Hello, all. I just returned from a lovely vacation in Cape May, NJ. I thought I would share my experience for the new members who wonder (as we all have) if we will ever get our lives back. Tomorrow is the two year anniversary of the onset of my symptoms. I was diagnosed with LC 8 weeks later. We were at the beach for four days. I took my own food for breakfast and lunch and we ate out for dinner. Eating out can be a mine field but I didn't have any issues. Evening 1 we ate at an Irish Pub where I had a plain hamburger. They had gluten free buns but I passed. The burger came with chips which I didn't eat because they were processed in soybean oil. The 8 oz. burger was more than enough to satisfy my appetite. The next night was pizza night for my husband so I had two Applegate grass fed beef hot dogs which are sulfite, gluten and dairy free. I took cooked sweet potatoes along as well as asparagus. Evening 3 I had steamed lobster, a baked potato and steamed broccoli (heaven!) Evening 4 I had scallops, baked potato and steamed broccoli. I took a chance with the scallops because I know they can sometimes in a solution that contains dairy but I took a Gluten Ease beforehand and I didn't have any type of reaction. I took Enjoy Life chocolate chip cookies along for a snack as well as apples and bananas. (I can tolerate a small, peeled apple a day.) For lunch each day I had a turkey breast cutlet which I cooked at home before we left. Breakfast for me is Hemp protein in almond milk which was easy to take along. It was wonderful to feel good. We did a lot of walking and I spent more time on the beach than I have in a long time. I think I appreciated the trip so much more this time because we tend to take things for granted until we don't feel well enough to enjoy the simple things in life. My husband actually had more issues than I had. He has gallstones and he does not watch his fat intake and he pays the price for that. I took Epic bison bars along which I didn't eat until the way home today when we were still traveling at lunch time. I have to admit that I did miss eating ice cream. As we walked in the evening almost every person that we passed was eating ice cream and I did feel a tinge of regret that I can no longer enjoy it but it is what it is. I hope this help someone who is feeling overwhelmed at this time. Hang in there, it does get better!
Marcia
First beach vacation with LC
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Marcia,
Thanks for posting this. I am sure I will get my life back, but I'm only 2 months in and there are days when I do wonder if it really will be a reality again. I think especially because we are looking for a ticket for my husband to go to Mississippi for Thanksgiving to visit his dad and I'm staying home. I just don't feel like I can travel yet. I don't have enough safe foods and certainly not many that I could travel with, and flying is always so iffy. He deserves and needs to go spend time with his dad and step-mom, and I'm not going to stand in his way. But to say that it doesn't hurt and sting just a little is an understatement. So, it's wonderful to be able to read things like this and know that in a year or so, that hopefully will be me! Thanks for your encouraging words!
Thanks for posting this. I am sure I will get my life back, but I'm only 2 months in and there are days when I do wonder if it really will be a reality again. I think especially because we are looking for a ticket for my husband to go to Mississippi for Thanksgiving to visit his dad and I'm staying home. I just don't feel like I can travel yet. I don't have enough safe foods and certainly not many that I could travel with, and flying is always so iffy. He deserves and needs to go spend time with his dad and step-mom, and I'm not going to stand in his way. But to say that it doesn't hurt and sting just a little is an understatement. So, it's wonderful to be able to read things like this and know that in a year or so, that hopefully will be me! Thanks for your encouraging words!
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Hi, Jari. Glad I could help you to feel somewhat better, but please don't give up on Thanksgiving yet. You can't predict how you'll feel by then. Staying with your father-in-law would actually make eating easier for you because you could prepare it yourself. This disease can be very isolating and you have to fight that even though sometimes it does feel as if life would be easier if you just stayed at home. This group is great for helping to get your life back so hang in there! Thanks, Brandy. The lobster was awesome. My server was very attentive and he asked what my sensitivities were and made sure that everything was served plain. I wouldn't have eaten it dripping in butter even before the LC so I didn't miss that!
Marcia
Marcia
Hi Marcia,
Were any of your meals in Cape May at The Lobster House? I have safely eaten there in the past, as long as I stick to the broiled seafood and am careful about the sides.
I have gone to the South Jersey Shore practically every summer since I was a child (I'm in my early 60s, so that's a long time!)--my family has a summer home there, and I just got home from a two-week stay yesterday. Isn't it so beautiful? We especially like going in the fall when the crowds are gone, the water is still warm, and the nights are cool.
For others who may travel to Cape May County, another restaurant in that area where I have safely eaten multiple times is Jay's on Third in Stone Harbor, NJ. It is a bit pricey, but is BYOB, which helps. Good, local, fresh food. Not huge portions, which I like.
To others on this thread, I am coming up on five years since my LC diagnosis, and going GF, SF, and mostly DF. At the time of my diagnosis, I seriously thought my social/traveling life was over. But not so. I eat in restaurants all the time. I travel, including a trip to Ireland, where, incidentally, I found that eating GF is very easy. I think the farther out you get from the diagnosis, and the more you feel that your diet/meds are giving you some sense of control, the more willing you will be to put that very real feeling of isolation behind you and venture back into the world.
Were any of your meals in Cape May at The Lobster House? I have safely eaten there in the past, as long as I stick to the broiled seafood and am careful about the sides.
I have gone to the South Jersey Shore practically every summer since I was a child (I'm in my early 60s, so that's a long time!)--my family has a summer home there, and I just got home from a two-week stay yesterday. Isn't it so beautiful? We especially like going in the fall when the crowds are gone, the water is still warm, and the nights are cool.
For others who may travel to Cape May County, another restaurant in that area where I have safely eaten multiple times is Jay's on Third in Stone Harbor, NJ. It is a bit pricey, but is BYOB, which helps. Good, local, fresh food. Not huge portions, which I like.
To others on this thread, I am coming up on five years since my LC diagnosis, and going GF, SF, and mostly DF. At the time of my diagnosis, I seriously thought my social/traveling life was over. But not so. I eat in restaurants all the time. I travel, including a trip to Ireland, where, incidentally, I found that eating GF is very easy. I think the farther out you get from the diagnosis, and the more you feel that your diet/meds are giving you some sense of control, the more willing you will be to put that very real feeling of isolation behind you and venture back into the world.
Suze
Hi, Suze. Yes, I had the lobster at The Lobster House. It was awesome. I couldn't even finish my meal and my husband gets so excited when I am able to eat so much. We love Cape May, too. And like you, fall is my favorite time there. I am Irish so that is wonderful to know about eating in Ireland. Many of my cousins and aunts have been going there and when I see their pictures I wondered if I will ever be able to make the trip...sounds like I won't have to worry about eating if we ever do go. I've been sitting here thinking of what I will take along tomorrow to the Penn State football game. Everyone will be tailgating prior to the game. My tailgating food will be a little bit different than theirs but I'm going to have as much fun as everyone else! Have a great weekend, everyone.
Marcia
Marcia
Hi Jari,
I second Marcia. Please don't give up on flying for Thanksgiving. I had three trips involving flights since my diagnosis. The first one was to Toronto shortly after my diagnosis and I had no idea yet what I should or should not eat. The flying part was okay but I spent half the days in Toronto in the bathroom. The other two trips were to Switzerland this summer. My parents, sister, in-laws all live in Switzerland (my husband and I both grew up in Switzerland and moved to the U.S. in our late twenties; supposedly for my husband's job for two years...well, that was in 1997, we love it here and still live here). In June, I went to Switzerland for two weeks to visit my family. Unfortunately, my Dad became critically ill in July and I ended up flying back to Switzerland for another three weeks in July/August (I work as a freelance translator and was fortunate to be able to continue working while being over there). Flying to Switzerland involves a short flight from Pittsburgh to either DC or New York and a longer flight (8-9 hours) from there to Zurich. Here is what I did:
The first time I ordered a glutenfree meal. Well, the only thing I could eat on the flight there was an apple sauce (containing only apples), nothing suitable on the way home. I had expected that and had brought my own food. I brought home-made plantain chips, a Tupperware with cooked rice, grilled lamb (already cut into bite-size pieces, my special olive oil (the only one I tolerate), salt, pepper; a double portion of everything: half for lunch, half for dinner), a few bananas, a bag of rice cakes. I did the same on the flight back from Switzerland but made sure I ate all the meat and bananas by the time I landed so as not to get into trouble with customs since it is illegal to import meat or produce. The one time I flew back they actually checked my food bag to make sure I only had rice and rice cakes left. I did get some looks from fellow passengers when I unpacked my Tupperware in the airplane, I don't like sticking out, but I didn't have any other safe traveling options. While in Switzerland, I cooked safe foods at my Mom's and would bring them with me to the hospital each day.
Three weeks ago I drove my Japanese daughter (former exchange student) to her college up North on Lake Ontario. I stayed in a hotel over night (I had brought rice/lamb/avocados/rice cakes/bananas).
This past week I drove my oldest daughter to her college in Maine. This included a stay with good friends in Boston (he used to be an exchange student at our house in Switzerland when I was growing up). It took some time educating my friends about the new me and all my dietary requirements. We went to a family cookout and they were happy grilling some lamb chops for me. I ate half of them with boiled rice and packed the rest in a Tupperware for the next day, when I headed up to Maine with my daughter. In the afternoon, after dropping my daughter off, I decided I could still be a Foodie, even with LC, and that if my daughter went to school in Maine, I might as well get something out of it. I stopped at a seafood store and bought cooked lobster. I ate half of it for dinner and packed the rest of it with rice for lunch the next day. It's 10-11 hours of driving from Boston to my house. I stopped at a rest stop in NY state and ate my lunch at a picnic table, thinking that I probably had the best lunch of all the people picknicking there.
I know that I will not have diarrhea if I eat lamb and rice (or lobster and rice
). So I choose foods like that for traveling days. It is possible to travel safely. I was diagnosed 11 months ago, still have a lot of issues, a really hard time eating out, my life is very different from before, but I am very grateful and happy that I found ways to travel without worrying about the next bathroom!
Love, Patricia
I second Marcia. Please don't give up on flying for Thanksgiving. I had three trips involving flights since my diagnosis. The first one was to Toronto shortly after my diagnosis and I had no idea yet what I should or should not eat. The flying part was okay but I spent half the days in Toronto in the bathroom. The other two trips were to Switzerland this summer. My parents, sister, in-laws all live in Switzerland (my husband and I both grew up in Switzerland and moved to the U.S. in our late twenties; supposedly for my husband's job for two years...well, that was in 1997, we love it here and still live here). In June, I went to Switzerland for two weeks to visit my family. Unfortunately, my Dad became critically ill in July and I ended up flying back to Switzerland for another three weeks in July/August (I work as a freelance translator and was fortunate to be able to continue working while being over there). Flying to Switzerland involves a short flight from Pittsburgh to either DC or New York and a longer flight (8-9 hours) from there to Zurich. Here is what I did:
The first time I ordered a glutenfree meal. Well, the only thing I could eat on the flight there was an apple sauce (containing only apples), nothing suitable on the way home. I had expected that and had brought my own food. I brought home-made plantain chips, a Tupperware with cooked rice, grilled lamb (already cut into bite-size pieces, my special olive oil (the only one I tolerate), salt, pepper; a double portion of everything: half for lunch, half for dinner), a few bananas, a bag of rice cakes. I did the same on the flight back from Switzerland but made sure I ate all the meat and bananas by the time I landed so as not to get into trouble with customs since it is illegal to import meat or produce. The one time I flew back they actually checked my food bag to make sure I only had rice and rice cakes left. I did get some looks from fellow passengers when I unpacked my Tupperware in the airplane, I don't like sticking out, but I didn't have any other safe traveling options. While in Switzerland, I cooked safe foods at my Mom's and would bring them with me to the hospital each day.
Three weeks ago I drove my Japanese daughter (former exchange student) to her college up North on Lake Ontario. I stayed in a hotel over night (I had brought rice/lamb/avocados/rice cakes/bananas).
This past week I drove my oldest daughter to her college in Maine. This included a stay with good friends in Boston (he used to be an exchange student at our house in Switzerland when I was growing up). It took some time educating my friends about the new me and all my dietary requirements. We went to a family cookout and they were happy grilling some lamb chops for me. I ate half of them with boiled rice and packed the rest in a Tupperware for the next day, when I headed up to Maine with my daughter. In the afternoon, after dropping my daughter off, I decided I could still be a Foodie, even with LC, and that if my daughter went to school in Maine, I might as well get something out of it. I stopped at a seafood store and bought cooked lobster. I ate half of it for dinner and packed the rest of it with rice for lunch the next day. It's 10-11 hours of driving from Boston to my house. I stopped at a rest stop in NY state and ate my lunch at a picnic table, thinking that I probably had the best lunch of all the people picknicking there.
I know that I will not have diarrhea if I eat lamb and rice (or lobster and rice
). So I choose foods like that for traveling days. It is possible to travel safely. I was diagnosed 11 months ago, still have a lot of issues, a really hard time eating out, my life is very different from before, but I am very grateful and happy that I found ways to travel without worrying about the next bathroom!Love, Patricia
Thank you Marcia and Patricia for your encouraging words.
We went ahead and bought only his ticket to go for Thanksgiving. I just felt that I wasn't ready to try to figure that all out yet (taking food through an airport, etc.), and also, his sister and her family will be there part of the time. There really isn't room for all of us (we've made it work before), but it's not comfort at its best, and then there's the bathroom sharing between all of us. I just decided that I wanted to stay home this time, get lots of rest, and try out some new foods during that week. So, we tacked on a few extra days for him (that I couldn't have done anyway because of school), and he'll go and enjoy his family. I'll feel much more like going the next time. But thanks for your encouragement. I'm sure I'll be ready to tackle it the next trip and hopefully, I'll have a few more foods in my diet by then.
We went ahead and bought only his ticket to go for Thanksgiving. I just felt that I wasn't ready to try to figure that all out yet (taking food through an airport, etc.), and also, his sister and her family will be there part of the time. There really isn't room for all of us (we've made it work before), but it's not comfort at its best, and then there's the bathroom sharing between all of us. I just decided that I wanted to stay home this time, get lots of rest, and try out some new foods during that week. So, we tacked on a few extra days for him (that I couldn't have done anyway because of school), and he'll go and enjoy his family. I'll feel much more like going the next time. But thanks for your encouragement. I'm sure I'll be ready to tackle it the next trip and hopefully, I'll have a few more foods in my diet by then.
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
This was a great post Marcia,
I'm only 4 months into this diet regimen, but I'm not letting it stop me from doing things. It does take me some planning if I do anything for any amount of time.
Right now I'm still eating turkey sausage, turkey deli sliced, chicken every few days, bone broth soup with the carrot and celery an GF rice noodle with sea salt in it. I have rice Chex cinnamon with coconut milk and might toast a piece of specialty gf DF sf EggF bread. I use earth balance soy free spread and that combination seems to be working for me. I chuckle at how we are all so different in our food choices but it leads to the same end result
I still splurge with my one mini 7oz Mountain Dew.
I've actually gotten better energy in this last month too, a sign to me that the VitD an Mag is absorbing an for now my body is ok with things at the moment.
If there's a will there's a way
Hugs everyone
Erica
I'm only 4 months into this diet regimen, but I'm not letting it stop me from doing things. It does take me some planning if I do anything for any amount of time.
Right now I'm still eating turkey sausage, turkey deli sliced, chicken every few days, bone broth soup with the carrot and celery an GF rice noodle with sea salt in it. I have rice Chex cinnamon with coconut milk and might toast a piece of specialty gf DF sf EggF bread. I use earth balance soy free spread and that combination seems to be working for me. I chuckle at how we are all so different in our food choices but it leads to the same end result
I still splurge with my one mini 7oz Mountain Dew. I've actually gotten better energy in this last month too, a sign to me that the VitD an Mag is absorbing an for now my body is ok with things at the moment.
If there's a will there's a way
Hugs everyone
Erica
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
thank you guys for all of the encouraging words! I have had problems for 7 years (hit after 10 days of antibiotic for sinus infection) and sadly I was treated for IBS until Dec of last year when they finally diagnosed me with LC. I have still traveled with my 3 young kids and husband and never let that stop me. I keep an emergency toddler toilet in car (I know gross, but for my kids too). But now that I realize diet can help, it is starting to get more difficult. I have started worrying about travel because I fear of messing up. I am one that has to eat or I get jittery, impatient, and headache. Plus my husband loves to eat out. We always eat out on Sunday. I try to just order plain meat and plain baked potato. I am going to start carrying my own extra virgin olive oil to put on the potato from now on. It seems like most places you can order just that and it helps me not to stress. I start stressing if we go mexican or chinese. I'm only 2 months into the diet, but I keep chex cinnamon and vanilla cereal in the car and that really helps! Going to try these online recipes as soon as I feel my gut has healed enough.
Martha E.
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Martha,
I'm not sure if you have Outback in Chattanooga? I've never had a problem there. Generally I get meat, sweet potato, broccoli and I bring my own EVOO to put on everything.
Brandy
My boyfriend gets carryout Mexican and carryout Chinese. I haven't eaten Mexican or Chinese since diagnosis. If I had no choice but to eat Mexican or Chinese due to business travel I'd probably get broiled fish at the Mexican place and white rice and steamed broccoli at the Chinese place. Eating out in general is risky for us. Chinese restaurants typically have a lot of fried stuff which makes them difficult restaurants for us due to the flour flying around and settling on things. Pizzarias are the worst places for us. Virtually 100% of the time I've had a salad at a pizzaria type of place I've gotten sick. I no longer go to Pizzaria type of restaurants. The boyfriend will get carryout pizza for himself and sonster.
Dees kitchen has very good recipes.
Brandy
I'm not sure if you have Outback in Chattanooga? I've never had a problem there. Generally I get meat, sweet potato, broccoli and I bring my own EVOO to put on everything.
Brandy
My boyfriend gets carryout Mexican and carryout Chinese. I haven't eaten Mexican or Chinese since diagnosis. If I had no choice but to eat Mexican or Chinese due to business travel I'd probably get broiled fish at the Mexican place and white rice and steamed broccoli at the Chinese place. Eating out in general is risky for us. Chinese restaurants typically have a lot of fried stuff which makes them difficult restaurants for us due to the flour flying around and settling on things. Pizzarias are the worst places for us. Virtually 100% of the time I've had a salad at a pizzaria type of place I've gotten sick. I no longer go to Pizzaria type of restaurants. The boyfriend will get carryout pizza for himself and sonster.
Dees kitchen has very good recipes.
Brandy
Thank you brandy! Yes on outback, I forgot about there! I'm scared to try sweet potato, even have one in my refrig for when I get up the courage....I saw all those recipes on Dee's kitchen but thought I would wait for more healing. Definitely can't wait to try them. I'm also excited for what everyone has posted on what they've eaten. I've not eaten fruit or vegetables for so long now (except applesauce, bannas, and canned green beans), it's exciting to see I can one day. Salads use to be my daily meal, now it's meat.
Side note, do you have old chicago pizzeria in fl? I went there a week after starting my GF diet and suprisingly the GF Pizza did not bother me at all. It may of been a fluke. I won't go now due to tomatoes. But I may try again after I've healed for awhile.
Side note, do you have old chicago pizzeria in fl? I went there a week after starting my GF diet and suprisingly the GF Pizza did not bother me at all. It may of been a fluke. I won't go now due to tomatoes. But I may try again after I've healed for awhile.
Martha E.
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC