I am somewhere between embarrassed and scared. Went out well over a year ago and got the basic wheat (and manual grinder),beans,rice plus soybeans and soyflour. The soy to be the mainstay for protein---I also have processed somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 lbs of fruit and vegs---knowing that I had some digestive problems, but thinking I could slowly over a year get this body to adjust---it won't---its gotten worse and medical advice is murkey at best. (OK---loose stools---my dad used to say "thread a needle at 40 yards" not quite that bad----if I eat wheat products or beans products fresh vegs or fruit.) So I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 500lbs of stuff I can't use myself--and will for those that come to my door--I went ahead and bought canned meats etc but am facing a body in rebellion and a diet limited to rice, oatmeal and chicken breast. So now what? I'm stumped---. I suppose I can live on that as long as I can get the chicken. So maybe a new thread titled "World class mistakes" is in order?

-- don'twanttoadmit (bigmistake@storageplan.net), September 06, 1999

Answers

don'twanttoadmit:

Maybe a mistake, maybe not. Are you actually "allergic" to these foods -- have you been tested for response to wheat, fruit, etc etc?

If not (or if so, and NOT found allergic), you may simply need to adjust VERY slowly to this radically changed diet. I'm assuming that you previously ate a highly-refined diet or one that was quite a bit different than the stored-food type. Dramatic diet changes CAN have a BIG impact on bowel tolerance -- and more than one person on this forum could share a story or two!

Have you tried over-the-counter (OTC) remedies? Beano, Lactaid, etc., all have followers -- check with health food stores for other options such as acidophilus, papaya enzyme...

Don't give up! You can live on chicken, oatmeal and rice if you must -- but there may still be options for you!

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), September 06, 1999.

Dontwanna,

No cause for embarrassment here! You put ALOT of thought, preparation, money and effort into your plans, but unfortunately some of the results are beyond your control. However, look at all the positive aspects: lots of food for family members, friends and drop- ins, the satisfaction of knowing you tried your best, and the benefit of having practiced ahead of time to know what it would be like on your new diet.

Now start focusing on the things you CAN eat. You say no fresh fruits or vegetables. Can you tolerate canned? If not, stock up on vitamins. Can you expand upon your rice/oatmeal/chicken diet? How about beef stew, tuna, salmon, macaroni, canned ham, canned roast beef, soups? Can you eat oatmeal cookies or rice pudding? How about canned pie filling or vienna sausage or canned or instant potatoes? Cereal or cream of wheat? Crackers?

Now remember, no regrets...give us a fuller picture of what you CAN tolerate and we'll offer more suggestions. You've helped alot of people today by reminding us to live a while with our stored diet, grains, beans, etc. and not try to adjust all at once.

At this point you're way ahead of the game. We've all made mistakes and will continue to do so. Okay, I'll confess - I fell victim to Y2K Ennui and purchased a $180 electrical cooker last week. What the heck did I do that for?

-- Jill D. (jdance@mindspring.com), September 06, 1999.

Not a mistake at all! Think BARTER to get what you need. I told a DWGI friend that if he couldn't bear the thought of laying in stores, he could probably get through the winter on one case each of canned crab, cigarette lighters, and tampons. And you're already organized!

-- PH (ag3@interlog.com), September 06, 1999.

The first step to the answer is what CAN you eat now? I would look closely at widening your list as much as possible and seeing what you can home can with Mason or Ball jars. This might be an answer for some of the items which are not processed and available at the store.

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), September 06, 1999.

Add some tuna for variety. You are probably NOT allergic to the fruits and veggies. Might be to beans and wheat. I agree--add slowly. Also use a bulking agent such as psyllium. Add that slowly, too. Think positive about the food you put in your body. It is what has been given to us for nourishment. Best of luck.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 06, 1999.

Thanks for the encouragement--I've been stewing around on this for months. Food allergies---many years ago--tested and ok. Food parameters: cholestrerol very dangerously high---no fat for years--totally intolerant of anticholesterol meds (shortness of breath). Behaviors: well disciplined but occasionally get totally ticked off and cheat--and pay. What I can take in small doses---?I think just about everything---milk in yogurt--very cooked vegs--bananas, one small something with wheat a day---I've thought that a "rotation" type of diet might work and give the gut a rest--but can't find one or even the theories to work from. I have eaten as little of refined stuff as I can tolerate--but get into trouble with the brans of all the grains. I tried to ease into the beans starting with a teaspoon a day! I followed this for months, increasing weekly--the only stuff I could tolerate is the canned variety that is loaded with sugar. Now its not the gas that bothers me--I seem to adjust to that--its the "other". Also I've developed a simular responce to potatoes--now THAT is an insult.

-- don'twanttoadmit (bigmistake@storageplan.net), September 06, 1999.

I had an uncle who could not eat anything but babyfood because of the same symptoms you have. He went to every Dr. in the state and had lots of tests. An old country Dr. finaly told him to eat babyfood the rest of his life and quit complaining or starve to death. About a month later, he was eating everything the rest of the family was eating. He claimed it was a miracle. My aunt said someone finaly got the "finicky food notion out of his head".

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 06, 1999.

Carol--that is so funny---if all this is in my head then I sit on it. After posting I remembered that my grandmother had a stomack problem and did the baby food thing---great minds,Huh? I think it is worth a try---. Thanks all--I will try the psylium too.

-- don'twanttoadmit (bigmistake@storageplan.net), September 06, 1999.

don't want,

Allergy tests done years ago don't have any relevance to your allergies of today. Allergies change--come and go. Yes, I think your impression of what you can't eat is probably stronger than what you can't eat itself. Best of luck.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 06, 1999.

Don'twanna:

At the risk of sounding like a polly--do you think some of your gastrointestional distress may be stress related? In my job I see people daily with problems such as yours, it often is strongly related to stress/anxiety/worry, whether acknowledged or ignored. My recommendation to them (and to you) is avoid dairy, figure a way to decrease the stress in your life (or learn to cope with it better--let your symptoms be your guide), and mix well tolerated foods with the marginal ones. Stock up on the rice, oatmeal, and canned chicken! Keep a symptom diary documenting "good days" and "bad days" and look for correlations. Good luck! That will be $65 please--okay we'll just work on the barter system, when you get those chickens send me some eggs! --sincerely, Cath

-- cath (fin@llyGI.com), September 06, 1999.

I understand your problem. I have ulcerative colitis and have had to live on a low residue diet for long terms in the past. Have you been seen by a gastroenterologest? If not, see one now. You might find that you can eat white bread but not whole wheat. I found I could eat canned pears, peaches and fruit cocktail. Most fruit juices should be good as well as tomatoe and V8 juice. For a long time my only vegetable was juice. Canned green beans usually are ok. Also cooked carrots(I have cases of canned carrots),yams and pumpkin. You can stock up on some of the liquid supplaments such as Ensure or Boost(I have several cases of these also in lots of different flavors).

-- Homeschooling Grandma (mlaymon@glenn-co.k12.ca.us), September 06, 1999.

At the risk of overwhelming you by adding to the cacophany of advise, here's my 2 cents: I have food allergies also - can't tolerate much dairy (sinus problems) or egg (blemishes), or any food with yeast (blemishes). Carbohydrates of any kind give me brain fog. This is due to a systemic overgrowth of a yeast called Candida. Doctors who even acknowledge the existence of physical problems caused by candida are few and far between. This may be contributing to your symptoms. Do a search on the web for "The Candida Page" and you will find a site with many links and much information. I'm taking, and stocking up on herbal anti-candida remedies as well as food, water, TP, etc. For what it's worth.

Maybe you can trade now, someone you know who's still stocking up will buy from you instead of the local Sam's / Costco. Use the stuff for barter later.

Have you tried spelt? Some people who can't eat wheat can tolerate spelt. Available in health food stores. I eat wheat but I can tell that I don't tolerate it well, so I substitute spelt for wheat in many recipes I make.

Hang in there, and keep looking for an answer. We're all rooting for you.

-- Bingo (ecsloma@pronetisp.net), September 07, 1999.

BigMistake,

A friend has similar digestive trouble with grains and fruits, among other foods. He has what is called Crohn's Disease. Interestingly, he mentions rice as being one thing he tolerates well. Take a look at the following URL for a summary. It might be a useful lead, or maybe not.

http://webmd.lycos.com/topic_summary_article/DMK_ARTICLE_5462267

-- Mark Johnson (maj314159@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

Well, sounds like I've got company.... The thing that's helped the most has been following the advice in The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.(that just happened to coincide with my M.D.'s advice (he's oriented this way). I got this book at my health food store & it's wonderful.

Read the chapter on digestion and elimination. Take note of what sugar & refined carbohydrates do to your small intestine. Also note what to do to heal your digestive tract.

I've been dealing with something that sounds close to what you're dealing with for years. My doctor put me on a regimine of no sugar, goldenseal at each meal, DGL (degliserized licoirce - you gotta chew it) on an empty stomach 3 times a day, and pancreatic enzymes just before each meal for 3 months. I'm a WHOLE lot better. I have to continue with all of the above except the goldenseal for I don't know how long. goldenseal isn't something a person should take all the time.

Get the book. Good luck.

-- mostly lurking (mostlylurking@podunk.texas), September 08, 1999.

That's deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). Sorry.

-- mostlylurking (mostlylurking@podunk.texas), September 08, 1999.

Consider raising chickens...you might have to crack the wheat, but they'd probably eat some of it...just an off the wall suggestion.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 08, 1999.

Well, what we do in the hospital for people with chronic diarrhea is give nothing by mouth until the pooping slows way down (you cannot do this at home however, as we can give IV fluids to maintain hydration, but you could probably limit yourself to minimal water and get the same effect, unless of course you're diabetic) then clear liquids (think broth, jello, apple juice, water, popsicles...anything that if held up to the light in a liquid state is clear to look through). THEN slowly reintroduce one food at a time. Any diarrhea, back to square one (nothing, then clears). Slow, not fun, tedious; lends itself to cranky patients (or should I say, impatients!) but WORKS. Be sure to have some of these types of foods on hand post rollover. Another thought is, have you had your stool tested for bacterium/parasites/other nasties? Chronic use of antibiotics are very effective in cleansing the bowel of the normal flora residing there who are largely responsible for digestive processes. Result: chronic diarrhea. Diarrhea is no laughing matter. You can become dehydrated in very short order. And skin breakdown in that very tender area is no laughing matter. Sounds like you need a thorough medical exam, if you haven't already. Does the diarrhea clear up if you eat "normal" food?

-- Victoria (vrcain@aol.com), September 08, 1999.

Your high cholesterol and intolerance for any fat are symptoms of a relatively rare condition called hyperlipoproteinemia. My Dad's neighbor (in England) has this. There are a couple of sites on the web; search also on the same thing with "aemia" instead of "emia" to get UK sites.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 11, 1999.