Avocados got me! Who knew?

[kadi]

Ok, so I'd been flaring for a month, couldn't figure out why it suddenly got worse, then realized I'd added avocados into the diet about a month ago. So, I decided to cut them out again to see.

I took the last 2 avocados I had to my physical therapist (I hate wasting food!) & she was surprised that I'd been eating them at all, said "Ah, you're allergic to latex, right?" I said yes & she told me that many patients who are allergic to latex find that avocados are a trigger food for IC symptoms. I looked it up on the internet & 50% of those allergic to latex are also allergic to avocados. And papayas too are related as well.

Who knew such a benign little fruit could cause such a problem?
And I was only having a tablespoon or so on sandwiches or salads.
I will miss avocados. (sniff) But I do feel better now without them.

[mimimama]

[SIZE="3"] poor Kadi! I love avocados to so this is bad news. Have you found that PT helps you? I am going to ask my DR about giving me a referral to a pysical therapist[[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]/SIZE].

[mom_in_ma]

Kadi,
Glad you figured out what was causing your flare! I know it was frustrating for you.

[kadi]

Yes, the PT definitely helps! It helps some with bladder discomfort, it helps some with constipation (a surprise benefit), but mainly it has helped me get back into exercising! (I found myself becoming more & more sedentary with some of the problems that come with that - constipation, running out of air going up stairs, weight gain, mild depression, anxiety). Exercising helps with all those things.

I also figure that if IC is a chronic condition & I may have it long term (it's been 4 years already), I want to learn to live as well as possible with it & try to minimize its damage to my body. I gained 35 pounds due to Elavil & lack of exercise. I've lost 12 pounds so far & I want the rest gone! I don't want health problems due to overweight in addition to the IC.

Good luck!