msnobody wrote: ↑Sat Jan 03, 2026 3:11 am
Jersey, what are you able to eat without, or with little problems?
NOTHING. And even nothing hurts because when your stomach is empty, it produces acid. I'll talk to her directly. Do with this what you will.
Dear Girl that I don't even know,
When you say you'll have to eat chicken and rice for the rest of your life because everything hurts,
I believe you. I've eaten grilled boneless chicken breast with nothing on it for over 2.5 years now. I've combined it with a steamed veg or a fruit, grated parmesan, and various crackers. One day it works, the next day it doesn't. Sound familiar?
You may have SIBO or IBS. Doctors can't distinguish between the two. The test results for SIBO using glucose solution are questionable. Any paperwork your doctor files for antibiotics treatment preapproval will say you have IBS-C (constipation) or IBS-D (diarrhea). When they want the preapproval to pass, they'll say you have IBS-D. Patients using Xifaxan notice some result 2 weeks or so later. I've done 4 rounds all total.
Don't think about your weight loss, ignore it. Concentrate on healing your gut. UP the protein intake as high as you can manage starting with your chicken. Eat it 3 meals a day if you have to. Cook chicken in batches and put some in the freezer in ziplocs so it's always ready for you. When your gut lining is inflamed,
even water hurts, I know.
Your foundation is chicken and rice. You can try to build from there.
Find food lists of low sugar fruits and vegs, also high fiber of each. Read carefully. Start with 1 tsp a day. Try it again the next day. Put it in, take it out as needed. What doesn't work today may work 6 months from now if your gut is less inflamed.
I know how much you hate the experiment.
If you are able to eat white rice, up your game. Go to brown rice and quinoa both of which have higher nutritional value. As with everything, start small. Don't worry about wasting food. You're simply testing food. Test 1 new food each week unless you need a break.
If you can't get enough fiber, try a fiber supplement. Citrucel tablets which are a kind of synthetic fiber supplement. Unlike psyllium husk, Citrucel (Methylcellulouse) will NOT trigger you. Start very small. See how it goes.
Drink lots of water and try to keep your electrolytes in check. Pedialyte packets for children.
Be brave. I know you are sick and tired of it. Cast your cares on Him, gather your strength, and
gear up for a marathon. When you feel your hope fading, go to the Throne.
You can do this but remember to be kind to yourself and give yourself grace.
Food Bible:
https://www.fodmapeveryday.com/
Current Supplements: Citrucel, Stool softener gel caps, Simethicone, and FDgard (used to be daily, now only occasionally)
Current Meds I take for gut: Pepcid 2 x's per day
(Don't take FD Gard and Pepcid at the same time or close together.)
Current Foods:
Breakfast:
Plain Oatmeal (1.5 microwave packets)
Blueberries or strawberries.
Cinnamon
Pure Maple Syrup
Milk (new addition)
Directions:
1. Put the 1.5 packets of oatmeal in the bowl. Save the other 1/2 for tomorrow. The packets are measuring cups. Fill
past the line with water to make up for the extra 1/2 packet.
2. Add 2 tsp frozen or fresh blueberries
or 3 small or 2 large fresh strawberries
Or mix them together in small amounts
3. Sprinkle cinnamon on top (as much as you want)
4.
High altitude:
Microwave on High (1800 watts) for 2 full minute, stir, add more water
Microwave on High 1 minute, stir, add more water
Microwave on High 1 minute
5. Add Pure Maple Syrup starting with 1 tsp, taste, add more as you like but DON'T over do it. It's got minerals and vitamins and sugar. Sugar in high doses is NOT your friend.)
6. Pour on some milk if you're not lactose intolerant. 2% for me.
7. Take some Vitamin D3 1,000 to 3,000 units and Multivitamin for women with B12 if you've got it. (Get it) Always take the Vit D3 with calcium product or calcium citrate tabs.
Lunch and Dinner Foods in combination:
Protein:
2 Great Value Reduced Fat Mozzarella String Cheese
2 Tillamook Sharp White Cheddar Cheese snack squares
Half a plate of grilled boneless chicken breast (no oil, no seasoning)
Grated Parmesan
Veg:
Walmart Marketside Fresh Green Beans (steamed in microwave)
Fruit:
Cantaloupe, Tomatoes, Pineapple (all fresh)
Crackers: Mary's Gone Crackers Original (seeds!)
Cheat Snacks:
Ruffles Original
Walker's Shortbread fingers
Fritos Original
Lemon Loaf from the Food Bible linked above
Sometimes I'll have a string cheese and fruit for a snack.
(Currently substituting the cheat snacks for the Mary's Gone Crackers. Can't say why because it's part of something I'm preparing for your mother.
But the crackers are great!)
All of the above foods listed have come and gone several times over. Broccoli, baby carrots are on hold again until I summon the courage.
New Foods on Hand: Quinoa and Brown Rice Pasta (See the dream? Pasta or Quinoa, chicken, veg with parmesan!)
Comments from the trenches: I used to worry about wasting food. Now I just throw it out the back door to the deer and whatever wildlife finds it, and move on. I've purchased special flours and garlic infused olive oil. All over the top pricey. When I eat the cheat snacks I often over do it and pay for it all night long until I fall asleep at 4 am. I think...one of the problems I have is irritating the gut all over again. I think I can tell what did it and I know to go back to basics. The Low FODMAP diet is crazy making. I still don't know what FODMAP stacking is. The Food Bible linked is a great help.
My current status: Weight is stable, slightly increasing. Bloating is greatly reduced unless I overdo the cheat snacks which can then become triggers. Morning tummy feels normal. Symptoms onset just between lunch and dinner. They're different now and reduced from what they were. I try not to eat anything past 7 pm and drink water throughout the day. I do drink tea (Liptons, 1 tsp sugar, and milk) during the day and evening, always drink water with it. I'm ready to try Margherita pizza from the local brewery and Red Robin burger and fries again. Energy is 90% normal.
I am significantly better than I was this time last year! The anxiety has been replaced by determination. Last 2 years I faked my way through the holiday season. I smiled through constant pain, dizziness, exhaustion, and anxiety attacks. This year I loved every single bit of it!
It feels like climbing a mountain, I know. If I can be better, I think for sure you can overcome as well. I never once lost hope or faith. Though I told the Lord so many times "I'm at mustard seed level." I am convinced that he sees us, he hears us, and he feels our pain.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 King James Version (KJV)
I have been traumatized, isolated, stripped of pride, faced with my own hypocrisy, and humbled. I've learned levels of patience that I didn't even know existed. But more than anything else, I learned something I always thought I knew but didn't really understand. I learned what it means to come to the Lord as a child. I do think there is purpose in our suffering and a plan in place. I've changed in ways that I never imagined I would. I still don't know how Paul could be content in all situations. I've tried and typically ended up crying or angry, or both.
When I first felt signs that I was rising up this past Fall, I bought a t shirt reminds me so much of the road I've been on for 3 years.
Mustard Seed Moving Company
Moving mountains since Matthew 17:20
I hope something I've shared here is helpful to you. Start with your chicken and rice, and build on it! Move forward, expect setbacks, take a break, then baby step your way forward again. If I think of anything else that might help, I will pass it on. But in the mean time, just know that there is a lady in the Rockies who continues to think about you, understands what you're going through, and prays for the girl she doesn't even know.
<3
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Darling daughter just texted me that she thinks she’s going to have to eat plain chicken and rice for the rest of her life. Everything else hurts.
Believe her. Absolutely believe her. Feel free to copy/paste my above message and share it with her, copy the food, supplements, meds or edit it any way you like if there's part that you think could help. There is no cut and dried answer to this. It's a long, long, long haul. There are many learning curves. One's that I haven't come close to mastering or understanding. What helps one person, doesn't help another. Truly, one food seems okay and until it doesn't
. She's afraid to eat, Weaps. I know it like I know my own name.
The difference is that I'm no longer afraid to eat though I might be in such a good place, I'll procrastinate on reintroducing foods until I'm good and ready. Look at how long this thread is. How many times did I say I think I can be better? How many theories did I come up with? How many solutions? How many appointments that lifted me up or shot me down? How many times did my docs overlook information that was written in test results by some other doctor when they had it in front of them? How many times did I start to feel better only to end up in the ER not long after? How many times did my weight start to come up only to plummet again? How many foods came and went, then came back again? It's absolutely exhausting!
I can say without question, I am miles ahead of where I was at last year or the year before. I know it. I feel it. I'm living it.
And she can move out forward, too.
I'm not 100% by any means, still get symptoms but they're different now. They don't scare me. Nothing scares me now. I'm more driven than anything else.
Shutting up now.
)
Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.
Ouch.