To be upset about going back on the Fodmap diet

[AnnoyedALot]

I was diagnosed with a bowel disease a couple of years ago. I revisited the consultant recently to get advice on my medicine/symptoms and he has diagnosed me with IBS as well.

Worse still, he is sending me to a dietician to try the fodmap diet. I gratefully agreed as I need to get my bowel under control again.

But I have already tried this diet years ago and it was awful. Most of the stuff I should eat was out of our budget. So I ended up eating a tiny limited diet. I was so miserable.

Is there anything I can do to make it bearable or affordable this time around ?

[StickThatInYourPipe]

Hi OP

What is this diet? Really sorry to hear about your medical issues

[Cauliflowercheede]

A dietician is there to help you surely? Just tell them that xyz won’t work for you, and what can you eat instead.

[justforthisnow]

I’m in a similar boat but didn’t find my diet plan more expensive, in fact my food cost less than the House food as so many things were prohibited!
Lidl is my friend. The only thing which I really noticed was almond milk, but I don’t use much ( as don’t eat cereal) so my 1 litre of milk lasted me a full week where my family were powering through 5/6 litres of cows milk, plus yoghurts, cream, etc.
it’s only for a short time also, max 8 weeks as I recall? But the benefits for me were priceless. In fact I may go back on it for some relief having read this.

[AnnoyedALot]

I don't know what I can eat, that won't make me worse.

I avoid the worse items cow's milk, cream but the Fodmap diet has so little I can afford to buy just for me.

I will ask the dietician but I am dreading it.

[justforthisnow]

That’s a shame you are dreading it, I suppose if it’s any consolation I am in such a state when I start it that I look forward to the relief from symptoms and don’t mind the extra meal planning etc. Potatoes aren’t excluded and are filling and cheap, also there’s a full gluten free range in ALDI, plus great fruit and veg.

[Jasminedes]

I do feel for you. How about give yourself a 'set trial period' eg three months, and make a deal with yourself that if you don't feel any better, or would rather have your symptoms back, you stop after three months. But also put the effort in early on to make lists and plan and source a wider range of foods in.

[ZigZagIntoTheBlue]

Fodmap sucks ass, no doubt about it, but it's not meant to be forever. Elimination is 6 weeks, then reintroduction. Tbf I failed the reintroduction as it was summer holidays and I find fodmap needs some planning, otherwise I ended up 'ruining' each day with a snack whilst out. I've got crohn's btw if you want to pm me about anything - 10 years since diagnosis, got my anniversary colonoscopy next week
Even though I haven't bothered with the reintroduction properly I now know to avoid garlic and onion or suffer the bloaty consequences, and limit my carb/gluten intake.

[justforthisnow]

Fodmap is only for 6/8 weeks as it is too restrictive and too many nutrients are excluded so 3 months is not a option, plus it should be carried out under qualified clinical dietician supervision with gradual reintroduction of certain food to exclude reactions etc from around 3/4 weeks.

[Missstickinthemud]

I don't know how long ago it was that you did low FODMAP, but the diet has been getting more popular over the years and there are a lot more resources out there now, including apps and recipe books. So hopefully you will find it easier this time. More foods get tested all the time so the 'safe' list is being updated regularly.

I've found that I have to make a lot of things myself.

There are also a lot more gluten free products available now, like gluten free pastas. Some, but not all of them, are suitable for the Low FODMAP diet and not that much more expensive than the regular versions.

I try to focus on lean meats, eggs and low FODMAP fruits and vegetables, which can be bought on most budgets.

I do sympathise and I know it's a pain but I've found it to be worth it. I accidently ate something with onions the other week and was in so much pain the day afterwards, it reminded me of how far I've come.

Fingers crossed that this all works out for you.

[AnnoyedALot]

I can not afford to buy any special gluten free food. Our budget does not run to that.

It will be the old diet until I get the appointment.

Breakfast Nothing
Lunch Homemade soup of a potato and some carrots.
Tea Noodles and boiled veg.

Sigh....at least I lose weight on it. Hopefully it will stop my symptoms.

I hopeful the dietician will help make it more reasonable, as I will be on it for life. :(

[justforthisnow]

zigzag garlic is a bastard for me but I luffs it
Sometimes i feel like posting about the treacherous bastard in relationships, it always betrays me....

[CiderwithBuda]

There was a woman on Jeremy Vine today who said the Fodmap Diet changed her life. She had IBS and some other issues.

I've just had a quick look at a list of allowed foods but I don't understand why they are more expensive? Lidl and Aldi are great for cheap veg. It seems like fairly normal foods to me.

[BigChocFrenzy]

Annoyed This first lists high FODMAP foods to avoid, but then has a huge list of low FODMAP you can eat - quite a lot of cheap things:

www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fodmap-food-list/

[NaiceToMeetYou]

Hi op. I was misdiagnosed with IBS and followed the fodmap diet for a while until my ibd was finally diagnosed. I found an app that was really helpful, there were lots of thing I could eat that I'd thought were prohibited. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon

[CurbsideProphet]

OP YANBU to be unhappy about doing Fodmap again. However, I did Fodmap with the support of a dietitian and she was so knowledgeable, which made it much easier to deal with. She had lots of advice about where to shop/cooking from scratch etc and the booklets had all up to date nutritional info about brands etc.

Best of luck with it

[justforthisnow]

Annoyed of course you know your own circumstances and life is life. Eggs great for breakfast and are cheap.
Make sure the noodles are gluten free and egg free.
The Famous Five ~Fuckers~ I recall are onions, garlic, milk, apples and gluten.

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

I am on the fodmap diet, I started it recently. I found lists of low and fodmap foods online. It is pretty boring and restrictive. The main problem is that it seems impossible to eat out or have any prepared meals whilst avoiding onion and garlic.

I haven't followed every rule straight away. I don't think lactose is a trigger for me so I am having normal cow's milk. Once I've adjusted my diet I'll exclude lactose for a trial and see if any change. Also I've been having some wheat, although less than before.

I'm also following it mostly but breaking it once or twice a week to eat out/ takeaway. I do get some IBS symptoms the next day but I find that worth the pleasure of eating out! I chose meals with fodmap in mind, but everything has bloody onion and garlic. Realistically I'm not going to never eat out again. Again in the future I hope to stop this for 8 weeks to do the complete "exclusion" as I read that is beneficial, but I am finding the diet so boring that I really look forward to the odd enjoyable meal.

If you can't tolerate following the diet 100% why not try to identify your main triggers and exclude those, then work onwards from then.

I think the special "free from" foods are more expensive, but the veg/ fruit/ fish/ meat allowed aren't more expensive? It means more cooking from scratch or eating random combinations of foods with a pile of rice cakes, which is where I'm at.

I hope it helps you. Although I'm only following it partially, my IBS is markedly better.

[BigChocFrenzy]

Your menu does look very limited and dull, so no wonder you're not keen on resuming that
What would you have had with your normal eating ? - maybe we can think up a low FODMAP equivalent that's cheap

[Itscliffmas]

Sounds pants.
I have IBD and I've never been told to or known of anyone being told to try this. Have they exhausted all the options with medications?

[AnnoyedALot]

I did it on my own last time. Hopefully it will be easier with help from the dietician. But I hate watch my family eat nice food or even just a simple sandwich...whilst I am eating the same type of soup for the fourth day in a row. I hate not being able to eat at family meals. I hate having to eat food which I don't like but have to eat as it is on the right sort of list. :(

I will man up tomorrow..I am just sad tonight. Better cancel my birthday meal out next week...zero point even trying to go out at the moment. Maybe I can do it next year instead.

[AnnoyedALot]

There was only two medicines for my condition and I am already on the stronger one at the maximum dose. So no other medically option.

[justforthisnow]

You won’t be on Fodmap for life Annoyed, who told you that? It’s an exclusion diet to identify triggering foods, which lasts 6 to 8 weeks. There’s a reintroduction phase and then an eating plan is formulated based on your allergies/intolerances/clinical diagnosis.

[AnnoyedALot]

The consultant said that I should stay on it for life to manage symptoms. I hope he is wrong about that.

[HolyShet]

Almond milk is £1 per litre in Iceland.

Do you like porridge/soaked oats - nice for breakfast. Or make oatmilk (soak the oats overnight, whizz up with blender and strain) sprinkle of cinnamon.

You can make loads of nice veg soups using celery instead of onion. Just buy one lot, chop it up finely and freeze it so you don't have to buy lots.

egg and chips
veg omelette


It'll be ok, you'll feel so much better by the end

[haba]

You can eat rice, potatoes, lentils, so that's a good start as none of those are as expensive as processed food.
There's loads of vegetables too. Hardest thing would be cooking without onion and garlic.
Don't bother with gf "replacement" type foods- yes, they're hugely expensive. Instead try to change your diet, away from western bread- asked and more eastern, rice based.