Warning-non directional, brainless babbling below. I apologize in advance...
Anyone out there ever have to do an elimination diet to find a food allergy? I had sinus surgery in Nov, but continued to have sinus issues, despite him opening up some drainage paths from 1/32" to 1/4". Next I was tested for environmental allergies, but apparently the immuno therapy in Nashville took care of those. The next step was food allergies, for which there is no reliable test, except this diet, apparently. With IBS and Crohn's diagnosis/treatments over the last 15 years, I've had a lot of stomach issues, too (life was a series of short, non miserable moments, spaced out to about a decade at a time...). This sounded like a way for me to find the exascerbator of the stomach problems, though, so if I didn't try it, I can't really complain about the stomach problems, right? At that point, I was willing to try anything.
Basically, the diet consists of very little that American's eat. If it's been fed by humans, it's no good. No beef, chicken (though I've been eating Bate's turkey with no issues-vegetarian fed), tomatoes, potatoes, legumes, citrus, apples, processed anything, etc. Basically, wild caught fish (no tilapia, catfish, or other farmed fishes), venison (wife can't stand it), Bates turkey, strawberries, grapes, canteloupe, watermelon, pineapple, black berries, raisons w/walnuts, and green beans. You drop just about everything you used to eat for 30 days to let it get out of your system, then add one product back at a time (for 3-7 days before moving on to the next, unless symptoms are immediate).
I've dropped nearly 30 pounds (no exercise, mind you) and am still losing a pound or more a day. That doesn't seem right, but... I started Jan 20, so I've been at it a while. Tea was the first thing I tried to add back, as I drank at least a gallon of nectar a day (I like sweet sweet tea). After three days, no go (bad results). Now I'm on potatoes. Not too bad, but still some effect. This isn't an easy diet (I'm dying for a cheeseburger).
Two days after starting the diet, I felt better than I had in 10 years. I still get the sharp pains in my lower right and left side pretty frequently, but I don't feel nasty sick 30 hours a day right now. I've had some pretty bad days in there, too, but more good than bad. Overall, I haven't felt this good since I was in college. I feel like I'm starving all the time, but still better than the last 15 years of my life. Now, I've not slept more than 2 hours a night in about three weeks, though. Kind of a catch 22. I'm feeling better, but the lack of sleep has gotten into my brain and is playing some crazy games. I've been taking Ambien CR for three days now, and am just as wide awake as I ever am. 1.5 hours the first night, and a whopping 2.5 hours last night. Nothing so far tonight... Benadryl, Valium, Xanax, nothing has worked, even slightly.
How do you guys handle sleeping problems? I've had bouts of insomnia for a couple of decades now (I'm only 34), so it isn't anything new for me, but with my metabolism seemingly off the charts right now, if I wake up at 1:30 (not getting to sleep until 12:00), I'm up for the remainder of the night. Any home remedies I can try?
Anyway, just wanted to share my experience and see if anyone else out there had ever tortured themselves to this degree and had issues or other experiences to share. My weight loss is pretty amazing (started at 216 and am down to 188-I was 175 as a freshman in high school, so I'm starting to worry a little). I feel a lot better, though (not without the same ole underlying issues that have been kicking my butt for over a decade, but much better than before). Should I complain? It looks like I'll be up again all night, but is (unintentional) brain deadmess worse than the way I felt most of the time now? Jury is still out on this one, but right now, I still have to say no. It's quickly catching up, though.
Any other experiences with something like this? I figure I'll likely find out that all my favorite foods are slowly killing me (or at least exascerbating the deeper problem), but at least I'll know. Pretty bittersweet. But at the same time, my quality of life has dramaticaly improved from the third level of hell to the a sunny day with no sun. That sounds bad, but I see it as good, actually;).
I apologize again for those who actually made it through the above:D. I just haven't ever heard of anyone else actually doing this and would love to hear some other experiences. See, I can't even stop the ramble... I'm going to force a move to the Sumit New Thread button now so I can quit torturing anyone still reading this... My writings are often like a trainwreck, and tonight, the conductor has no control over his faculties.
Anyone out there ever have to do an elimination diet to find a food allergy? I had sinus surgery in Nov, but continued to have sinus issues, despite him opening up some drainage paths from 1/32" to 1/4". Next I was tested for environmental allergies, but apparently the immuno therapy in Nashville took care of those. The next step was food allergies, for which there is no reliable test, except this diet, apparently. With IBS and Crohn's diagnosis/treatments over the last 15 years, I've had a lot of stomach issues, too (life was a series of short, non miserable moments, spaced out to about a decade at a time...). This sounded like a way for me to find the exascerbator of the stomach problems, though, so if I didn't try it, I can't really complain about the stomach problems, right? At that point, I was willing to try anything.
Basically, the diet consists of very little that American's eat. If it's been fed by humans, it's no good. No beef, chicken (though I've been eating Bate's turkey with no issues-vegetarian fed), tomatoes, potatoes, legumes, citrus, apples, processed anything, etc. Basically, wild caught fish (no tilapia, catfish, or other farmed fishes), venison (wife can't stand it), Bates turkey, strawberries, grapes, canteloupe, watermelon, pineapple, black berries, raisons w/walnuts, and green beans. You drop just about everything you used to eat for 30 days to let it get out of your system, then add one product back at a time (for 3-7 days before moving on to the next, unless symptoms are immediate).
I've dropped nearly 30 pounds (no exercise, mind you) and am still losing a pound or more a day. That doesn't seem right, but... I started Jan 20, so I've been at it a while. Tea was the first thing I tried to add back, as I drank at least a gallon of nectar a day (I like sweet sweet tea). After three days, no go (bad results). Now I'm on potatoes. Not too bad, but still some effect. This isn't an easy diet (I'm dying for a cheeseburger).
Two days after starting the diet, I felt better than I had in 10 years. I still get the sharp pains in my lower right and left side pretty frequently, but I don't feel nasty sick 30 hours a day right now. I've had some pretty bad days in there, too, but more good than bad. Overall, I haven't felt this good since I was in college. I feel like I'm starving all the time, but still better than the last 15 years of my life. Now, I've not slept more than 2 hours a night in about three weeks, though. Kind of a catch 22. I'm feeling better, but the lack of sleep has gotten into my brain and is playing some crazy games. I've been taking Ambien CR for three days now, and am just as wide awake as I ever am. 1.5 hours the first night, and a whopping 2.5 hours last night. Nothing so far tonight... Benadryl, Valium, Xanax, nothing has worked, even slightly.
How do you guys handle sleeping problems? I've had bouts of insomnia for a couple of decades now (I'm only 34), so it isn't anything new for me, but with my metabolism seemingly off the charts right now, if I wake up at 1:30 (not getting to sleep until 12:00), I'm up for the remainder of the night. Any home remedies I can try?
Anyway, just wanted to share my experience and see if anyone else out there had ever tortured themselves to this degree and had issues or other experiences to share. My weight loss is pretty amazing (started at 216 and am down to 188-I was 175 as a freshman in high school, so I'm starting to worry a little). I feel a lot better, though (not without the same ole underlying issues that have been kicking my butt for over a decade, but much better than before). Should I complain? It looks like I'll be up again all night, but is (unintentional) brain deadmess worse than the way I felt most of the time now? Jury is still out on this one, but right now, I still have to say no. It's quickly catching up, though.
Any other experiences with something like this? I figure I'll likely find out that all my favorite foods are slowly killing me (or at least exascerbating the deeper problem), but at least I'll know. Pretty bittersweet. But at the same time, my quality of life has dramaticaly improved from the third level of hell to the a sunny day with no sun. That sounds bad, but I see it as good, actually;).
I apologize again for those who actually made it through the above:D. I just haven't ever heard of anyone else actually doing this and would love to hear some other experiences. See, I can't even stop the ramble... I'm going to force a move to the Sumit New Thread button now so I can quit torturing anyone still reading this... My writings are often like a trainwreck, and tonight, the conductor has no control over his faculties.
