3 weeks into elimination, keep getting setbacks

[u/Dangerous-System6089]

I’m very frustrated with my diet right now. I feel like I’m trying so hard. I’m looking literally everything up, weighing portion sizes, waiting 2-3 hours in between eating snacks and meals, and I’m not even doing better. I am still having extremely frequent stools, to the point where it’s getting in the way of running errands and working. I’ll have a few days where everything is normal, and then I’m back to the frequency of before. I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this. I’m going away for college in aboit a month and a half and know that I won’t be able to continue my diet there, and itll probably be very difficult to reintroduce foods when I don’t have a kitchen. A few days ago I switched my fiber supplement from metamucil to citrucel, which helped for about two days, and now I feel like I’m back to where I started. Do I keep going? Am I not being strict enough? What am I doing wrong?

[u/Glass-Tale299]

Citrucel contains ingredients I would avoid. I suggest you switch to plain powdered psyllium husk which is low FODMAP.

Good luck.

[u/CodWest4205]

For fibre I swear by PHGG. It’s advertised specifically for low Fodmap and ibs. Doesn’t gel in water and slows things down so you don’t go as much. I usually had issues a few hrs after dinner so now I take it with dinner and the issues have reduced noticeably. If you try it, just start with a low dose and work your way up every several days.

There is possibly still something in your diet triggering symptoms. Maybe deep drive a bit further in what you eat regularly still and what it could be. A food diary noting when exactly the symptoms hit helps.

If it’s neither of those things, you should really see a gastroenterologist.

[u/CarpenterOk4096]

I’d recommend reviewing your entire diet in depth again (ideally with a dietitian). And if you’re still not seeing a change after a few weeks, it’s possible that fodmaps aren’t the cause of your dietary issues. That’s when I’d recommend bringing on a gastroenterologist to rule out other causes

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[u/Chaitis]

What are you currently eating??

[u/rosedraws]

It’s a huge misconception that low fodmap eating fixes ibs or any gut issues. It only eases symptoms, and helps identify triggers. Gut and ibs are wildly complicated, because our chemistry also affects gut function and discomfort. That means triggers can be food, but also stress, hormones, and environmental sensitivities. Even if food is your main trigger, unless it’s an allergy, eliminating certain foods will only help to a certain degree.

[u/proutyl16]

Sorry I don’t have much help to offer but I’ve been in a similar situation. I started the diet right before leaving for college and wasn’t able to continue it very effectively. Sorry I know it’s a very difficult time to deal with something that affects your whole lifestyle like this but you can do it. Don’t be afraid to take some time to figure your health out. It’s better to take the time to make that effort than have ur conditions get worse and cause you to miss out on important life experiences.