How do you know its time for AIP?

[littleg]

I've had GI problems for years.  I've been tested for SIBO and the results came back totally wacky (high levels of hydrogen even fasting - but no spike so they ruled out SIBO).  I'm on the fence about a colonoscopy.  So I have no medical data to support a diagnosis.  My MD called it IBS since I don't have pathology - just symptoms.  Which include: daily diarrhea (usually just once in the morning but sometimes many times throughout the day), almost constant bloating - sometimes gastric sometimes intestinal, many days of looking 7 months preggo.  Over the summer I read about Ray Peat and tried his way of eating for a while - so I went from two years of Primal to no veggies, lots of fruit, meat and cheese.  And then I got constipated.  Sometimes for 72 hours.  I decided to try W30 and am eating massive amounts of veggies with (for the most part) mild/moderate discomfort.  Poop was good for maybe 2 days (I'm on day 20) about 5 days ago.  I started digestive enzymes 7 days ago.  I was super excited because those 2 days of good poop and no bloating corresponded with starting the enzymes and I really thought I had found a "cure".  But then it went back to the usual diarrhea and bloating.   And today a new problem - I can not stop burping.  Its awful.  I ate nothing today I haven't eaten before on the W30.  I'm just so tired of always having some GI symptom - gas, bloating, burping, diarrhea, constipation... I just want to poop like a normal person!  I'm going to finish the W30 but am unsure of what to do next.  Is it time for the AIP?  Or maybe the colonoscopy?  I know lots of people on here talk of similar symptoms - what were the steps you took to get things in order - or was it just time?  Thanks!

[Tina R]

I am in a similar situation although I haven't been diagnosed with anything. First I would wait until I am done with my whole30. It is 30 days for a reason and it may take that long for your gut to heal. Have you looked into FODMAPs? It could be these foods that are causing your issues and not necessarily AIP. I wish I could be more helpful, I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.

[Bet]

Hi littleg, It does sound like you have IBS. I've had it since I was in high school. I vividly remember my first 'attack'. What has worked best for me is eliminating FODMAPS. Onions and Broccoli seem to be my worst triggers. I also don't eat any grains, legumes, dairy or nightshades. Because I also have hashi's, which is an AI disease and recent tests show that I may have Chrohn's either in addition to or instead of IBS, and Chrohn's is AI, I decided to do the AIP. What AIP does is eliminate foods that are known inflammatories. W30 does that too, but AI goes a step further. While on AIP, I found that eggs caused joint pain, and after 5 days without eggs, most of the joint pain I had was gone.

 

I would try eliminating FODMAPS first, stick with the digestive enzymes, and add some additional HCL. HCL is stomach acid, it is in some digestive enzymes, but you may need more. SIBO wants a low acidic environment and keeping a good level of acid in your stomach can help with SIBO. You will also need to be extra strict with sugar (starve the beast!).

 

Once I eliminated FODMAPS, I did have issues with constipation (I was almost happy about it!). I now take Magnesium Glycinate twice a day and a good probiotic. That has helped me keep regular along with the veggies I'm eating while doing W30.