The ever growing list of foods I can't eat...

Early in 2012 I was diagnosed with a dairy allergy. In the fall of 2012 I ran into more complications and was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis. Interstitial Cystitis can cause urinary tract pain, uncomfortable sensations, and lower body pain (throughout back, pelvic, and leg). In addition to this, a person can become demoralized because you are basically helpless to the pain. Last year I thought I had a UTI or bladder infection. I had UTI symptoms, pain through my back, hip, groin, and even into my leg.  Over the course of two months I took antibiotics, had tests done, saw a urologist, and even had scans done for kidney stones. When everything came back negative I realized it was time to change my diet completely. 

I stopped cheating with my dairy allergy, limited citrus, removed coffee and tomatoes. For 12 months I had only minor flare ups. This week everything went wrong again. While eating healthy meals and fresh ingredients I found a few new triggers for my IC. I can no longer eat bananas nor avocados. 

I love cheese, yogurt, ice cream, desserts, bananas, avocados, dark coffee, tomato sauce, oranges, lemons, and cranberry juice. Yet these are the items my body denies me. While the frustration at not enjoying these items is great the pain and irritation from eating these items is a 1000 times greater.