Teen with Stomach Pain

[claidheamdanns]

We started this diet because my youngest son (14) has had stomach pains for about a year and a half now, and the doctors and allergists have not been able to track down a cause or provide a solution.

We have been doing the Whole30 (as a family) for 33 days now, and are seeing no results in reduced stomach pains. I understand that some people have to go 45-60 days before they see results. But, I am wondering, at what point do we say, okay, no results are coming from this — time to go back to a normal diet. I mean, if we never see results, why keep torturing ourselves?

Any suggestions?

[Robin Strathdee]

Welcome!

First of all, I'm sorry to hear that your son is hurting. I know from experience how frustrating it can be to have pain that no one can see or diagnose. I do hope they nail down a cause sooner than later.

The Whole30 works for people in stomach pain for several reasons, one being that it cuts out foods that compromise the integrity of the digestive system (gluten and non-gluten grains, for example). It also reduces overall inflammation, which often helps calm (even if not completely relieve) pain symptoms. However, there are steps you can take beyond the standard Whole30 program. I don't have my copy of It Starts With Food with me, but there is a specific protocol for folks with IBS (and similar conditions). I think that might be a good place to go with your son. That plan removes nuts, eggs and raw vegetables (and I'm drawing a blank on the rest right now) as those can be very irritating to some folks' digestive systems.

Finally, while I know that this change can be difficult, I would encourage you to look at it as a long-term option for healing and health rather than a short term fix. My family lives this lifestyle every day and we've found that it has changed our lives in so many ways. Perhaps a little perspective change will help you to find relief from the "tortured" feelings

[Moluv]

I second what Robin suggests- my stomach pains subsided after I went on the IBS protocol.

[JJB]

What part of the W30 protocol is torture for you? I do miss sweets and pizza/burgers, and don't enjoy spending so much time cooking...but I also don't miss having headaches multiple times a week, feeling sleepy/tired/grumpy/lethargic the majority of the time, having unreasonable hunger/cravings every single day, etc... Have you and/or your family members noticed any benefits from your new diet that might motivate you to continue? If not, then I guess I can't blame you. Maybe you've been focusing on the fact that it's not helping the specific problem you hoped it would, and possibly overlooked other positive changes that have occurred? I no longer think of the SAD as "normal." I wish it had never became the norm in our society to eat so many processed and modified foods. I hope your son finds relief with the IBS protocol. I can't imagine having stomach pains on a daily basis, especially as a kid.

[eating4balance]

Is your son currently taking any medicine? I know that I took antibiotics when I was younger for various viral infections, and then for acne when I was a teenager. The prolonged use of antibiotics caused leaky gut and severe gastrointestinal food allergies/intolerances for me. I can only eat well cooked meat and vegetables in the form of soup right now. If you try the AIP modifications, that may provide some relief. I would also look into GAPS, which I found to be very helpful.

[claidheamdanns]

Hmmmm .... just wandering back to this forum after a LONG time (5 years!). Thanks for the replies and sorry I haven't responded sooner.

The first time I did Whole30 back in 2013, I didn’t stick with it, because I just skimmed the book to get what I thought I needed to do it, and we saw no results in my sons stomach problems, which he still has to this day (though he says they have subsided somewhat). I lasted 45 days, and have done 30-day stints several times since.

In January of this year, though, since It Starts With Food was still sitting on my Goodreads list, I listened to the whole book on audible on a trip to Texas and back for another half marathon. It made a huge difference. Although I was very annoyed with the authors’ writing and reading style, it was important to get the whole of the information into my head/heart. I’ve stuck with it ever since.

Although I don't feel different, I have seen incredible results:

• I have lost 50+ this since starting back on Whole30 (for the first time since I started tracking my weight 8 years ago, I am down in the healthy range!)
• In April, I did my first half marathon on Whole30 (number 18 total), and was prepared for the "normal" feeling like a crippled old man after the race, and several days of recuperation. Instead, I went ahead and did another 1.5 miles on the treadmill at Planet Fitness before getting in my car, ate lunch with fellow half marathoners, and then went and hiked 3.5 miles on Mt Nebo, before driving home. The next day, my body felt like I had done nothing out of the ordinary the day before.

I now do a Whole30-ish lifestyle, and for me that's more doable. At home, I mostly do strict Whole30, but sometimes allow myself some dairy (I come from a dairy family, milking 100 head of cattle, so it's hard to get completely away from dairy, both culturally, and in my cravings). I will occasionally have OJ with my breakfast. When I am at a friend's party, I eat the cake. When I'm out with friends, I don't go all crazy, making the cook pull this or that out of the dish. Those were some of the things that made this diet torture for me before. I don't really miss sugar at all. I recently had a soda, and could only drink half of it. Even fruits are too sweet for me now, and I rarely eat even a whole apple.