Excited to find this site!

[Susie]

Hi friends, my name is Susie. I have been a vegan for a little over a year now. I was so excited to find this site so that I could have more conversations with like minded people about the perks and issues of my lifestyle. I could start by saying that I believe I also have IBS, or at least a sensitivity to gluten. Maybe both? This makes it that much harder to keep a nutritious diet and I sometimes get light headed, dizzy, confused, bloated, or VERY tired. If there is anyone out there that has had these kinds of issues and found a healthy way to deal with it, I would be all ears!

 

[TofuRobot]

Hi friends, my name is Susie. I have been a vegan for a little over a year now. I was so excited to find this site so that I could have more conversations with like minded people about the perks and issues of my lifestyle. I could start by saying that I believe I also have IBS, or at least a sensitivity to gluten. Maybe both? This makes it that much harder to keep a nutritious diet and I sometimes get light headed, dizzy, confused, bloated, or VERY tired. If there is anyone out there that has had these kinds of issues and found a healthy way to deal with it, I would be all ears!

Hello and welcome!

Honestly, if I were having all those symptoms, I'd get a checkup. You could have something else going on, and it might have zero to do with your diet.

 

[Damo]

Hi Susie,

It would also help to know what you eat on a regular basis.

 

[mavrick45]

hello and welcome!

 

[Lou]

Hello. Welcome.
Go get a checkup and talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

In a couple of recent studies*, researchers found that a lot of people who thought they had gluten sensitivities actually had celiac's disease. And a lot of people who thought they had a gluten sensitivity did not have one. Some were sensitive to something else and the rest were psychosomatic.

IBS is something else entirely. If you do have it, you need to treat it. But you need a Doctor's diagnosis. The problem with IBS is that there are so many versions, symptoms, and causes it can be difficult to for a person to diagnose and treat without professional help.

there are many gluten-free Vegans. Some actually have celiac's disease. Some just think wheat is the source of all evil. Anyway, it is a little more difficult for a vegan to be wheat or gluten free. But if there is no upside, why bother. Wheat and gluten are good sources of nutrients.

There are also vegans with IBS. They even have their own club. With lots of diet advice. but the thing is that there are many versions of IBS. there are a few universal diet recommendations but a lot of it is specific. for the most part, Vegans with IBS have a hard time with their diets.

* I was going to link a few recent studies, but since I last looked this up the number of studies has exploded. and some are contradictory. So it would take some careful reading and critical thinking to make good conclusions. Instead, just see a doctor.

 

[TofuRobot]

Hello. Welcome.
Go get a checkup and talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

In a couple of recent studies*, researchers found that a lot of people who thought they had gluten sensitivities actually had celiac's disease. And a lot of people who thought they had a gluten sensitivity did not have one. Some were sensitive to something else and the rest were psychosomatic.

IBS is something else entirely. If you do have it, you need to treat it. But you need a Doctor's diagnosis. The problem with IBS is that there are so many versions, symptoms, and causes it can be difficult to for a person to diagnose and treat without professional help.

there are many gluten-free Vegans. Some actually have celiac's disease. Some just think wheat is the source of all evil. Anyway, it is a little more difficult for a vegan to be wheat or gluten free. But if there is no upside, why bother. Wheat and gluten are good sources of nutrients.

There are also vegans with IBS. They even have their own club. With lots of diet advice. but the thing is that there are many versions of IBS. there are a few universal diet recommendations but a lot of it is specific. for the most part, Vegans with IBS have a hard time with their diets.

* I was going to link a few recent studies, but since I last looked this up the number of studies has exploded. and some are contradictory. So it would take some careful reading and critical thinking to make good conclusions. Instead, just see a doctor.

Regular alcohol consumption can cause IBS, too. Just throwing that out there.

 

[Lou]

@TofuRobot
I dont' think there is a consensus on what causes IBS. But yeah, drinking is probably not good for it.

 

[Susie]

Hi Susie,

It would also help to know what you eat on a regular basis.

Thanks for all the great feedback!

I know I am probably not allowing myself enough of something. But I eat a lot of apples and citrus, pasta, broccoli, mushrooms. I try to avoid eating soy products every day but I would say I eat soy a few times a week. I use beyond meat products often. I use a lot of nutritional yeast, oat milk, and lemons and avocados. I eat scones and cookies too often, and a lot of crackers.

 

[Susie]

Hello. Welcome.
Go get a checkup and talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

In a couple of recent studies*, researchers found that a lot of people who thought they had gluten sensitivities actually had celiac's disease. And a lot of people who thought they had a gluten sensitivity did not have one. Some were sensitive to something else and the rest were psychosomatic.

IBS is something else entirely. If you do have it, you need to treat it. But you need a Doctor's diagnosis. The problem with IBS is that there are so many versions, symptoms, and causes it can be difficult to for a person to diagnose and treat without professional help.

there are many gluten-free Vegans. Some actually have celiac's disease. Some just think wheat is the source of all evil. Anyway, it is a little more difficult for a vegan to be wheat or gluten free. But if there is no upside, why bother. Wheat and gluten are good sources of nutrients.

There are also vegans with IBS. They even have their own club. With lots of diet advice. but the thing is that there are many versions of IBS. there are a few universal diet recommendations but a lot of it is specific. for the most part, Vegans with IBS have a hard time with their diets.

* I was going to link a few recent studies, but since I last looked this up the number of studies has exploded. and some are contradictory. So it would take some careful reading and critical thinking to make good conclusions. Instead, just see a doctor.

It definitely seems like I should go see a doctor. The reason I'm hesitant is because I have tried this before. I have been completely dismissed by two doctors. When I went to the them BECAUSE of my stomach issues, I was told "it's probably something in your diet."
Obviously these doctors are outliers in their shittiness but it was very discouraging. Is there a type of specialist that I would have more luck with?

 

[TofuRobot]

Thanks for all the great feedback!

I know I am probably not allowing myself enough of something. But I eat a lot of apples and citrus, pasta, broccoli, mushrooms. I try to avoid eating soy products every day but I would say I eat soy a few times a week. I use beyond meat products often. I use a lot of nutritional yeast, oat milk, and lemons and avocados. I eat scones and cookies too often, and a lot of crackers.

Where are the lentils/beans/peas/legumes? And whole grain bread? And potatoes? And bananas & dates? And why are you avoiding soy? Soy is fine as long as you're not allergic and are choosing organic.

 

[Jamie in Chile]

Just wanted to add welcome to the forum and hope you are doing well!

 

[Lou]

It definitely seems like I should go see a doctor. The reason I'm hesitant is because I have tried this before. I have been completely dismissed by two doctors. When I went to the them BECAUSE of my stomach issues, I was told "it's probably something in your diet."
Obviously these doctors are outliers in their shittiness but it was very discouraging. Is there a type of specialist that I would have more luck with?

That's ridiculous. (the doctor's replies).
If you have a primary care doctor you are satisfied with (for the most part), you need to see him. Or get a new doctor. If you belong to an HMO, just ask at the desk for a new doctor to be assigned to you. At my HMO they have sort of their own version of YELP! to help pick out doctors. But out of an HMO there are services that help patients find doctors.

Perhaps bring a list of your symptoms.
One strategy that MIGHT help is to create a food log. you could just make one with paper and pencil. but its not much more trouble to create one in Cronometer. If you have some symptoms - make a note of them in the proper place on the food log.

There is a pretty simple blood test for Celiac's disease. As I mentioned earlier there was a study that provided that test to people and a lot of people were diagnosed with Celiac's disease who did not know they had it.

There is not a good test for gluten sensitivity. In fact, some doctors now dismiss the condition as one that is something else entirely. or actual Celiac's. FYI.

There is a blood test for IBS, too. Actually, it's two tests.

Anyway, see a doctor and ask for these blood tests. I would also ask for a food allergy screening test.

Let us know what happens. We are rooting for you.

 

[Susie]

Where are the lentils/beans/peas/legumes? And whole grain bread? And potatoes? And bananas & dates? And why are you avoiding soy? Soy is fine as long as you're not allergic and are choosing organic.

Ah, I do eat beans fairly often too, not as much as I should. I eat whole grain pasta and actual bread often as well. And like most vegans I also eat potatoes more than I would like. I guess I forgot a few things. And I feel paying attention to my symptoms, I have noticed that excess soy sometimes aggravates them.

 

[Susie]

That's ridiculous. (the doctor's replies).
If you have a primary care doctor you are satisfied with (for the most part), you need to see him. Or get a new doctor. If you belong to an HMO, just ask at the desk for a new doctor to be assigned to you. At my HMO they have sort of their own version of YELP! to help pick out doctors. But out of an HMO there are services that help patients find doctors.

Perhaps bring a list of your symptoms.
One strategy that MIGHT help is to create a food log. you could just make one with paper and pencil. but its not much more trouble to create one in Cronometer. If you have some symptoms - make a note of them in the proper place on the food log.

There is a pretty simple blood test for Celiac's disease. As I mentioned earlier there was a study that provided that test to people and a lot of people were diagnosed with Celiac's disease who did not know they had it.

There is not a good test for gluten sensitivity. In fact, some doctors now dismiss the condition as one that is something else entirely. or actual Celiac's. FYI.

There is a blood test for IBS, too. Actually, it's two tests.

Anyway, see a doctor and ask for these blood tests. I would also ask for a food allergy screening test.

Let us know what happens. We are rooting for you.

This is super helpful, thank you!
I keep meaning to start a food log...and like any task, you can't do it until you start doing it. Hehe.

 

[Lou]

This is super helpful, thank you!
I keep meaning to start a food log...and like any task, you can't do it until you start doing it. Hehe.

Like anything, it can be hard to start. but once you start it's not too bad.
I run in streaks. like I do it every day for a week and then don't do it for months. but I don't feel too bad about that. I think I get a lot of benefit by just doing it for a week.
I use Cronometer. It has a bit of a learning curve but once it is mastered it can take just 2 - 5 minutes a night. I do it right before bed. along with all my other nighttime routines.

Cronometer does also have a nifty feature of printing out a one page summary of the week. Pretty handy to bring to a Doctor.