[GFelectrician]

So after being gluten free since June I'm feeling better, but still not feeling all that great, or having regular firm BM's. I've tried cutting out dairy, with limited success. (as in I'm not cutting it out very well, and when I have cut it, I still don't feel as great as I should) I know that pretty much means I need to go on an elimination diet, but the mere thought of it is very daunting to me.

I've always been a big browser, eating a little bit of EVERYTHING here and there all day long... I have to admit; I'm also terrified of finding out I have to give up more food! Losing gluten was a big enough blow. (I think I’m still in mourning)

So since it seems as though a few of you folks out there have done it, how is it done? Just exactly what do I eat when I can't eat anything? :-)

I don't want to give up any other foods, but I’m ready to start feeling better...

[ravenwoodglass]

The best way to do an elimination diet IMHO is to find an allergist who can help with it. Not all will so do ask before making an appointment with one.
The allergist will test for true allergies and then formulate a starting point that will give you proper nutrition and enough calories.
You could try dropping the biggest offenders, dairy and soy are our most common cointolerances first and see if that helps. But you do need to be strict with their elimination.

[frustrated09]

i tried the other day to eliminate stuff but pretty much screwed it up at breakfast, but by the time i got home from work severely bloated i had a guess as to what my problem was. soy. pick 2-3 foods that you know are ok and feel awesome on. if that works add something new the next day. or i think i couldn't stick with the same food all day, (i had to have variety) eat something and wait an hour or 2...depending on how fast you react to something.

If you want to feel good then you have to figure it out.

Marsha

-self diagnosed gluten/dairy/soy intolerant

[GFelectrician]

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

I should add that I've been to an allergy specialist, and had a screening, and didn't react to anything. It was the same specialist who informed me that celiac is not an allergy, but an autoimmune disease back when I was starting to think that might be the issue.

I think for now I will just cut out soy and milk and see where that gets me.

[ravenwoodglass]

GFelectrician, on Nov 18 2009, 01:26 AM, said:

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

I should add that I've been to an allergy specialist, and had a screening, and didn't react to anything. It was the same specialist who informed me that celiac is not an allergy, but an autoimmune disease back when I was starting to think that might be the issue.

I think for now I will just cut out soy and milk and see where that gets me.

It sounds like your allergist is one who won't work with intolerances. A lot of them don't but you could ask the office if he would guide you through an elimination diet or if they know one who will if you decide to do a formal elimination. Your plan to eliminate soy and dairy is a good one but do wait until you are have had some symptom relief before you add either back in. When you do challenge you need to challenge for a week before you can assume you have no issue with one of them and then challenge the other. It can take up to a week for a reaction to show in a challenge done for intolerances.