Diet Veterans

[kari1980]

I have a question for all of you "Diet Veterans", who stick to the diet completely. Are you pain free? I'm wondering for those of you who know what causes your flares and who stick to the diet completely does that mean that your pretty much pain free? Other then the stress related pain, do you get pain still if you don't eat anything that causes you flares? I'm just trying to figure out if I can get this diet right and stick to it will that mean that I will be pain free? I'm still trying to figure it all out and always in pain, so I'm hoping that if I can figure it all out and get pain free, without taking all the meds that would be wonderful..Would love your input on this please...

Kari

[kadi]

I'm not pain free, but I am much much better on the diet! It brings my level of pain & frequency down to manageable, with instillations, Elavil, Ditropan & BC pills. Without the diet, I'd need heavy painkillers in addition to those meds.

So, it's worth it. One thing to know is that it does take several weeks on the diet before many patients see improvement. It took me about 3 weeks & even then I wasn't sure it made a difference til I had a half cup of decaf black tea & I was miserable again.. So, then I knew & I've followed the diet strictly ever since.

Some patients are able to manage their IC with diet alone. My grandmother does & I've heard others. It's definitely worth trying.

[kari1980]

Thanks Kadi, I appreciate the feedback...I'm really trying on the diet, but I just can't seem to get it quite right yet. Everytime I think I know what triggers me, then something else I never dreamed of will bother me. The other night I had popcorn, not the packaged kind, the kernals that you pop yourself, and I added butter and a little parmesan cheese and I was in pain after! I never would have thought that popcorn would bother me and I don't think it's on the list so I didn't know. Or I'll think I'm eating something ok and then realize later it wasn't...It's so hard to remember everything on the list that bothers you! I keep trying and I'm hoping to master it and to lesten my pain a great deal, but I think it's going to take some time to figure it all out, you know? I"m just hoping for some light at the end of the tunnel because I don't want to take all the meds.
Thanks,
Kari

[ICNDonna]

I would suspect it was the cheese you added that caused you to flare. That said, I don't feel perfect and pain free all of the time, but I definitely have real pain if I swerve away from the diet. I do eat microwave popcorn, but I don't add anything to it.

Donna

[kari1980]

Thanks Donna,
I thought that Parmesan cheese in the can was ok? I don't remember reacting to it before so I assumed it was the popcorn...I'll have to try it without the cheese next time and see what happens..Thanks,
Kari

[kadi]

I'm ok with parmesan cheese, but only if it's a very very small amount, part of a larger meal (dilutes it) & only if it's the Kraft kind in the can (with cellulose).

The most important thing about the diet is to become a label reader. Some things listed on the diet as "usually Ok" are only ok if they do not have preservatives added to it. For example, Philly cream cheese in the block form is ok, but Philly cream cheese in the tub has citric or sorbic acid added to it, which for me equals a 3 day flare. It is maddening in the beginning.

What helped is to print out a copy of the 3 column list & post it on the fridge. Eat only out of the left hand column for awhile til you find what is ok. Mark those items "ok", then one by one test out the middle column foods & mark those ok or cross them off. In a few weeks, you'll have a personalized diet sheet you can take to the store or give relatives.

Hope that helps, the diet is hard, but it gets easier over time.

[kari1980]

Yes, Kadi, that really helps, thanks...It's still so hard though...and Donna, I think you were right! Before I had read your post today, I had macaroni and added some parmesan to it and now I'm on fire! I can't believe something as simple as parmesan can cause so much pain..I used the store brand though, do you think it makes a difference with the Kraft? Or do I have to eliminate yet another thing I love from my diet!! ugh.....This stinks.

Kari

[Briza]

I can also eat many of the offenders if I accompany them with a meal. I found this to be true with fruits, juices, tea, and even coffee (decaf diluted with a LOT of milk). I used to eat fruits regularly as a snack, but now eat them only after or with a meal...even fresh tomatoes I can handle with a meal, but not anything with tomato sauce, I assume because it is so concentrated. I have also found that "safe" foods are not safe for me if they contain a lot of preservatives, salt, etc. Preservatives and other additives seem to be my biggest food trigger, so I try to always eat fresh foods...nothing from a can, no frozen meals that contain preservatives and lots of sodium, nothing with a questionable sauce, absolutely nothing pickled or containing vinegar. It did take me a long time to learn my triggers, but now that I know what they are, I don't have to restrict my diet that much. Best wishes.

[soccermom32]

I am seeing a Nutrionalist. She said you can use the IC list as a "guide" its not bible b/c every single person is different. You see it all the time on the boards, some people can drink root beer and 7UP, others just water. Some can have ketchup and certain brands of chocolate, some cannot.

My nutrionalist told me the ONLY way I would really figure this all out is to log every single thing I eat in a notebook. Then, write how you feel immediately after eating, and how you feel 2 hours later. She said we can determine patterns then of my eating and pain. I recommend you do the same. Its frustrating and very time consuming, but it will be worth it.

For myself, blueberries are supposed to be safe. Well, guess what, I can't have them. I absolutely flare rather they are frozen, fresh or in a jam. I just can't eat them. I can have strawberry jam though and I'm fine - I wouldnt' know this though if I hadn't just eaten the stupid strawberry jam and hoped for the best.

Good Luck!

[patricia1]

Barb is right about us all being so different. And food does cause my bladder problems, but sometimes even following it to the tee (as to what bothers me) there are other things that bother me to. Like you stated stress, illiness, that time of the month etc.

BUt it can take a while to figure out exactly what can bother your IC and what does not.

Wishing you luck

[meme]

I stuck to the diet completely for 4mos. Wouldn't dream of touching the tiniest piece of chocolate or pizza. Only safe foods. I did that and took my Elmiron and Elavil and now I'm pretty much in remission. I can have chocolate again-in moderation-and pizza as long as I go easy on the sauce. Most things I have been able to slowly add back into my diet. Still don't drink any soda, but I will occasionally have tea or coffee w/ no problems, and I've learned that I can probably never have spaghetti or chili again. Most days I am pain free. The only thing that seems to make me flare now is stress or an infection. Good luck. I really do think that sticking to the diet is what helped me to "heal" my bladder for the time being.

[kari1980]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the help...I feel like I can't go a day without eating something I shouldnt', sometimes on purpose but most of the time by accident. Yesterday I was eating blackberries figuring if blueberries were ok then blackberries must be to, then last night I was looking over the diet again, and realized that "most berries" except for blueberries are on the "no no" list!! I REALLY need to just keep the stupid list with me at all times, because obviously trying to go from memory is not working for me...:mad: Thanks so much, I will really take all of the advice to try and get this under control because the pain is really wearing me down.:bonk:

Kari