On The Mend: Status 1

Ok, I did mention that I'll keep you informed of how things were going. I haven't yet seen my specialist, so I haven't started the antibiotics yet. I'll be seeing him in roughly a weeks time.

I have finished my course of VSL #3 and am still on the FODMAP diet and Endep. Refer to previous posts for more details on these products.

I'll be honest, the FODMAP diet does not seem to have much effect on me. Granted, too much wheat and onions do seem to cause a bit more trouble, but only if I eat in excess. Since I have started it and to this date, however, there has not really been much changes to my symptoms.

The VSL #3 did seem to help a bit, but not completely, and since I've stopped I seem to be reverting slightly, and I'm not quite sure what Endep is doing.

Current symptoms:

- I often tend to spit a bit of mucus with blood in it usually in the mornings. I am assuming this relates to reflux but I cannot be sure

- When I am ready to go to sleep and lie down in bed I experience abdominal discomfort and mild pain. I also experience discomfort at the back of my throat and chest

- In the evenings, around dinner, I usually experience discomfort and mild to medium pain

- From time to time I experience excruciating pain where I just want to die

- I still have excess flatulence

- Majority of the time I feel weak and fatigued

So overall, not quite the results I was hoping for at this point of time. I do believe continuing with VSL #3 cannot hurt. Even the mild dose of Endep should not cause too much harm.

I am concerned about the FODMAP diet because I do not want my body getting used to eating such a limited amount of food. It is also practically impossible to dine anywhere on this diet. To me, the FODMAP diet does not seem to be a solution. Having said that, the dietician did warn me that this diet may not have any impact on me. In other words, my problem does not appear to be food related because when I had honey or mushrooms in the past this did not seem to trigger abdominal discomfort or pain and these foods have high levels of fructose in them. Of course, when one does have abdominal problems it is just common sense not to eat too much fatty foods or sweets, or foods that are hard to digest anyway. So you need to be careful with what you eat.

I'll post next when I have taken a course of antibiotics and let you know if that has any impact.

Shikz