IBS and Carnivore and Lectin-free Diets
Hello, I’m happy to be here. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis thirty years ago. The worst symptom by far has been severe constipation over the last decades. No doctor could help me, but finally I found a “solution” on a website for disabled veterans: Magic Bullet suppositories. It was really inconvenient to have to use one every day, but at least it provided relief.
Then I went on the Carnivore Diet, two years ago. It helped me in some ways, reduced my fatigue, improved my balance, and then, most happily, I thought it solved my constipation. My happiness was short-lived. After awhile, poop became very sticky, very hard to clean, elimination was slow and even turned black and tarry. I took some bile salts to try to help my body digest fat, but I ended up in the emergency room with terrible stomach pains. I learned I did not have an ulcer and all the other tests they did were normal. They told me I did not have stetorrhea, though I was sure I did.
I started a keto diet and went back to being constipated.
Then I learned about Dr. Gundry’s lectin-free diet. After a couple of weeks on it, I thought I was in heaven. My fatigue REALLY went away (no more afternoon nap), my balance got even better, and for the first time in almost 30 years, my elimination was daily and normal! I thought my problems were almost “cured,” by avoiding the foods on the Lectin-free Diet “No List.”
Four weeks went by. Now I’m having problems with elimination again. At least it’s not constipation, but it’s rumbling stomach after eating, diarrhea, sticky consisteny, even though I have stayed strictly on the No List. It is affecting my social life.
Today I am just having scrambled eggs and coffee, as a kind of elimination diet. I can’t yet pinpoint what foods are causing the digestive problems. Fodmaps? I did eat a lot of cooked cabbage yesterday (I could not leave the house last night). Fiber from Flaxseed meal? I’m planning to add a new food every day to see what it does to me.
Am I doing it right? Does anyone know about these diets I’ve tried? Can anyone relate to my experiences? Any suggestions?
Thank you so much.
(I wanted to put links in this post, but I don’t know how to do it.)
Hi
and welcome to our community, we're happy to have you here!
I'm sorry you've been through so much with MS and IBS. Finding a diet that works in the long run can be so hard...
I haven't personally tried the Carnivore or Lectin-Free diets, but in my experience, following a specific "standardized" diet has never helped me. For example, the Low FODMAP diet wasn't bad for me, but there are many high-FODMAP foods that I can eat and some low-FODMAP options that don't work for me at all. This happens to many people, so a personalized diet is often best (although some do great with those specific diets!)
The elimination diet you're currently doing sounds like a great idea, although I would probably wait a little bit longer between the new foods you're introducing (maybe 2 days?), just to be sure that you can pinpoint which exact food is causing issues. Sometimes, it can take a while for symptoms to appear. We have this free food journal to download: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/food-journal-download, if you're interested.
I also wanted to share some common IBS triggers, which include caffeine, dairy, gluten, artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, fatty foods, onions, garlic... Of course, many people are also okay with these, but it's worth testing out in my opinion. Foods high in fiber can also be an issue, especially for those of us with IBS-D. I personally can't eat much cabbage, lentils, raw vegetables, or whole grains.
I really hope this helps and you'll soon find some relief!
Please keep us updated.
Karina (team member)Thank you so much,
, for your thoughtful reply. It helps to know that I am not the only one who can't depend on a "standardized" diet being the "answer." I will start waiting longer between new foods. Thank you for the link to the free food journal.
It's interesting, I already know I have a problem with some of those foods you listed (dairy, gluten, artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, fatty foods) and I suspect I have a problem with cabbage. I'll keep plugging away with my investigating.
Thanks again for the help!
JanjaIt's good that you already know that these foods don't work for you!
I also wanted to note that quantity can play a big role. Even if you can't tolerate a big portion of cabbage, you might still be able to eat a little bit.
Best of luck for figuring out your triggers, Karina (team member)
gorgeous!!
Yay! You are on the road to discovery with that elimination regimen! Each person has to find their safe foods and trigger foods.
Since cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable, you might have a similar reaction to some others in that group such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower. They are the highest fiber veg and the gasiest. But you don't have to avoid them if you love them.
I love them, so I started out eating a small amount and slowly added more, building up a tolerance. Now I can eat lots of raw veg every day. Sometimes I take Beano before and after eating these. It can result in less gas and more bowel control. Stool quality varies day to day, for which I use a variety of OTC treatments, or let my body adjust on its own.
I wish you luck as you continue doing single subject research! Hugs, Kim, moderator
Thank you so much! This is all helpful information and I appreciate it.
