How do you react?

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:15 pm

After a month on a GF/DF diet, I'm beginning to suspect there's something I'm missing. I'll be fine for several days, then feel like I'm reacting to something. I know it's possible I'm unknowingly eating something, but I've been careful about reading labels and trying to eliminate questionable foods. This week I've also been avoiding soy, but today I've had stomach pain without any other symptoms. SO...my question is, how do you react to your different food sensitivities? Do you have a different type of reaction to each food? I'd love to know about other's experiences.

Post by **tex** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:03 pm

Hi,

Yes, often we do have sort of unique reactions to different food-sensitivities, but it's difficult to correlate them between individuals. The one rather consistent exception seems to be casein. Most people seem to have what we refer to as a battery acid reaction to casein. The others are usually more unpredictable, and vary on a personal basis.

You're probably correct - something in your diet is likely to be causing that pain. Right now, though, I'm so sleepy, that I can't even think of any potential causes for that symptom. Could it be gas? Are you by any chance taking Asacol? In a few cases, Asacol has been known to cause pancreatitis, (inflammation of the pancreas). Usually, though, that only happens after long-term use.

If it occurs after meals that include fatty foods, it might be a gallbladder issue, but the pain should subside after 5 or 6 hours, if that's the problem.

Maybe someone else will have some experience to offer along those lines.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful,
Tex

P. S. Beef used to cause stomach/gut pain for me, but no D. I would have a little bloating along with the pain, but no other symptoms, except that about half a day later, I would develop upper back pains, and a headache. The next day I would be fine.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:22 am

g'day goddess
For me, there are a few reactions
- there are ingredients that cause a histamine reaction (itchy mouth / itchy throat)
- there are ingredients that cause a GERD reaction (heartburn / acid reflux)
- and ingredients that cause a MC reaction. (ranging from stomach grumbling, cramping, gas, D)

before diagnosis and for a period after diagnosis my mc reaction was very painful cramping and Bowel Motions (BM's) that were like Mud

as my gut healed and the inflammation reduced my MC reaction were BM's that were either Constipation or MC Mud.
if I ingest any of my main triggers (Soy, Gluten, Yeast Dairy) then I would have MC Mud issues for 4 - 12 hours, but the major symptom is the joint aches, foggy brain which can last anything from 2 days to 5 days.

If i am physically and/or emotionally stressed then the cramping symptom kicks in big time. I have had this symptom for my whole life.

hope this helps. MC is a 'whole of body' type of thing (not that many doctors will acknowledge that)

dgshelton · Post by **dgshelton** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:25 am

The best way to narrow down your reactions is to keep a food/symptom diary. Then, maybe you'll be able to see a correlation between certain foods and reactions. My symptoms when I've ingested gluten or soy are about the same...watery D, stomach cramps, aches, brain fog and sometimes migraines. When I ingest dairy, I have stomach bloating, cramps and lots of gas...sometimes D, sometimes not, usually depending on the amount of dairy I ingested. Stress throws a whole new twist on everything. If I get really stressed, I'll have water D no matter what I eat. I do believe that every one of us has a unique reaction and the best way to figure out your reactions is with the diary.

I hope this helps.

Hugs,

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:03 am

With gluten or casein I get immediate bloating, tummy rumbles and eventual explosive D for less than a day. I seem to go muliple times in a span of a few hours as my body desperately tries to ged rid of everything I ate. The battery acid feeling is like my insides wanting to exit along with the D. Awful. After a day I go back to my usual painless, less urgent D or soft piles.

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:02 pm

I have heard several people mention the "battery acid" symptom, which is one I don't ever remember having. I seem to be fine with hard cheeses, though mozarella causes a mild reaction. The stomach pain continued off and on this morning as well, although everything else is normal. It started after lunch yesterday, and the only new thing I ate was some GF tortilla chips. I read the label and they don't have any soy or lactose, so I'm trying to figure out what might have been in them. I have never had a reaction to corn (that I know of), and I haven't been avoiding it, so I doubt that's the problem. I have been keeping a food diary for about a week, but I still can't put a finger on it. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:53 pm

Once I started reacting, I reacted to many things that I had been able to eat for years. It may be that your ability to eat corn is just "on vacation" - and not gone, so don't despair ;)

I would try a dairy-free week or two. Even people without MC or known food issues seem to do better without dairy products, once there are tummy troubles going on.

You could also do a few grain-free weeks, but - I do appreciate that it's hard. (I am pretty much grain-free now, and feel so much better I really don't miss 'em a bit... but that is definitely a minority view, and I am arguably a strange bird.)

Good luck,

Sara

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:37 pm

Birds of a feather, Sara, as far as GF meaning GRAIN-free...