Am I on the right track?

[aquilter16]

My experience began in Feb of 2018 out of the blue - intense cramps, urgent diarrhea - after eating a large salad (w/bread) and another day after a sub with veggies and another day a plate of raw veggies.  At the time I was under a lot of stress so I thought I triggered IBS, I researched and avoided anything that would aggravate IBS (roughage) and started taking a probiotic, within a week I was back to normal and started introducing the foods back into my diet.  All was fine for about 1 1/2 months, then it all started up again after a weekend with a few pasta meals.  The cramping and D seemed to hit about 2-4 hours after eating, my stress level was down so I felt I could attribute it to diet.  I decided to stop gluten and have been off for a week, the D was calming down to about 1-2x's every other day.  I also went back on a probiotic.  For the past week I have pretty much been eating the same thing to not confuse my mind and body.  Greek yogurt w/fruit, tea, orange juice for breakfast.  A salad with chicken breast (no croutons) w/Italian dressing for lunch and a gluten free cereal for supper.  But sometimes the D was again urgent every other day and I was miserable for about an hour or so.  Yesterday I was feeling almost back to normal actually a regular BM, but then I decided to enjoy 2 pieces of my favorite chocolate (Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Choco Truffle), which I treat myself to about every day.  Immediately I did not feel well and with 3-4 hours of the above mentioned regular BM, I had the most horrible episode of D.  Today I still do not feel real well.  I read the ingredients and saw the treat contained Barley Malt something or other - well damn!!  I was OK giving up gluten in breads, pastas, cereals etc but my chocolate!!  Dairy does not seem to be an issue, in fact I feel better after eating some yogurt and even ice cream.  I have also been taking Pepto Bismol after an episode only out of desperation as I just want the discomfort to go away especially if I am not going to be home for long periods of time.  I wonder if the PB is cancelling the affects of the probiotic.  How long do I expect these symptoms to last?   One of the benefits I have found of eliminating the gluten is the pain in my hip joint as dramatically subsided.  I have arthritis and have been getting shots but it does not eliminate all the pain, but the past week it is almost gone.  Am I on the right track with getting my system regulated?  Thanks I have found quite a few articles here very informative and anything additional would be appreciated.

[cyclinglady]

5 hours ago, aquilter16 said:

My experience began in Feb of 2018 out of the blue - intense cramps, urgent diarrhea - after eating a large salad (w/bread) and another day after a sub with veggies and another day a plate of raw veggies.  At the time I was under a lot of stress so I thought I triggered IBS, I researched and avoided anything that would aggravate IBS (roughage) and started taking a probiotic, within a week I was back to normal and started introducing the foods back into my diet.  All was fine for about 1 1/2 months, then it all started up again after a weekend with a few pasta meals.  The cramping and D seemed to hit about 2-4 hours after eating, my stress level was down so I felt I could attribute it to diet.  I decided to stop gluten and have been off for a week, the D was calming down to about 1-2x's every other day.  I also went back on a probiotic.  For the past week I have pretty much been eating the same thing to not confuse my mind and body.  Greek yogurt w/fruit, tea, orange juice for breakfast.  A salad with chicken breast (no croutons) w/Italian dressing for lunch and a gluten free cereal for supper.  But sometimes the D was again urgent every other day and I was miserable for about an hour or so.  Yesterday I was feeling almost back to normal actually a regular BM, but then I decided to enjoy 2 pieces of my favorite chocolate (Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Choco Truffle), which I treat myself to about every day.  Immediately I did not feel well and with 3-4 hours of the above mentioned regular BM, I had the most horrible episode of D.  Today I still do not feel real well.  I read the ingredients and saw the treat contained Barley Malt something or other - well damn!!  I was OK giving up gluten in breads, pastas, cereals etc but my chocolate!!  Dairy does not seem to be an issue, in fact I feel better after eating some yogurt and even ice cream.  I have also been taking Pepto Bismol after an episode only out of desperation as I just want the discomfort to go away especially if I am not going to be home for long periods of time.  I wonder if the PB is cancelling the affects of the probiotic.  How long do I expect these symptoms to last?   One of the benefits I have found of eliminating the gluten is the pain in my hip joint as dramatically subsided.  I have arthritis and have been getting shots but it does not eliminate all the pain, but the past week it is almost gone.  Am I on the right track with getting my system regulated?  Thanks I have found quite a few articles here very informative and anything additional would be appreciated.

You could be on the right track.  Consider getting back on gluten and get tested for celiac disease.  

Open Original Shared Link

Healing can take weeks, months or years to heal if you have celiac disease.   It can be difficult to commit to being gluten free without a diagnosis.  

I wish you well.