Stupid question....

[dodgewoman]

Ok, this may sound a bit dense seeing as I have lived with IC for 7 years(all but 3 of those years with out meds and a proper doctor:cussing: ). How can you tell for sure if a food bothers you? I have never really been able to pinpoint one thing bothering me. I know that if I am IN a flare, any acidic food will make it worse/last longer. I haven't noticed that any PUT me in a flare though. I know a lot of foods bother my tummy. I am lacotse intolerant(but can eat a good amount of certain ice cream, go figure) and certain food will make my IBS a nightmare. Is it possible that you can eat a food and it not bother you then the next time it set you off? I am BAD at following any kind of food orders

[meme]

Sometimes I can eat a food for one day and it won't bother me, but if I eat it for two days in a row it will cause a flare-things like pizza, salsa, or chocolate. The key is moderation and knowing what your body can handle. It helps if you start with cutting the main 5 worst foods (see the IC diet guide) from your diet and seeing how you feel. I knew right off the bat that things with a lot of tomato or citrus would set me off, but then when I started to really refine the diet and watch closely what I ate, I noticed a ton more things that I was overdoing on. Once I cut those things out-like caffine, sour candies, or anything preserved in any kind of acidic form, I noticed that I started to feel a whole lot better. I'd been watching my diet really closely for the past 6mos sticking only to foods that I KNEW for sure were okay, and I think that it has helped my bladder to heal, as I'm noticing that I can tolerate a lot more now, and have way less flares. Hope this helps!

[lisalau]

yes I agree with Leah, the only sure way of telling is to be on a restrictive diet and then introduce and see what happens. Also while on the restrictive diet, there may be some healing and so you may be able to toerate some things better than before.
As far as reacting badly to somethings one day and them having no effect on others, I agree that is so. I find this with all my allergies and food intolerances. Some days i can have a milkshake with little or no effect and others, the little milk i have in coffee/caro is enough to have me sitting on the toilet with terrible cramps within 20 min. Some days i can peel an avocado with no burning sensation on my skin, others my hands will be red, swollen and the skin will peel almost immediately.
The only way i can explain this is....
imagine your food allergies/intolerances being a building made of blocks. Only when the building is 6 stories (blocks) high will my allergies kick in
so each thing that causes a reaction is a block
lets say
i am stressed = foundation block is there
i didnt sleep well = !st story
I had coffee with breakfast = 2 stories (milk and coffee) so now my building is 3 stories high
the cereal i ate had nuts in it = 4th story built
i peeled prawns (they are always worth 2 blocks) = 6 stories high
the VERY next thing i touch/eat will trigger off my symptoms
so....I ate a segment of orange and my IC goes through the roof, i am covered in a rash and i get diarreah. The orange did not cause all this but i have filled myself with toxic foods and touched toxic things and so now my tolerance is ZILCH!
There is no medical basis for my analogy that i know of but it seems to work with me

[dodgewoman]

Thanks for the adivce ladies. I already don't eat/do the 5 main things. I gave up all drinks but water a LONG time ago. I have never smoked either so that helps. I guess I have to be much more careful but it's SO hard!