Keep on keepin' on, or try something new?

[Gabes-Apg]

preparation, having safe meals/ingredients always at hand is a key part of success

I do big batches of safe meals, freeze them.
weekends I do cook ups for the week ahead so my breakfasts and lunches are sorted ( i work full time)

again, so I can treat weekends where I wont have time to cook, weeks ahead I prepare extra so I can have weekends off from cooking!

[AGM]

Hi Gabes,

I hope you had a great bday.

I was just wondering, as I was thinking of what you said the last time about eating bland food in preparation for having some "treats"...when you do allow yourself such things, do you react to them and just deal with it? Or by eating bland food first, is your body able to tolerate it?

We were on a short holiday last week and I allowed myself some sugar (once not by choice, but I was starving in the way home and unprepared and the only GF option on the ferry ride was an orange and almond cake) and even some wine (organic, preservative free) and at the time I was completely fine, but several days later I started feeling more tired, my eyes are a little red and dry and the last joint that bothers me from the Ross River Fever has flared up. Ivealso had some headaches, which aren't usual for me. BMs went a bit softer for two days too, but the main thing is slight abdominal cramping that I have on and off all day, despite being back to my safe foods. Obviously it was probably way too early for me to experiment like this, but I felt fine for days, so felt it was ok.

Is it common for reactions to creep up on you like that?
I also didn't get much sleep while away, so I think that has affected me too.

I hope I can get back to allowing some treats sometimes. I find it hard to figure out what I can and can't have sometimes, as I haven't reacted quickly and harshly to anything yet. The worst reaction has been to some kombucha, which will caused puffy BMs the next day, so it is a no for me oh and fibre does the same. Though other things have been fine with the initial introduction over 3 days, but then a week or so later I'm not sure about it. E.g. about 10 days ago I tried some decaf coffee (fresh beans, ground at home, water filtered, organic, roasted by a friend) and was fine, so I started having one a day. Though now I'm thinking it might be contributing to the abdominal pain due to the acidity. In the Recovery post, you mentioned sometimes foods and weekly foods etc. How does one figure this out? Is it just a slow process of going back and forth, experimenting, reacting a bit, trying again later...etc? Sometimes (the past few days for example) I feel like ill never get to the point of being able to eat a more varied diet, so I seem to progress really well and then suddenly I go back 10 steps and I don't know exactly why, as everything I've consumed was fine for at least the first 3 days (obviously the sugar and alcohol are big no nos this early on in my case now, although they were fine at the time too).

[Gabes-Apg]

it is common the reactions to 'creep up' and this could be for a few reasons

- while you are away, enjoying a break from routine etc the natural high kinda protects us. when we return to normal routine then the symptoms will creep in a bit

- sleep (quality rest/sleep) is a HUGE factor for me and my reactions!

- the good part of these reactions is that loose stools was not the main reaction or first reaction.

- i get joint pain / fatigue for a day or so, 2-3 days after too many treats. OR if I am a bit stressed/run down. My immune system is fighting a virus at the moment and I got my hair dyed on saturday and I have been struggling since. I always react to hair dye (only get it done every 6-9 months) so was prepared to feel poorly. the reaction is longer (mainly fatigue but some mild gut reactions) because i am also fighting a virus

figuring out my staples and my sometimes foods was trial and error. I am coming up to 11 years since my diagnosis. it took me about 3 years to bed down my MC management plan,

[AGM]

That all makes sense, thank you.

When you say that loose BMs not being the main/initial reaction is a good thing, is that because it means the gut is doing a bit better?
Does it mean that the things I consumed aren't necessarily no nos?

It is tricky, as the things I'm feeling are also Ross River symptoms (fatigue, achiness, tiredness, joint pain), so there is a definite crossover and I'm never sure what's what. Though, I take it as a barometer that I am pushing too hard and need to slow down and also keep food simple and nourishing, as all these things almost disappeared for a few weeks when I stuck to simple food and was resting etc.

I'm also about to get my period and I had similar abdominal crampiness (more on the sides and up the top, following the line of the colon than lower pain) last time too, so I think hormones obviously play a role. Interestingly, I also get this crampiness when I haven't eaten and eating usually resolves it for a while.

That's interesting about the hair dye. I've stayed away from it for years due to reading about how bad it is, though I never experienced anything myself (or perhaps I did, but I ignored it back then).

Alice

[Gabes-Apg]

When you say that loose BMs not being the main/initial reaction is a good thing, is that because it means the gut is doing a bit better?
it means the gut is healing -
with lots more healing - the other reactions will reduce

it takes time for the body and the gut to heal, for the cells to 'boot out' the lingering toxins and regenerate with good nutrients etc.
to be fair it took a couple of years.

I'm also about to get my period and I had similar abdominal crampiness
very common reaction - i increase magnesium in these times (hormone fluctuations deplete magnesium)

in the early stages of healing - drinking a different water source would make me react!!
now i am not that sensitive

[AGM]

Thank you, that all makes perfect sense and has reassured me immensely. :)