How Long?

[ErinBear]

Hi,

When you folks started elimination diets, how long did you have to stay in the most restrictive phase? And how long did it take before you noticed any effect? I started an elimination diet on Thursday. So far there has been no positive effect yet - if anything I'm worse. Just curious. And I'm also hungry/cranky/tired/frustrated/depressed! LOL.

Thanks,
ErinBear

[ICNDonna]

I've never done a real elimination diet myself, but I have avoided all of the foods on the potential "bad" list.

Are you on any other treatments? Drinking lots of water?

Hopefully you will feel better soon.

Sending healing thoughts,
Donna

[ErinBear]

Hi Donna,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I'm drinking lots of water. :-) I am taking Prosed, and I took a course of Zithromax this week for my urethritis, but that's it for the moment. I see the urologist tomorrow. We're just getting started on all of this.

Take care,
ErinBear

[jen_dahling]

I'm pretty sensative and can tell if something is starting to irritate my bladder right away. Normally my first sign is urethral burning. I only let about 2 days pass before I went on to another food or drink in the first few weeks and then, depending on the severity of the irritation, I tried the food/drink again with pre-lief and pyridium plus. I am still in the process of "elimination".
Hope this helps.

[ErinBear]

Hi Jen,

Do you remember if the elimination diet helped you, and if so - how soon could you tell if it helped? Just curious. Were you able to tell in days....weeks....????

Take care,
ErinBear

[kelly McC]

It took almost 3 weeks to adjust to diet and start helping me. Everyone is different ! Good Luck and hope it helps you,
Kelly

[jen_dahling]

Hi Erin. It took about 3 or 4 weeks for my body to adjust, too. Keep in mind that I am taking elmiron, pyridium plus, and a muscle relaxer, so for most days during that time I had some help with the pain. I have now been on elmiron for about 8 weeks and hardly need my flexeril at all and I am only taking the pyridium plus during a flare or when I have the first signs of it- normally urethral burning. Sometimes, depending on the medication that you are on, you will have greater times of relief than others. Everyone here is different. The diet and trigger foods are given as guidelines, but are a great start. You have to learn to pay attention to your body, even if you don't want to. My biggest problem was that I was so overwhelmed from all of the information and news about IC that I was depressed and didn't want to do the diet. I kinda felt that if I had to start eliminating my very favorite things to eat and drink that IC was winning and I felt helpless. I am now glad the I was able, with the VERY GREAT HELP OF EVERYONE AT THE ICN, to keep going and just do it.

[ErinBear]

Thanks Jen and Kelly. 3 or 4 weeks. Holy cow. I think I might just lose my sanity then between the IC diet and the other diets I am on. yikes. Okay, then maybe 5 days is too early to tell anything. Which is frustrating. sigh. Thanks for telling me of your experiences.

Take care,
ErinBear

[blue]

I haven't really done and elimination diet either, I've just followed the IC diet. I noticed a difference right away. The diet has helped me so much.

[kadi]

Yep, it took 2-3 weeks for me too... but wow, was it worth it!

[ErinBear]

Thanks Blue! Thanks Kadi!

Take care,
ErinBear

[KEC]

If your flaring at the time should I just start out with say chicken and rice and then if my pain calms down then start adding other foods? KEC

[kadi]

KEC-- sounds like a plan!!! Also, just want to add to read labels for everything, even if it's on the "usually okay" list. Some things have acid preservatives in them now that maybe they didn't in the past. Today I looked at American cheese at the store & the package said it contained "sorbic acid"--one of my worst IC triggers... Bummer.

[ErinBear]

Thanks KEC, Thanks Kadi - all the suggestions here have been helpful, and the experiences everyone has shared has been helpful too. I've been on the diet for a week now and it hasn't made any difference but I'll stay on it for at least a week longer.

Take care and thanks again,
ErinBear