Just diagnosed with IBS, debating cancelling my trip to WDW.

[Alexsandra]

If you are not convinced this is your diagnosis, get a second opinion. You know your body better than any doctor. Someone above posted a link to my in-progress food report from our trip. In the first post, I go into some detail about my journey with a diagnosis. It's been a struggle for about a year now, and I STILL don't technically have a diagnosis.

My GI initially diagnosed me as having gastroparesis, a miserable condition of digestive tract paralysis, brought on by a virus (or so she surmised). I was on the gastroparesis diet with a little bit of initial relief of symptoms, but then that relief stopped.

I read your report, thanks for putting it out there. It definitely give me hope.

The wheat, soy and dairy free plus low FODMAP diet has made a world of difference for me. I am pretty much asymptomatic unless I screw up. At first, I was concerned about feeling deprived, but I feel so much better on this diet that I'm not tempted to "cheat"; I know what will happen if I do, and I'm not willing to spend two or more days with severe nausea and vomiting. I have, however, made some stupid mistakes because of assuming something was ok. My advice: ALWAYS check labels and ask about ingredients.

I just started the diet a week ago but I still feel not well. I am hoping it is because my body has not adjusted to it yet. The thing that stumps me is the horrible reflux i am experiencing. I took out all Fodmaps but I remove dairy completely too because it seemed to make it worse. Now I am wondering if it isn't something else?

It was hard to not have a Mickey bar. It was hard to not have a bite of my husband's cupcake. But I still had a great time and accepted that this is how I do Disney now. There's a lot more than food!

You might want to check into getting a grocery delivery of safe foods and snacks for you that you can take with you. We had a delivery of stuff including Enjoy Life crunchy chocolate chip cookies (all the crunchy ones except for the honey vanilla are low FODMAP; all the soft ones are high FODMAP because of the date paste) and Enjoy Life dark chocolate bars as well as some Udi's double chocolate muffins. That way, I didn't have to sit and stare at my husband as he enjoyed a treat, but I got to enjoy something as well.

THanks for the tips. I usually do get grocery but was going to skip this time since it is just me and my husband. Now with my IBS, special food delivery sounds like a good idea!

I really recommend downloading an app for your phone from Monash University in Australia. It's where the low FODMAP diet began. It's $9.99, but all the profits go toward research. It's been a huge help to me. Pretty much, you type in a food and it comes up with a red, yellow or green traffic light symbol and an explanation of which FODMAP is contained in the food.

That is exactly what I did. I researched as soon as I got diagnosed and found this app. Thank goodness! I am doing the one week challenge and I am using this as a basis for all my food decisions, if not it is just too overwhelming.

Good luck!

Thanks I appreciate your support and great tips.

 

[mrsclark]

I am in a similar, but not exactly the same, situation. I have Crohn's disease and a form of arthritis caused by Crohn's.

In 2009, DH and I went to WDW and US/IOA - at the time I had been incorrectly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and the medication I was taking was actually making my condition worse! But my wonderful and loving DH who is always so supportive was especially supportivr on that trip. Sometimes because of the arthritis in my knees, he would have to assist me with getting into the rides and (especially) lifting me out of rides too. He was understanding and very patient when I had to walk slowly around the parks. I was self-conscious too - I know other people in their 20's have arthritis but I was 26 at the time and while most people probably didn't notice or care that DH had to help me, I felt weird about it anyway, but his focus was on me and having all the fun we could have together. As another poster noted being on vacation especially in the pool seemed to relax my body a bit (although my symptoms certainly didn't disappear).

I was diagnosed correctly about two months after we returned from that trip with Crohn's disease so even though it wasn't fun to be in pain that vacation I still have really great memories of the rides and all the time spent with my husband - I could have been in pain at home or at WDW - I would pick WDW every time!

DH and I have been twice since then (and going again next month)! I don't have any food restrictions because I am considered in remission right now and in my particular case my arthritis usually acts up more than my stomach (canary in the coal mine warning that I am about to have a flare). My gastro says I can eat whatever I want. I just have to take a lot of medication (one time I was shopping around at different pharmacies to get the best price on my medication because we are on a high deductible insurance plan and I kid you not the person at the pharmacy said are you sure you TAKE THAT MUCH medication A DAY???). So I can't personally speak to having food restrictions at WDW.

But speaking with someone with a chronic condition, I cherish everyday with DH especially at our favorite vacation spot - the happiest place on earth. My condition could worsen in the future - there may come a time when I have to undergo surgery to remove part of my colon for example, so I look at every opportunity to enjoy WDW as wonderful as I don't know what the future will bring. And if my arthritis gets really bad, DH says we will get a wheelchair and he will just push me around WDW - whatever it takes for us to enjoy it together.

So while I can only imagine how much it sucks to have a restricted diet at WDW - there is so much non-food fun to partake in an enjoy I say go for it. And if some days you don't feel good at all, stay in your hotel room and rest for awhile. Don't push yourself, just enjoy the vacation pace that's right for your body right now.

Finally I would agree with the previous posters who urged you to get a second opinion. Like I said I was being treated for RA for months which was making my condition worse. I asked my primary care physician if I might have crohns based on other symptoms I had in the same overlapping time period and he laughed and said you don't have Crohns but go ahead and see a gastro specialist if that will clear your mind - needless to say he is not my primary anymore. My stepmom has ulcerative colitis and even had a section of her colon removed - she just got a second opinion this year and is finally on a medication that is helping.

Anyway, that's my story for what it's worth, hope that helps!

 

[Eureka]

Sorry you are going through this. I have a hiatal hernia, ulcer in my throat and plenty of GERD. I have had reflux for years but all the other stuff came more recently. It has been a tough year figuring it out but over the last three months I have been feeling better. I completely understand what you are saying about not being to eat good stuff at Disney and mourning the way you used to eat. We are heading down there in two weeks and I know I have to be EXTREMELY careful, even with my meds, or else I will be miserable. For example, I had a hot dog and a cupcake yesterday....knew it was not the best choice, but did it anyway. And today not feeling the best. I am trying to learn to be OK with just having a taste of something, or a sip of my kids' milkshake for example, instead of having my own. I know in Disney it will be tough when there are so many good things to eat. I would say if your pain is under control, then go on your trip. You know they will make you great food even with your restrictions. Good luck!

Edited to add: ask your doc about trying a different ppi if dexilant isn't working. I take carafate and prilosec. This year i had a barium swallow an Endoscospy and lots of medication adjustments. Tried nexium, which is almost identical to Prilosec and it did not work. Tried dexilant, which was not on my formulary and was very expensive. Worked about the same as the Prilosec, so we went back to the one that is covered.

 

[MEK]

I was just prescribed align from my doc. Starting to take them tomorrow.

Awesome! I will be curious to see how it works for you. That stuff (and Vitamin D) should be in the water!

 

[DLgal]

I have had IBS for a VERY long time. More than 20 years now. Started around the time I hit puberty.

I have never cancelled a trip due to my IBS symptoms, but my family has had to be really understanding about it, and sometimes I feel bad.

I am going to be blunt here. Do you have issues with constipation or diarrhea (or both). If not, IBS might not be the right diagnosis for you. IBS usually doesn't cause reflux issues.

I did have a bout of reflux that got continually worse over a period of 6 months (and my IBS symptoms also got worse at the same time). Turns out, it was my gallbladder. I found that out when I had a serious gallstone attack and the ultrasound showed numerous gallstones and an infected gallbladder. I had emergency surgery to remove it and have not had heartburn ever since (going on over 2 years now). Heartburn was a "new" symptom for me, and I just initially attributed it to getting older and "hormones" so I never saw a doctor about it and managed with OTC stuff like rolaids and tums.

Moral here is have the doctors check your gallbladder! Being pregnant, especially more than once, is a risk factor for the development of gallstones and subsequent gallbladder problems.

If you truly do have IBS, probiotics can work very well. Align, for me, was a very expensive experiment that did NOT help at all. I have combination type IBS where I spend weeks at a time dealing with severe constipation and then have an attack where diarrhea is the problem. Repeat cycle. After much trial and error, I have settled on two probiotics that seem to be really doing a great job at keeping me "regular" (i.e. not one either end of the spectrum of C or D). I use Schiff Brand Intensive Bowel Support formula as well as Nature's Bounty Advanced Probiotic 10. These are inexpensive, and very good, at least for me! I also drink 8oz Kefir each day.

As for the FODMAP diet, that really is only indicated for people with diarrhea predominant IBS. It is also not a proven diet, and it's quite restrictive. I have never done any of the diets, and eat a balanced diet overall. My symptoms are completely NOT related to the food I eat. Sometimes, I will have an attack and assume it was the food I ate, and then the next time I eat the same food, NO issues. So, the lack of consistent results leads me towards other triggers, namely stress.

I wouldn't be so quick to change my diet entirely if I were you. If you have lived your whole life with no problems up to this point, I really doubt that food is causing your problems all of a sudden.

 

[stackyallred]

First, just want to say that I am so sorry. Please do give yourself permission to mourn the loss of how you once ate. It may feel trite at times but it REALLY is hard to drastically change eating habits.

My story is much like yours. I'm 33, a wife to a wonderful husband and a mom to one son. I had stomach issues MY WHOLE LIFE until 1.5 years ago. I had much of the diagnosis you did- maybe an ulcer, IBS, etc. I cant count how many doctors appointments and tests I had, only to end up with the same pain. My stomach pain and bloating began to dictate my life. I finally had a full 164 food panel test and tested positive (allergic or intolerant) to over 40 foods. I immediately gave up wheat, soy, dairy, egg, peanut, garlic (those were the big ones) and many other foods including tons of fruits and vegetables and all sugars. It was so hard and overwhelming as I also was diagnosed with a yeast overgrowth issue so I couldn't eat rice, potatoes or any grains for 4 months on top of the allergies. Within a month my stomach problems drastically changed. I say all this for two reasons: 1. Yes, as others have said, get a second or third opinion! I had to be my own advocate. I finally had to seek out an allergist that would do a large panel of blood testing for food allergies. Not once in all my years of suffering did a doctor suggest allergy testing. Instead they just tried to push pills or say I had IBS. Yes my bowels were irritated- but there was a reason and I now know! This may not be why you feel bad but getting a second opinion for any life changing diagnosis can be very helpful. I had (and still am) to give my gut time to heal. I'm not sure if you have ever heard of "leaky gut" (you can google it) but after years of distress, my stomach needed almost a restart. as another poster said, probiotics are super beneficial and then of course eating whatever is deemed safe for you (if only knowing what that is was easy, right?!?) 2. Eating at Disney with a restricted diet can be great! We go to WDW every year so I was nervous last year with my first "allergy trip." But, even with all my restrictions I ate so well. The chefs were amazing and I felt good. Plus, being there was relaxing and that just helps those of us with tummy troubles. Our gut and brain are very connected and the fun you and your husband have may help you.

I truly hope you can pinpoint exactly what your triggers are. I am living proof that it can make a complete difference. I will occasionally have a bit of indigestion but I had intense pain almost daily for most of my life so I think my stomach might finally be "normal." Best of luck to you!

 

[mrsclark]

OP - would love to hear if you are still planning to go!

 

[jlk806]

First let me introduce myself, I am a 35 year old mom married to a wonderful husband. I am blessed with two beautiful boys 3 and 6.

My husband and I have planned to visit WDW for our 10th year anniversary this September without the kids (for the first time ever). I was really looking forward to trying all new restaurants, dining at signature restaurants and drinking around the "world".

I was not feeling well for a while now (since Christmas) with stomach pains, bloating, acid reflux and other gut related symptoms. At first my doc said I had an ulcer. I was hoping it would resolve itself before my trip with ulcer friendly foods and good overall diet. I was also referred to a gastroenterologist. Since I was not feeling better after a treatment of med for ulcers, I went to see the gatro who did an ultra sound of my abdomen and when it came out all good he told me to just wait it out to see if I felt better with time. But my symptoms seemed to just be getting worse with time and I started to fell like I was on a roller coster of stomach pain. I would go from a week of feeling great followed by a week of intense pain and bloating. So I went back to see the gastro last week, when he finally told me the bad news, I had irritable bowels, and that the food I was eating was hurting me. He put me on a special restrictive diet (called low FODMAP diet) where I have to cut out lactose, gluten, a whole bunch of fruits and vegetables, honey and other forms of sugar and to top it off NO onions and garlic (not even powder form!)
He told me once I cut out all these foods and start feeling better that I reintroduce one category of food at a time to see if I am sensitive to them so that I could avoid them. The swelling of my abdomen seemed to have gone but I have been having such bad reflux since I started this diet that he just prescribed more meds today to get rid of these symptoms (never ends!)

Now, I know that some have it way worse than me, and that I should not complain. I am so lucky to be surrounded by a loving family and have healthy kids. However I cannot help feeling discouraged that I can't seem to find relief from the constant pain. And the truth is I am really disappointed that I will not be able to enjoy all my favourite foods at Disney
Now I just feel like I should just cancel the whole trip and reschedule. My husband thinks going to DIsney will relax me and that we will just have fun anyway but I can't see myself not having tonga toast or a mickey ice cream bar or school bread or any alcohol during my trip. PLus I reserved V&A for our anniversary dinner which now I think I will cancel. AT first I told my husband I will just be a little bad on this trip and cheat but I might be in pain the rest of the time there so is it worth it!? I am just so confused and overwhelmed right now.
Does any one have any advise or experience with IBS at WDW? Please share.
I guess I am just looking for a little moral support since I seem in need of hugs and positive thinking which I am lacking right now.
Thanks

I used to have it. I started taking Digestive Advantage Intensive Bowel Support, almost 2 years ago. It has made a 90% difference in my life, not kidding. I take one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. Some people only need 1, I needed 2 though Ive been starting to only take 1 most days. Seriously try it. It might take a couple weeks to start working, so dont give up on it until you've tried it for a good couple weeks. Its not perfect now, but soooo much better. No more running to the bathroom after every meal. I have adopted much healthier eating habits since then also, and dont eat greasy food or fried foods more than once in a while, but I do sneak them in sometimes without issues, and I drink wine at least 3 nights a week with no issues... Good luck.

 

[Brookebat]

I also recommend a second opinion. Both because of your continuing acid reflux and something I'll get into more detail here in a minute. Your doc put you on FODMAP but the only categories you mention are the ones pertaining to lactose and fructose.
Lactose=dairy
Fructose=all fruits, all types of sugars
Fructans=wheat, rye, onions and garlic,
many veggies also contain fructans or fructose

If this was his recommendation then why didn't he just give you a lactose/fructose malabsorption test? You may have to ask him about it as some gastros don't know or do this test. Which is silly since research has shown that as high as 80% of "IBS" patients test positive for lactose, fructose or gluten intolerance (or two or all three if you have really bad luck). You drink a cup of lactose/fructose and blow into a little meter every half hour for three hours. It's cheap and fairly painless (other than having normal stomach issues if you are sensitive to these items). The nice thing is if you test positive then you know you MUST avoid those items. Plus the test will give you an idea about your general sensitivity to those foods.

Sadly my experience with "IBS" and having both lactose intolerance and fructose malabsorption is that I've had to advocate for myself pretty strongly. Not all gastros bother to read up on new information. The one I started seeing after moving cities told me I was his ONLY fructose malabsorption patient ever. I started looking for a new gastro as soon as I left his office.

It is perfectly normal to morn the foods you once enjoyed. I was very depressed when I was first diagnosed. I have sat down to eat and burst into tears. At one point I didn't even want to discuss food ever because it made me so sad. I still don't want to have much to do with food because just trying to figure out what to eat for the week can be so hard. That's why I really encourage you to get a second opinion. Being FODMAP all the time is really hard and if I were you I would want to know that I had no other choices.

 

[Brookebat]

As for the FODMAP diet, that really is only indicated for people with diarrhea predominant IBS. I was originally given an IBS C diagnosis. Days of trouble going then out of nowhere the runs. As I mentioned before IBS was not the issue. The diet is actually for those of us with difficulty digesting the types of carbs listed in the diet.
It is also not a proven diet, and it's quite restrictive. Before I address this I will say that FODMAP is based on research into fructose malabsorption and not IBS. How is it not proven? This has been well documented in paper after paper that FODMAP carbs are linked to gut distress. I tried to post the links but the DIS won't let me post links yet. I don't normally recommend wikipedia but they have links to the scientific research that backs the FODMAP diet. But yes it is very restrictive; no argument there.

 

[Alexsandra]

Sorry for the late reply but have been away on a business trip for a week now. Just back!

First of all, thank you all for sharing your personal experiences with me and I will take all the suggestions and good advise you have given me and try to implement them.

As for my disney trip, I have decided to go ahead with it and try to have fun no matter what. After think about it further I realized that I can either be in pain at home gloating or I can be in pain in WDW at least having some fun and being able to distract myself. Anyway, I think I will be so depressed if I cancel my trip that it will just intensify my feelings of frustration towards my symptoms and diet. PLus, from the looks of it, I will have plenty of dining options that can meet my dietary needs. SO I will just go with it, and try to make the best of it.

As for the IBS diagnosis, I have called back my gastro several times now to try to take another appointment to have some more tests done, but he is booked solid until October. I am now looking for a new doctor so i can get a second opinion and hopefully find someone who is willing to run more test on me. I am also going to try to find a nutritionist/naturopath specialized in intestinal problems. Plus, I found a company that ships a hydrogen breath test to my home to test for SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) which is often misdiagnosed with IBS. Also I am going to take a test to see fructose/lactose malabsorption all at my own cost (thanks brokeback for the suggestion).

I am still struggling with pain. I have been on this diet 3 weeks now. It is getting easier to follow as time goes. However I was really sick 2 weeks ago, crying myself to sleep in pain, thinking that the diet was doing nothing but then last week while I was away on business I felt good all week. GO figure! I even had to eat out once a day in restaurants and I was able to find something on the menu and luckily everyone was so accommodating. My first day back and I had a bad day again with sensitive stomach, bloating and cramps, painful stomach and nausea!?
Maybe it is what I ate or maybe it is something unrelated I still cannot tell! But it is discouraging.

Anyway, thanks again for of your support and positive feedback. I truly am touched that you all took the time to share your experiences with me.

 

[mrsclark]

So glad to hear that you decided to go ahead with your trip. Please share with us how it goes when you get back!

 

[Alexsandra]

So glad to hear that you decided to go ahead with your trip. Please share with us how it goes when you get back!

Thank you and I will do. I will most probably do a trip report so I can share my experiences with others.

 

[Alexsandra]

So I decided to go ahead with my WDW trip and contacted special diets by email. They sent me a form to fill out and fax back to them with all my dining reservation. Since I am still experimenting with the FODMAP diet I don't really know what to note down. Should I write that I have a gluten, dairy, soy allergy when really it is an intolerance and so forth? Along with onions and garlic and other FODMAP foods, I have so many things to list I don,t know where to begin. Do I just list the big ones (gluten, dairy, soy, egg) and try to avoid the small ones (fruits, vegetables and sweeteners) myself? So confused
My "Victoria and Albert's" reservation is the one I am most concerned about. Will they be able to accommodate me?

This is where I am at with my diet:
I have been following this FODMAP diet for 3 weeks with no improvement (every second day I suffer with horrible stomach pains, bloating and discomfort as well as constipation). The first two weeks were hell since it was a real challenge to overhaul all my diet and cooking habits. Then, by the third week, I was so depressed and angry that the diet was not working, I was ready to give up. I decided to give it 2 more days and go back to my original diet. If I was going to suffer anyway, I might as well eat the way I would like. But then I had a "aha" moment which made me stick to it.

What happened is that the day after I took this decision to quit, I ate a plate of scrambled eggs with GF bread. I was so sick the rest of the day that I started to wonder if the eggs were not the problem. I also noticed that eggs were present in all the GF breads and baked goods I was eating and since I was eating them everyday it could be the reason for my continued intestinal distress.
Then I read that people who cannot tolerate eggs are sometimes soy intolerant since all commercial chickens are fed soy grains, their eggs have a high level of soy. I do not eat any soy products since it is forbidden on the FODMAP diet however GF soy sauce is permitted. And no coincidence that I seem to have trouble with that too. So eggs and soy sauce have now been eliminated from my diet for the time being and I also decided to remove all nuts and peanuts and all dairy because often they are the cause of intolerances. This was hard since I would drink almond milk everyday and eat 2 tbsp of all natural peanut butter for snack time, but was willing to try.
I have been avoiding these foods since Wednesday and guess what! I have had no symptoms! Yay! I know I should not be celebrating yet but at least it is an improvement.

At first these new restrictions were challenging because it removed all GF products with egg: no bread, no tortillas, no muffins, no mayo etc. So I decided to bake goods myself. I went to get some egg replacement and looked for egg free, dairy free, soy free, gluten free recipes online. I also replaced my almond milk with rice milk and realized that I liked it even better. I use coconut oil and Ghee instead of butter. I also eat "Enjoy Life Shortbread Cookies" when I get a sweet craving. I replaced my beloved peanut butter by "Sun Butter" (made with sunflower seeds) and found a new addiction! Yum!
Now I am on a FOODMAP diet that also restricts eggs, dairy, soy, nuts, and peanuts. That makes for a really long list for Disney and I am concerned.

I was going to start reintroduction of eggs and nuts at the end of the next 2 week to see if that is what is causing my symptoms. Whated to do that before WDW, but don't know what to write on the disney special diet form!

As for doctor follow-ups, I got another appointment with my gastroenterologist when I get back from WDW. I am going to insist he give me a endoscopy, a colonoscopy and a barium test at my own cost.
I also contacted my family doctor to get another reference so I could get a second opinion.

I ordered a SIBO test (at home) to rule that out or take action if it came back positive. Since SIBO (Small intestinal Bacterial overgrowth) has all the same symptoms as IBS in combination with other symptoms such as heartburn it is often misdiagnosed. If SIBO is what I have, I would need antibiotics to kill the bad bacteria and follow a starch free diet to try and rebuild the good bacteria in my gut with healing foods.

By the way, I want to just put it out there for those who suffer with IBS. I have read about this probiotic called VSL#3 and it is supposed to be the most powerful probiotic on the market. I decided to order it and see if it works. I also ordered "Heather's Tummy Tamers" peppermint oil capsules which are supposed to effectively relieve the pain and bloating when suffering with IBS. I also starting taking zinc supplements, Glucosamine, and digestive enzymes which are all supposed to help heal the gut. Check out Dr. Hyman, and Dr. Oz websites to read about their natural treatment suggestions.

Anyway to get back to the subject at hand, I am confused as to what to write on the form and would need advise from any person who has previously gone.
Thanks

 

[geek+nerd]

When I did it, I listed wheat, soy and dairy as allergies. Then, in the box where you can list other information, I put down my main triggers: high fructose corn syrup, agave, honey, onion, garlic, tomato products. The rest of the FODMAP stuff like fruits and vegetables that are off limits I just avoided on my own.

It's usually not a problem when we can see what's in something, but rather all the little hidden things tend to give us problems.

Most of the time, chefs are going to ask you what you want anyway. When we ate at Via Napoli, the manager suggested corn pasta with mushrooms, green and red peppers and zucchini. I just asked them to not include any mushrooms.

 

[Alexsandra]

When I did it, I listed wheat, soy and dairy as allergies. Then, in the box where you can list other information, I put down my main triggers: high fructose corn syrup, agave, honey, onion, garlic, tomato products. The rest of the FODMAP stuff like fruits and vegetables that are off limits I just avoided on my own.

It's usually not a problem when we can see what's in something, but rather all the little hidden things tend to give us problems.

Most of the time, chefs are going to ask you what you want anyway. When we ate at Via Napoli, the manager suggested corn pasta with mushrooms, green and red peppers and zucchini. I just asked them to not include any mushrooms.

Thank you, I will do the same as you suggested. I have a reseat ion at via Napoli, I was going to cancel and go to le cellier instead because I thought they did not have many options. Did you like your meal there?

 

[geek+nerd]

Thank you, I will do the same as you suggested. I have a reseat ion at via Napoli, I was going to cancel and go to le cellier instead because I thought they did not have many options. Did you like your meal there?

The pasta was good. It was nothing that I couldn't have made at home, just the corn pasta with some veggies and olive oil, but it was tasty. I probably would have enjoyed a steak more

 

[Alexsandra]

So, on the special diets form, I should list allergies as gluten, soy, dairy and egg and in the intolerance box list onion, garlic, honey, high fructose corn syrup and agave. I also have to list anise seed and cold cuts which I am deadly allergic to. It sounds like so many allergens. I hope the chefs don't freak out!

 

[SDSorority]

So, on the special diets form, I should list allergies as gluten, soy, dairy and egg and in the intolerance box list onion, garlic, honey, high fructose corn syrup and agave. I also have to list anise seed and cold cuts which I am deadly allergic to. It sounds like so many allergens. I hope the chefs don't freak out!

They won't freak out- they see all sorts of restrictive diets every single day.

I like to look at menus online ahead of time, just in case chefs ask me what I would like them to adapt to make GF/SF. I get an idea of what they already have in the kitchen so they can piece things together for me. Check out my blog link in my siggie- hopefully this gives you a bit more confidence. We try to stay relatively low FODMAP for hubs' tummy while at home, and when we're away, we just do the best we can.

Some other things that have helped hubs' IBS tummy:

Digest Platinum digestive enzymes (NOW foods)
PrescriptAssist soil based probiotics
Heather's Tummy Tamers peppermint oil capsules

 

[Alexsandra]

They won't freak out- they see all sorts of restrictive diets every single day.

I like to look at menus online ahead of time, just in case chefs ask me what I would like them to adapt to make GF/SF. I get an idea of what they already have in the kitchen so they can piece things together for me. Check out my blog link in my siggie- hopefully this gives you a bit more confidence. We try to stay relatively low FODMAP for hubs' tummy while at home, and when we're away, we just do the best we can.

Some other things that have helped hubs' IBS tummy:

Digest Platinum digestive enzymes (NOW foods)
PrescriptAssist soil based probiotics
Heather's Tummy Tamers peppermint oil capsules

Thanks, I get so shy when the chefs come out to talk to me and, in the past, it was only for 3 allergens. I guess I don't have a choice if i want to have a nice vacation.

By the way, great blog. I have bookmarked it. Plenty of healthy recipes and tips, what is not to love.
THanks for the supplement list. I have already ordered Heather's Tummy Tamers peppermint oil capsules and going to check out the rest.