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I've been getting pretty strict with paleo but it seems like no matter what I eat I get an uncomfortable stomach after eating, I just discovered how to eat liver (fried with onions, hold your nose!) and my elation at being able to eat it was short lived after the stomach discomfort

What can you do if no matter what you eat you have stomach problems? I have been on prozac and it seems to be working, I sleep a little better and am slightly less tired, I don't feel depressed but the physical symptoms seem to still be there

Could it be low stomach acid? Should I try some lemon and water first thing in the morning?

These are the only foods I eat now:

Eggs Beef Liver

carrots spinach potatoes

bananas almonds

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When I feel uncomfortable after eating, I drink a couple of tablespoons of unfiltered apple cider vinegar. The lemon-water may produce the same result, but I've never tried it. – MathGirl72 Jul 9 at 13:37
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Definitely look into GAPS. Robb Wolf mentions digestive enzymes, you might check into that. – Dave S. Jul 9 at 13:56
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Probably the onions (FODMAPS), not the liver. – Dragonfly Jul 9 at 14:18
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I understand what you're saying VB but as my parents have both suffered I am predisposed, depression is an affliction that you can't necessarily think you're way out, you can't positive think you're broken leg away though I understand what you are saying and I do all those things to try not to slide back down but it's more the physical smyptoms that plague me now, though they have lessened – HuntingBears Jul 9 at 17:34
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Thanks MathGirl – HuntingBears Jul 9 at 17:35
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6 Answers

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I struggled with the same problem for so long. I couldn't digest anything, I would get so bloated after anything I ate and it seemed like everything was going right through me. I checked out the GAPS diet because I was at the end of the line after losing about 30 unnecessary lbs. I've been on GAPS for 8 months and I'm the healthiest and happiest I have ever been. I can't remember the last time I had a stomach issue. I've seen 95% of food allergies disappear except for nightshades. I gained the weight back that I needed to but I have a completely different body shape now, I look healthy. Honestly if you're serious about getting better just take a few minutes to google GAPS diet. It definitely won't hurt to see the benefits it's had for people! :) I hope you see some improvements soon!

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I was just about to discuss my experience with GAPS. I recently adopted the Paleo lifestyle but quickly noticed that while things were improving I still had a very upset stomach after mealtimes. Searching my symptoms on here led me to GAPS. I'm not strictly following but have introduced some changes - warm water and a tbs sauerkraut in the morning, more soups and bones, ginger tea and planning on adding an additional probiotic. I've seen a fantastic improvement. – Jade Jul 9 at 13:49
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Thanks, I checked and that is basically what I'm eating now except for the potatoes, I will cut them out and see what happens, could you give me a quick breakdown of what you eat in a typical day? I would really appreciate it, thanks :) – HuntingBears Jul 9 at 13:59
Bear, you have homemade bone stock everyday? – a tricksty trickster Jul 9 at 14:50
I've been on GAPS for 4 months now (I was at the point where I was having issues eating everything like you), it was a tough first month but then it got better. Careful with the Vinegar, that didnt work for me, made things worse, unless you know what you are doing (if you have low acid for sure). GAPS is a better approach to healing and fixing the issues, not just covering them up with quick fixes. I generally dont have stomach issues but I'm still following a very GAPS/Paleo program and happier and healthier than I started! – Kelly Jul 9 at 18:09
HuntingBears, a typical day at the moment involves: mug of warm water (strictly the first thing I have) followed by a tbs of sauerkraut. Then eggs, usually boiled, with some veg. A banana or pear as a snack with a ginger tea. My main meal for the day may involve baked fish, slow-cooked meat/poultry involving bones or a soup. At night I have either a green tea or another ginger tea. I've intentionally cut a few 'irritants' including nuts (almonds were killing me) and honey. – Jade Jul 10 at 7:51
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HuntingBears, I just want to give you a giant {{hug}}.

I've read a bunch of your other posts and it sounds like you're having a very hard time right now -- with lots of things, not just food. There's got to be something more going on inside that body and mind of yours that those limited foods are really the only things you can tolerate.

I don't have any solid advice for you. Just wanted to throw the idea out there that whatever's going on inside your heart and your head could very well be affecting your digestion. Maybe some digestive enzyme will help, but that's probably not the biggest issue at hand. Our emotions are so intimately tied to our GI tract, and sometimes it's hard to tell which is the chicken and which is the egg. They even call the gut "the second brain" because it's loaded with nerve cells...in fact, it's a nervous system unto itself. (Called "the enteric nervous system.") Why else would we have the phrase "butterflies in the stomach" for when we're nervous or anxious? How could a feeling in your head affect your stomach?

I don't know which is spurring which for you -- is gut dysfunction messing with your emotions, or are your emotions messing with your gut? At this point, it's probably both, in a vicious cycle. Regardless, I hope you find some relief soon. Sounds like you're going through a difficult time. I don't know anything about talk therapy, NLP, and that kind of stuff, but other people have had success with those techniques. (In conjunction with a good diet, stress relief, finding pockets of joy where you can, etc. This needs to be a multi-pronged approach, I think.) Dragonfly has a bunch of experience with it...

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Thanks Amy :) I think that it's both too, but I hope to make some progress with this gaps diet, I may be going on a date on thursday as well (first in my life!) so I'm super nervous and that's not helping haha – HuntingBears Jul 9 at 17:48
Amy, I'm so glad you wrote that! It's so true that the guy is the second brain. My experience was..I started writing and healing my mind at the same time as my body and I saw amazing improvements. You can't have one without the other. The whole body is together. Huntingbears, I have SO much info on the GAPS diet. I stand behind it so much. I have told many people about it. They don't believe that there was a time when I was as sick as I was. There IS hope! If you want more info, you can e-mail me? vanesatunney@live.com. I check that more often – Van Jul 16 at 12:47
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I recommend eating RAW FOODS WITH EVERY SINGLE MEAL. Nobody told me about that but it really really helped me with my stomach problems and digesting. Make sure to eat raw foods WITH EVERY MEAL.

If you currently not eating any raw foods, start slow. Start by adding peeled cucumbers and raw carrot (if you can digest). Chew them VERY VERY WELL - this is important.

One more thing - go to the nearest park and find some plantago major leaves. http://www.commanster.eu/commanster/Plants/Flowers/SpFlowers/Plantago.major.html

Keep them in the fridge and eat one between meals or whenever your stomach hurts. It really works!

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I feel your pain on that. It is SO hard for me to get calories in the tummy because I feel sick when I eat. It may be low stomach acid - check with your doctor if you can go. It may also be partly psychological - I know that for myself, my mood will vastly affect my appetite and digestion. If you're in therapy along with the Prozac, and it's good therapy, that will help. If you're not, or even if you are and would like to take it further, try reading a quality book as a kind of substitute. Get a recommendation from your psychiatrist or therapist, or try "The Feeling Good Handbook" by David Burns. It is strict REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy) based. I don't want to go too much into that, check out the book on Amazon or something if you like, but REBT for some people, including me, is the best thing since sliced bread (tee hee)!

Now, for dietary solutions, I can share what helps me and it may help you out. If you can do dairy, I would recommend lots of milk. When I can't eat, I can still usually drink, and full-fat (raw if you can get it) milk has tons of nutrients and will help get calories into you. I drink at least 2 gallons a week. A second thing is probiotics! The more good bacteria you have in your tummy to help digest things, the better. Fermented vegetables, kombucha, yogurt, milk or water kefir are all great ways to get the good stuff, and all these things are easy to make at home and inexpensive. Lastly, bone broth! It usually goes down easily, it is very nutritious, you can make soup in it with the meat and veggies (chicken bone broth with kale, chopped tomatoes, onion and garlic is one of my faves!) and all that gelatin can help your tummy.

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Prozac is well-known for causing gastrointestinal distress. Be sure you take it after eating. Maybe this is the problem.

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I thought it was the opposite? – HuntingBears Jul 9 at 17:52
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http://www.amazon.com/Could-It-Be-B12-Misdiagnoses/dp/1884995691/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341857961&sr=8-1&keywords=could+it+be+b12

Just started looking into this myself, but maybe something to check out. Found the book on library loan. Lots of info online too. Anyway, a thought.

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