Following FODMAP is a tough way to go!

I try to follow it but it is hard. But it really helps. From time to time I eat very little of cooked onions and garlic but I pay for it.

It helps to have a glass of water with a tablespoon or two of cider vinegar before you eat them.

Ah yes! The apple cider vinegar thing! Years ago I was doing that for some reason or other... so I will give it a go! (no pun intended!)

Yes following the Fod Map has helped me immensley, and I admit I am surprised at how much it seems to have worked.

My stomach pain, severe IBS with gas and diarrhea unreal, so I was very motivated. But it was worth it just to have the symptoms reduced by as much as 90% most of the time.

I am also shocked that it took doctors so long to reccomend it, but better late than never.

were you ever able to add foods back into your diet that you had to cut out?

I have not tried much of that yet; I am so relieved that it is helping, but I am afraid to change anything. I did have 2 "cheat night meals" so to speak, and everything returned immediately.

The stomach pain, loss of sleep, and bowel control improving substantially keeps me motivated.

The FODMAP diet has been extremely helpful for me, and I miss some foods but suffer too much when I eat them to add them back. It’s been about 2 years so I think they’re gone for good. Re: the garlic and onion though, the way I still use the aromatics in cooking is to use organic garlic infused extra virgin olive oil and the green tops only of green onions. Those ingredients are fine for me to eat and marvelously flavorful. I also “re-grow” the onion tops in a glass of water for re-use one time. I’m a gluten free vegan with SIBO and IMO following resection that removed my ileocecal valve so I make a lot of healthy soups and those flavors are important. Also, only one use so far, but I’m trying Fodzyme. A new digestive enzyme product that may broaden my vegetable/fruit consumption options, as well as other foods. It’s online only to purchase and too soon for me to know if it’s going to be useful, but have a look. The limits get annoying sometimes but the symptoms are worse for me to deal with. Good luck.

Thank you! I am eager to try Fodzyme! I went through this once before. It was during Covid...we were eating beans many times a week... I also ate pistachios and peanuts... took along time together 'back to normal', but for the past couple of years I was fine, not sure how this started again... I miss so many foods, but I am trying. It sure is awful when I cheat...and some times I cheat out of ignorance. It is a tough diet to keep track of all the 'rules'.
Thanks again, and good luck.

I lived on three foods for over 5 years. Yes, FODMAP is tough, but it was heaven for me when I could add more foods. So, yes, you will get to the point where you can have the garlic and onions again. I would say start very slow. (I literally had to start with pinky sized fingertips when my body was ready.) Listen to your body, be patient and most importantly DON'T GIVE UP!

Thank you, Thank you , Thank you!!!!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel! I love to cook, so the world has gotten a bit bleak lately... and I can't imagine how this happened!? I have lived on garlic, onions etc my whole life! another thanked breath...it never was a problem!?

: )

My story is close to your story, m4416. I have not tried Fodzyme and rely on Intoleran enzymes. I turned to them when my supposedly "safe" food was starting to fail me. Now I eat the safe food preceded by these enzymes. I learned of them on the Monash app, but of course they are listed as safe only from a FODMAP angle. Glad you are doing well.