Top 8 diet funness aka: Can I ask a big person question?

[captivatedlife]

Updates below.

We are on an elimination diet (Top 8: wheat, dairy, soy, corn, peanuts, treenuts, shellfish, eggs, and to top it off gluten because of family history) and are seeing improvements - now we are trialing items. We are also seeing improvements with dd - I didn't even know she was having problems until I saw them getting better . It's an ... interesting... journey :

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Original post

DH has been diarrheay. Like, I no longer have to worry about pee on the floor because he now always uses the bathroom sitting down. Always.

We have no ideas, and worse yet, I don't even know what to google. Me, google queen, not knowing what to google. I am up at this ungodly hour because once again, he got up with diarrhea. It is accompanied by gas, which gets horrible sometimes and minimal others. We're starting a food log, but I'm thinking about cutting out the top 8. I am at a loss. We should go to the dr right? He's had diarreah bad for 2 weeks straight. I hate drs. But that's me. I want him to feel better.

eta - can it just trigger like that? He's been eating all the same foods as always. Whole wheat bread, meat, veggies, homemade snacks (cake, pies, ect) - Nothing has been different.

And now I'm just droning on. Help me out. give me terms to google, ideas. Please?

[kjbrown92]

I'd go to the doctor to make sure it's not a parasitic infection or possibly just a virus, I guess. It can be a food allergy/intolerance -- it can happen at any age. I'd say top 8, or just dairy/gluten and see what you get. But personally I'd go to the doctor.

[Blu Razzberri]

I would also go to the doctor. He's at risk for dehydration too.

Google "adult diarrhea causes"; "diarrhea won't go away"; "diarrhea two weeks" BINGO....read this (you have to join the mailing list to get the article, but the Google caption says:

The telltale sign of a parasite is very watery diarrhea that lasts beyond two weeks...

[lirpasirhc]

You may need to check for parasites more than once. I've heard from a homeopathic dr that some parasites reproductive cycles are in sync with the phases of the moon. I think he said that the new moon is when they are easiest to detect. The homeopath said that most drs don't know about that and get a lot of false negatives b/c they test at the wrong times.

[captivatedlife]

I didn't even think of a parasite! That could be it!

He's pre colon cancer though - and the dr never gave us a reason (9 months or so ago he had his colonoscopy - he was 24 with over 20 polyps - never gave us a plan of action....) So there's been something wrong with his track. His mom has a gluten intolerance - and we're worried that he may also. But definatly off to check out the dr!

thanks!!!

[lastrid]

If you suspect gluten, get the testing done before removing it from his diet.

[Panserbjorne]

I'd say get the gluten out. Who cares about the testing if he's this miserable? Then again I am not a person that is attached to labels. I'd personally take the gluten out and see if he feels better. That's all the info *I* would need.

[lastrid]

Originally Posted by firefaery

I'd say get the gluten out. Who cares about the testing if he's this miserable? Then again I am not a person that is attached to labels. I'd personally take the gluten out and see if he feels better. That's all the info *I* would need.

Actually, I agree with you, but if down the line you want to get an "official diagnosis" and you have to eat it again.........I think it's good to be informed that that's how it works. I suppose I should have been a bit more verbose about it

[Panserbjorne]

It's fine, I think it's important to hear both sides. Some people really want the diagnosis and are willing to do the scopes. It is my *personal* belief that going through the motions to get the diagnosis is quite harmful for several reasons. However, some find it necessary and that's fine.

Everyone has to decide for themselves what they need.

[captivatedlife]

Thanks for the help! DH has an apt on Monday - he'll be bringing up the fact that his mom is a celiac at that apt. I feel so bad - we used to make fun of her (behind her back) because we didn't understand what celiacs disease was. It didn't make sense to us - and his mother has a history of ... well... coming up with her own diagnoses.

Now, I'm immensely ashamed of that behavior.

As an update, we cut out wheat (gluten), dairy, eggs, soy, corn, tree nuts, peanuts, and shellfish. We just went with the whole shebang, thinking if we did it once, we wouldn't have to do it again. And, while dh is still having bowel problems, he feels A LOT better inside him. Does that make sense? Even dd has had "cleaner" bowel movements since we've done this. So I'm pretty sure there was something wrong with what we were eating - something the two of them didn't tolerate well. What, we'll find out later as we add things back!

It has been interesting, but I feel really good about our decision. We are eating well, a lot of curries, spicy rice side dishes, hummus, rice cakes, and I made a gluten free cookie that turned out really well. Both dh and I cook, so we look at this as a challenge. But holy cow - it can break the bank! Luckily, he got a bonus this month so we were able to use that to supplement our buying expedition. I think the government should subsidize the pantry renewal of those suffering from food allergies. You need so many things - well, you can live without, but *I* need things like cookies and pancakes.

It's been well worth the effort though, with how his mood and energy has been elevated. It's amazing the change.

[Erdbeer]

Just wondering if your DH has maybe taken antibiotics recently? My DH often has this problem after taking antibiotics, because it kills everything and apparently after that, the intestines are a free-for-all for whatever other stuff decides to colonize there. He could try eating foods high in the 'good bacteria' for the intestinal tract, like yogurt, kefir (if you can find it), etc.

[mamabeca]

ITA that a good probiotic is a MUST for anyone with gut issues.

It sounds *most* like a dairy issue, though if he's Celiac that would account for it. Then you are cutting out Gluten and wheat stuff, which is NOT so bad. Even if he's dairy and gluten/wheat, you can STILL have pancakes and cookies.

Once he's got his guts in a better place, I highly recommend a 30 day colon clense, which is a dietary thing (though because we are one body, what he puts on and in his body are related), but doesn't require any invasive probing or anything!

Sounds like he is going to have to be aware and proactive for his body, that some limit got reached and he's going to have to back up far enough to get back to 'normal' and then see where 'next' is. mama. NOT easy to see ones we love go through this.

PS - I really think dairy might be doing this. Esp. sourcream and yogurt (ie: cultured/soured dairy)

[captivatedlife]

We just trialed corn, thinking that corn of all things would be fine. We could live without wheat - give us corn!

DH reacted to it. Damn. Now what?

Dh should be getting the results of the celiac test on Monday - even if it's not celiacs, though, we know there's still the possibility of it being an allergy/intolerance.

I started this, thinking, oh, it'll be easy. Wouldn't that be nice. (I'm giving myself a pity party, can you tell ) Well, we're back to eating top 8 free. Another adventure in allergy free living. (And now I'm trying to psych myself up, because I love cooking and I love the challenge. Off to live another day!)

[kjbrown92]

Ah, the challenge of cooking for food allergies. I guess I look at it that way, though never actually verbalizing it like that. I scour magazines, cookbooks, and the web all day looking for more recipes to try and to change and adapt. My blog (in signature) has recipes sortable by allergen, if you need any for ideas. Hopefully you'll figure it all out... soon.
Kathy

[captivatedlife]

He is officially a celiac! Yay!!!!!

Ok, I'm excited, because we've had so many other problems, he's precolon cancer and NO ONE thought to check this out. Great. Now, at least, we have something to start with. Something to check out. Something to DO.

Now we have to call his previous gi specialist because we need to make sure the damage done wasn't too bad. (He's had a colonoscopy with over 20 polyps, etc and so forth)

[kjbrown92]

At least you have a confirmed diagnosis. If he had other intolerances, they actually might clear up after his intestines have had a chance to heal. At least that's what I've heard. There are a lot of celiacs who can't do dairy at the beginning, then after they've been gluten free for a while (I think it's about a year) they can add it back in. So there's hope some of the other problems may get better. Make sure your kids are tested too!
Kathy