is not a fad. For as long as I can remember, I've had cronic stomach aches and it wasn't unusal for me to have not only daily acid indigestion but severe stomach cramping, (sorry if tmi) diarrea after meals, most often dinner, and horrible clear-the-room gas. I've had several people suggest I try this or I try that or that that I might have this problem or that problem, but seeing as I currently do not have any heath insurance whatsoever, I have been unable to have any tests run to find out exactly what the problem is. I did try while I was at BYU-Idaho to have my problem diagonsed, but the doctors at the clinic were unhelpful and uninformitive.
A couple weeks ago I was able to attend Time Out for Women with a couple of my aunts, sisters and my mom. I got to ride there with one of my aunts who happens to be a nurse and she was telling me that she has had some of the same problems and she knows several of our family members also have issues along the same lines. She suggested, as other before her have, that I go on a dairy free diet for 2 weeks to see if that was possibly the problem and also try a daily antacid such as Prilosec, which you can now get otc. She also suggested that if that didn't work I should try a Gluten free diet to see if that was possibly the problem.
Before I took her advice I did a ton of research about not only lactose intolerance, but acid ingestion, heartburn, IBS and a couple other digestive related issues and was surprised to find out they all pretty much go hand in hand. So that convinced me that I needed to do something. I was sick of living in near constant pain from the acid and avoiding not only foods but certain smells that were bound to make my stomach churn and hurt even more.
I decided to first try the diary free diet, which sounded much easier than going gluten free. In order to do so, I had to make sure that anything I would normally eat was free of any dairy products or by products. I am amazed at how much I ate that had dairy in it and ended up buying some interesting things, some good, others not so much. I immediatly noticed a huge difference in how I felt. For the first time in I don't know how long, I spent the entire day without a stomach ache of any kind. It was amazing and I felt so good I think I might have cried.
I am one of those people who could drink an entire gallon of milk in a day if I didn't have any self control. I love milk and cheese and sour cream and butter and cream cheese and all other dairy things. They are like heaven to my tastebuds and realising that eating them was making me sick broke my heart but at the same time I was a little relieved. I now know what a big part of my problem is, but sticking to a strict dairy free diet isn't going to be easy for me.
I admit I have cheated a couple times and have been sharply chastised for my weakness by my intensly angry digestive tract. I've found a soy milk that is palateable and that I actually like as well as a cream cheese that works for what I need. Finding something to replace the large amounts of cheese, butter and sour cream I would normally consume has been a bit of a trial, but I know it's out there. I just have to find it.
Oh and on the worst day last week, the boys had been driving me insane all day and I was feeling really down and really craving some serious chocolate, I had a complete meltdown after I'd sent Jeff to the store for groceries. Who'd have thought that not being able to have chocolate would create hysterics in my kitchen? Well there I was trying to get dinner on and compose myself, when Jeff came home and promply presented me with a pint of SoyDream Turtle Icecream, completely dairy free and full of caramel and chocolate. Needless to say, I started bawling again. I hadn't told him that I was having such a rough day, so he had no idea what I was feeling and was baffled as to why I was bawling all over him about ice cream. When I explained, he said he'd had a really strong feeling that he needed to get it for me. I am so glad he did because it was just what I needed and it helped me to realise not only is my dear sweet annoying husband looking out for me, so is my Heavenly Father. He knows and understands how hard this is for me and inspired my husband to provide me with the love and support I was needing so bad.
Ever since then I have been looking even harder for suitable subsitutes for my favorite foods and have found a wide source of information on the web. I ordered myself a dairy free cookbook and and anxiously awaiting its arrival so I can start cooking up delicious dairy free things for my family. Jeff's not too keen on going completely dairy free, so I've told him he's welcome to continue eating and drinking anything he wants, but whatever I make from now on will be dairy free so that I don't get sick. I refuse to make seperate meals for everyone. I think that is just ridiculous. The only time I did was when the boys were too little to eat whatever we were having.
We will keep regular milk, butter, sour cream ect on hand for him and the boys and I will continue to search for alternitives that we can all be happy with so that we can eat as a family. I'm hoping it is only going to get easier and I'm trying to be optomistic, but for now I'm just trying to make it day to day. Man I'm sick of tuna fish sandwiches, but I'm sure I'll get better at making a nutritious lunch for myself that won't make me sick. Until next time, stay heathy, stay optomisitc, and enjoy your icecream and chocolate!
