Newly Diagnosed & Overwhelmed by Diet

[charlie's_love]

Hi everyone,

My name is Tiffany am I am 23. My symptoms began in January 2011. Like many people eventually diagnosed with IC, I went through many doctors and an ER visit with no help. The good news is that I finally went to a pelvic health specialist in TN, which is 6 hours from where I live. There, Dr. Barry Jarnagin, diagnosised me with IC and pelvic floor dysfunction. I was just diagnosed on March 16th 2011.


I realize that stress should be kept to a minimum, but I am very stressed out and overwhelmed by the diet I am supposed to follow. I think I understand it, but after everything I eat I am questioning whether or not it is really IC friendly.

I am still in quite a bit of shock over the diagnosis, although I am happy to have one.

My understanding is that the diet is about staying away from acidic foods, caffeine, alcohol, and foods with lots of perservatives. I am confused because when I looked on the IC diet forumn my recipes are gluten free or diary free and I didn't think that was problematic for IC.

I would love some general advice on how to move forward.

Thanks,
Tiff

[cmclien]

You are right, the diet does allow you to have dairy and gluten. Perhaps some of those recipes are made for those who have wheat and dairy sensitivities. The only dairy I can think that can be problematic for some ICers is aged cheese and yogurt. Sour cream is a try it though if it doesn't contain citric acid then it doesn't bother me at all. I can pretty much eat all cheese except for pepperjack which I love. I also found I can't eat yogurt but am hoping to add it back in eventually. You'll just have to try some of these on the "try it" lists to see what is ok for YOU. Also applegate farms makes some good lunch meat that is preservative free. Trader Joes, assuming you're in the US makes a preservative free bacon and others including the lunch meats.

Like you I found the diet incredibly overwhelming at first. My doctor gave me this list which coincides with the one here but told me not to overwhelm myself: alcohol, coffee, tea except for peppermint, chamomile and rooibuts, spicy food, citrus anything, tomatoe anything, carbonation, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, caffeine, vit c and vit b, aged cheese. Even with that list I had to think about everything I ate. It does get easier with time. Good luck

[bob04951]

Shopping just takes a little longer, reading labels. Try to stick with the diet strictly for a month or so, and add things back in very slowly. Try to be all natural for that first month. A lot of people can handle preservatives in foods, but a lot cannot. You will find out quickly what your triggers are. Don't be discouraged, actually it is a fairly healthy diet, you may just feel better all around. Wouldn't that be wonderful! Jill, wife of Bob

[ICNDonna]

There's a printable food list at the link in my signature below. It should be helpful to you in learning about diet. I know it can be a challenge, but it doesn't take long for it to become second nature. It does take some time to read labels, but it's well worth the effort.

Warm hugs,
Donna