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Has anyone noticed when cheating on the diet that their anxiety immediately flares? I went to a wonderful physical therapist today who examined me internally and found I had no pain where ever she touched me and found it highly unusual that I didn't have pain when touched for someone who thought they had IC. She told me that she thought my pain sensations and spasms were from the surgery and that it would just take time for the muscles to heal. So, I, with my poor memory of going off diet this past Monday, decided to get a decaf coffee to help with my constipation, and within 45 minutes of drinking only 4-5 sips, started to have panic attacks. It lasted for 2 hours. Seriously, it was a physical response. My chest seized up in terror and my breath got short and my mind was frantic. I absolutely base it on the fact that I tried to drink the stupid decaf coffee. Has anyone else experienced extreme anxiety when going off the diet? The anxiety part of this IC has been one of the worst things about it for me.
Hi Sue
Hi Sue
I can totally relate. I have not gone off the diet per se, but I have had lots of anxiety when ordering from a restaurant and not being sure that it was clean food (with no sugar, yeast, etc...).
For whatever it is worth, about 98% of Dr. B's patients are ultimately able to drink coffee (shocking, I know, since if you read the traditional liturature or go on "mainstream" IC websites which I will not name, coffee is often considered a no-no. And people with IC-not in treatment with Dr. B say they don't tolerate it). In chinese medicine it is a warming herb, which can work well for many of us, in combination with the other things we are taking in our protocol. I have been drinking coffee (full strength organic French roast-yum!) since the beginning of treatment and it is my main treat. I could not live without it at this point! Having said that, it may not be right for all.
I think once you are in treatment you will feel much calmer. I noticed this in myself, even though I have moments of anxiety. I hope you are feeling better!
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Mimi,
Mimi,
Thanks for sharing all that information. And yes, I'm feeling much better now. I'm amazed at how well the diet has made me feel overall. Unfortunately , I feel Ive really lost my freedom of just heading out the door to go a on an adventure because you're constantly anchored to the diet. And as I am still struggling to gain weight, I really feel must stick to making full plates of food each meal. I eat 3 huge balanced meals and still only weigh 113 pounds. (I've made the zucchini bread, zucchinni fritters, French fries, added butter to sautéed veggies, etc...) I look anorexic. So maybe this all adds to my anxiety also. I feel I can not let my guard down because I'm always thinking of not messing up on my diet.
Hi Sue,
Hi Sue,
when you are further in the treatment your weight will stabilize, right now it is probably due to overall imbalace. The anxiety part will rear it's head now and than especially when you're in pain. When you see results of the healing you will probably feel more calm. With IC it's the part that you are not in control, not knowing if it will be a good or bad day/moment, being afraid to eat something that will cause you more pain.
When you are doing better painwise, you get more confidence in your own body, and the axiety will ease. (that is my experience).
Anneke
1 Lost 8 lbs at beginning,
1 Lost 8 lbs at beginning, and three months in, I have gained 10 back! (Hmmm, time to put away the vat of cashew butter!).:) Your body will stabilize!
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
It's really hard to believe I
It's really hard to believe I will ever gain weight. You wouldn't believe how much I am eating and the scale is not budging one bit. I can't get above 113 pounds ( I weighed 128 before this whole thing started) no matter what. I eat a whole loaf of Zucchinni bread in one day, and french fries twice a day. Plus a good serving of meat or poultry at every meal. And veggies cooked in butter. But I like your vote of confidence. Thank-you guys so much.
Sue
Hi Sue,
Hi Sue,
Your not alone I feel the same way! When i first got diagnosed I weighed 115lbs and today I weigh 104lbs. I also eat french fries, meat and chicken. I use lots of butter and I have about 4 slices of spelt toast everyday. I am also eating olive oil potatoe chips and mozerella cheese. I eat more today then when I weighed 115lbs. My husband tells me I eat more than he does but the scale does not go up. I guess the lack of sugar in our diets is what's keeping the weight off. I did myself a favour and stopped weighing myself so I don't get discouraged. Dr. Brizman told me that she does not have 1 patient who did not gain the weight back so feel confident that eventually it will come back.
Hello Sue! Just thought so
Hello Sue! Just thought so would chime in! Don't worry the weight will eventually stabilize. I was 110 lbs before starting treatment and dropped to 97 lbs. I too could everything in large quantities, and was starving all the time. Still rather consumed by food, but slowly the weight returned. I stay pretty stable with my weight again. When you're body is in shock from the new strict diet and have an imbalance we don't absorb the nutrients from the food as well, but this will improve as you heal, like everyone has mentioned!
Hi Everyone,
Hi Everyone,
I will be short as I am having a bad morning with pain and discomfort.
Thank you for all of the thoughtful letters and words of encouragement. It's unbelievable how important this lifeline to such an amazing group of women helps me make it sanely from day to day.
Now I just have to get through this pain this morning.....
Sue
HI
HI
I have been reading everyones posts but have not really posted much myself yet. I started with Dr Brizman on Dec 3rd after being diagnosed in August, though had symptoms since July 2011. I really thought the diet would be hard at first but I have found myself enjoying eating it, I was moved up to list 2 after 2 weeks of treatment which helps as there is more variety. Right now I am not even tempted to cheat, though I have not dared eat out yet as I think that would be too much of a temptation for me. I had not had a cup of coffee for more than a year and was so afraid of having one, but I saw some old posts that said that the coffee was good for you and asked dr Brizman about that and she agreed, I get Trader Joes organic french roast and it is delicious and drink a cup in the morning without any problem.
Due to anxiety, would you
Due to anxiety, would you recommend the decaf?
DR Brizman says you can have
DR Brizman says you can have either, I know caffiene can affect people in different ways, I never had a problem with caffiene, but yes it would probably be a good idea to start with the decaf. I never thought that I could even drink coffee black but I enjoyed right from the start, maybe because I had not had a cup for so long.
It can't hurt to ask Dr. B if
It can't hurt to ask Dr. B if you can have cream (zero sugar, or even milk sugar!) in your coffee. She ok'd it for me and it is a real treat! I get one that is minimally processed, not ultra pasturized.
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.