fruits, anything "crunchy", etc.

I'm hoping that I've caught onto something. As soon as I get some replacement teeth that fit my mouth, I'll test out this theory.
My doctor had suggested cutting caffeine and salt out of my diet due to high blood pressure and anxiety issues.
I have never been a salt person, but the coffee was a different story. I quit for a couple of weeks, but it got the better of me. I started up again...no IBS/GERD and no anxiety with the re-start.
I had some cheese last night...stomach was okay...will wait until tonight to see if anything happens. I used to blame it all on milk products...seemed that I would get the "runs" every time...but starting to think it was something else that went along with it...but can't think of what. Maybe it's a combination thing?

Not saying that any of my news will help others, but if it's a possibility, then I think it's worth posting.
I know all of us have been looking for that "miracle" to end our pain...we have all found ( at one time or another) what we believe may be a cure or a solution.
We all look for that ray of sunshine, that seems to elude us on a constant basis.
I truly hope that this post may help at least some of you, if not all of you.
I have been told countless times in the past to try the process of elimination...but failed to do so because of all of the possibilities out there...but this time I succeeded...only because I had no other choice.
I know it's hard ( if not nigh on to impossible ) to do the elimination diets because of the need to write down what you have eaten, wait a day or two to see what happens, etc. It's terrible! At least for me it is...I also have ADD.
Eating the same foods for a few days straight just to see if you're going to double over in pain...that bites.
If it turns out that it's raw veggies ( salads esp) I'm going to go crazy...but I WILL avoid them if that's what it takes.
I'm going to try some spaghetti and meatballs tonight.

Keeping my fingers crossed...not my bowels. lol

* I tried the spaghetti and meatballs last night...wasn't easy to chew lol.
Not sure if it was that or the Japanese orange that I had this morning that "did me in", but something really didn't like me.
I'm having leftovers for supper, so will know more tomorrow. lol

So my suggestion to all would be to have your teeth removed to find out what's making your life miserable...JUST KIDDING!!!
Just hoping that if any of you can be helped by MY process of elimination...or reverse process of elimination...then it's all worth it.
I know my life was a living *bleep* before, and if I can help just one person it will make life seem that much more enjoyable.
I realize that we all have our own demons ( foods etc that set our attacks off ) but I figure that if 2 out of 5 people are allergic to cats, then 2 out of 5 of you should have the same food issues as I do...right? lol
Maybe if we all make a list of things that we know for a fact bother our tender tummies, then perhaps we can see if there is a common ground.
Wouldn't life without tummy troubles be wonderful? Let's find a cure together...or at least a tolerable menu plan. lol

Oh...and I also find ( thanks to some advice that was given to me years ago on this forum ) that sleeping a wee bit propped up ( 3 pillows ) and laying on my left side, has cut the attacks back by quite a bit.
Thank you to whoever it was that told me that.

[ZJRC]

Having had migraine disease all my life (throwing up no less than about 3x week), my teeth are no longer reparable either.
My dental surgeon said that he could tell it was from vomiting and not my diet because of where the teeth were/are going so bad.
BUT, due to the fact that I took bisphosphonates for my osteoporosis, the surgeon will only remove 2 at a time; and on opposing sides of my mouth.
WAH!

The bisphosphonates are also responsible for my GERD.

I won't have all your time then to find out what is food allergy and what is 'normal' for my GERD, but you have given me a great idea!
Thank you!

[selmaS]

  Hi, thanks for sharing what u figured out the hard way...the elimination diet is the best way to get to what is ailing u....I did this for my DD when she was young as she would break out in hives....I found red dye was the issue....but the diet helped me figure it out.

Keeping a journal as we  often tell people is one way to track when something is not a good item and when it is ok....

and as u noticed, something u could not eat b4 u can now...so, u will always be able to see what is ok and what is not... did u have an infection with ur teeth that u had them all out...was that what caused ur issues?

   "selma"