Hi Lori,

Yes, it is gross, but it's a pain in the butt , so it should be dealt with! I don't know of an RSD food list that relates to diarrhea specifically as most people experience constipation as a med side effect (I did for the first three years). Ask your doc to backcheck your files, and to test you for hospital transmitted infections such as c.difficile, which can lead to colitis. It is a bacteria that people pick up, complicated by taking certain anti-biotics that are resistant to it. It's pretty common, many are asymtomatic, but the aftereffects can be terrible, such as chronic diarrhea. I've had it for a year next month!

Here is what I have found helps and has taken me from 7-13 episodes a day to 2-3.

Avoid sugars. This means natural sugars as well, including fruits, juices, and sweeteners. I drink water, black coffee and drinks made from low sugar plants like aloe juice made with honey (delicious!). If you must have sweets, go for things made with the natural sweetener Stevia (can find in chocolate, foods, drinks etc in health food stores). Tomatoes are a fruit in this context, so out they go. When I disregard this rule, I pay for it.

Avoid processed foods. This will be really hard because you are not up and about, so look for a place online that provides fresh frozen healthy meals. Preservatives are really bad for diarrhea.

Avoid wheat and glutens as much as possible and see if this helps. This may or may not, depending on what your particular issue is.

Avoid dairy except hard cheese (cheddar is actually good, and yogurt with acidophillis provides your gut with flora to regulate digestion - eat lots of these!). I switched to soy milk and buy both the regular flavour and the vanilla, tending to use the vanilla a lot more because it's crazy good. However, the regular is necessary for some cooking. Soft cheeses and medium cheeses, including mozzerella are bad for diarrhea. People experiencing chronic diarrhea are often coexperiencing lactose intolerance or malabsorbtion.

I don't eat meat, so can't advise on that matter, but all the articles I have read on the subject state that it is difficult to process, so try limiting it if you can, and try only eating non-processed meats.

Start keeping a journal of your diet, the changes you make and the episodes and ask your doctor to refer you to a gastroenterologist. They should find the cause of this so you can better learn how to treat it. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time and hope you can find some relief.

Let me know if I can help any more!

Alice