Elimination Diet

[pinkfairy]

Has anyone been on an elimination diet to find out what intolerances to food they have? I know I am LI, thats been confirmed by my consultant. But I am still suffering with my stomach. I thought if I went on an elimination diet I could work out what other foods are affecting me. I also suspect wheat. I haven't had bread for months now and I had a couple of slices of toast yesterday and I feel awful today.

If anyone has been on the diet, please can you let me know what you eat to start and what foods you gradually introduced.

Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Jane:(

[squirrel]

Hi there,

I am currently on an elimination diet to 'prove' I am LI. Accoring to my GP, the trick is only to remove one food type at a time, and do so for several weeks, if you symptoms are not any better then it is unlikely that this is the cause of the problem (or it is not the only cause of the problem). You then progress onto the next food type. Since the most common issues are Lactose and gluten, he recommended starting with one of those (preferably lactose for me as that seemed to be more likely given my symptoms), and then if it didn't work trying the other. From there on, you have to try and narrow it down further.

So I guess for you, you would eat your 'ordinary' dairy free diet,also eliminating any wheat to start with, try that for a few weeks and see what happens. If that doesn't solve the problem, you may have to look at a food type other than wheat. It may even be a yeast intolerance, which I know a few people have, so they have to be careful what kinds of bread they eat but can still eat pasta, etc.

Hope this helps a little bit.

Cheers,
Clare

[pinkfairy]

Thanks for your advise. I was thinking that you would start off with a basic diet then introduced new foods. Its going to be easier your way. I think I will take your advise and cut out yeast over the next couple of weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again

Jane

[pinkfairy]

HI squirrel

I think you might of "hit the nail on the head". I was just thinking back about what I have eaten. I not only had 2 pieces of hovis toast, but I also had marmite on it. Looking back through my food diary I have been still having small amounts of yeast in stock cubes and dairy/wheat free pitta breads. So fingers crossed. I'll keep you informed over the next couple of days.

Thanks

Jane

[Lan]

Hi Jane

I have been on an elimination and know how hard it is. Stick with it though as definitely worth it. If you ever need to talk then let me know, as have been there and done it.

Good luck to all those on the elimination diet.

Lan.

[matt]

sorry your gp got it the wrong way round. the proper way to do an elimination diet is a heck of a lot more hassle.

you have to go on a reaction free diet, from memory stuff like rice, lamb and certain veggies for a few weeks. these foods do not cause any reactions.

then you introduce each food seperately for a few days and see what reaction you get. then stop each food again and try something new. eventually you will build up a list of foods that you react to. otherwise you'll never really know.

the gp's method can work but is far less accurate. he's just basically telling you to avoid the usual suspects. gluten, yeast, dairy, citrus, chocolate, onions etc, sugar or sweeteners, colours and additives, and the list goes on!!!:(

[Pam]

I agree with matt here, the elimination diet cuts out all possible problem foods and leaves you with just a few bland alternatives. You test reaction by gradually introducing new foods. I believe rice and chicken are the basic foods - very boring but I suppose it is worth it in the end if you can work out what foods are causing you problems.

You could try the York tests (blood test available mail order through York Labs - cost about £200 unfortunately) which would tell you what foods are worst. That way you would know what to avoid.

[squirrel]

Hi there,

Sorry if I have given bad advice - that was not my intention. Both the person that did the Food Sensitivity test and my GP advised that the 'correct' way to do it was eliminate a food group at a time and then gently re-introduce it after a number of weeks to check for recurrence of symptoms.

Strangely, this way seems to make more sense to me as how do you know that your 'bland' diet doesn't contain anything that you are sensitive to? :confused: If you cut out too much at once - don't you have too many variables to work with? Maybe its just because I am a tester by profession that I find that I get on better changing only one thing at a time and seeing what happens then - rather than changing loads.

However, I say go with what works for you. Everyone's bodies are different and not all methods of changing their diet will suit everyone.

Cheers,
Clare

[ellsie]

I have done 2 elimination diets in my time and both were as Matt and Pam said. In both I was only allowed certain foods for 2 weeks and then you add back in one at a time to test for a reaction. I have also had blood tests to check for allergy,not intolerance, and skin prick tests. lots of reaction to all these tests which is fine to know wahat you are dealing wiyh but hideous at the time. I was pregnant during one of the elimination tests and I was STARVING...............

[pinkfairy]

Went to my GP this morning for some advise on the elimination diet. She is going to refer me to see a gastro specialist and for allergy testing. All my tests before were done by bowel specialist with no problems found. Surprise surprise. My LI consultant is brilliant but I am not going to be seeing her until the new year. I have read on the net that it is common for LI suffers to also suffer with yeast intolerances due to changes in hormones and sugar levels. So I am going to cut down my yeast in my diet and see if it makes a difference. Otherwise I could be waiting months for medical advise.

Thanks for all your advise

Jane

[matt]

squirrel. the idea is that by cutting everything you manage to get symptom free then when you introduce each food you can see if you react to it.

by cutting only one food at a time how will you know?
say you react to two things, cut out one and you still get the symptoms so you think that it's ok to eat that food when it isn't. then the same when you eliminate the second. your gp's is talking out of their.........

really bad advice to be given to you.:mad:

if when you go on the real bland diet you still have problems then it's not a food intolerance problem and needs urgent invetigation.
elim diets should only be done under supervision and that way they can monitor your intake of vitamins minerals etc.

[whitewabbit2001]

i got told to weigh myself every night and morning, ive found if i have a reaction to lactose i gain 4 lbs instantly