Trying to figure out your symptoms?
Things you may have tried
Google the internet for answers
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms
Kept a food diary
If you have had constipation, increased fiber in your diet
Stay away from certain foods
Fill in the blank _______________
Amanda's Story
I was having foggy thinking. Sometimes after eating, I couldn't even put 2 + 2 together; like I was disconnected. I would feel absolutely awful all over. Everything felt tight and tense all over with twinges of pain in my joints. The best I can describe it is like having the flu.
After I would eat breakfast, I would immediately have to lie down until it passed. I could no longer just get up and go for walks like I enjoyed and would have build myself up to just make a run to the store or do simple every day tasks. It was really affecting my quality of life in a major way.
I tried eliminating foods on my own without being able to pinpoint what was causing my problems. Was very frustrating. I felt like I had tried everything. Wasn't sure the diet was going to work for me.
I would never have known that some of the foods were responsible for causing my symptoms - sweet potatoes, beef, corn, lemon, tomatoes. These are vegetables so they are supposed to be healthy. I would never have been able to figure this completely on my own - I had tried and wracked my brains trying to figure out which food is making me feel bad.
I would recommend that if you are having pain, don't waste your time trying to figure it out on your own with google articles and other things. I can now go on walks. Am thinking clearly and my anxiety is decreased.
IBS, fibromyalgia, migraines are caused by food sensitivities
Foods you are sensitive to cause your immune system to release mediators
These have various names such as cytokines, leukotrines, and prostaglandins, just to name a few. The mediators increase inflammation that show up as symptoms in the body. For a person with IBS, the symptoms show up in the gastrointestinal tract.
There are many autoimmune conditions that are caused by food sensitivities.
Why it is difficult to to figure out your symptoms
Your symptoms may not show up after eating a food you are sensitive to for up to three days
If you eat a small serving of a food you are sensitive to, you may not have symptoms
You can have symptoms, if you eat a large serving of foods you are sensitive to
You are eating a lot of different foods and ingredients
Even foods that are considered "healthy foods" could be foods you are sensitive to
Things you can do
Track your food and symptoms. A good app to do this with is MySymptoms app. You can track your food, symptoms, sleep, and other information. You may be able to identify certain foods that cause your symptoms.
Focus on stress management. Your gut can be influenced by your feelings.
Include activity to help reduce stress.
Drink plenty of water.
Another step to take is to ask for help. Click here for a complimentary phone consult session
Juanita