#ibsfriendly

Hey friends with weird and severe food allergies and sensitivities (like me)! Watch out when buying processed foods during the pandemic!!!

"The FDA is providing flexibility for manufacturers to make minor formulation changes in certain circumstances without making conforming label changes..."

https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-announces-temporary-flexibility-policy-regarding-certain-labeling-requirements-foods-humans

Hmm, this is an interesting question. I don't have IBD so I'll just preface my answer by saying that whatever I say should be taken in that context.

I think the majority of your success will depend on what your symptoms are, and if/how you can manage them. Maybe that means taking more frequent bathroom breaks than the rest of the crew, taking more medication, or going on a special diet for field season.

Those are all preemptive things that you can do, but while you're in the field you might also look into ways that you can mitigate your symptoms. If you're not near a bathroom but still fairly close to civilization, maybe you could arrange for a port-a-john so that you have more privacy. If it's a hike in/hike out situation you could look into a portable toilet?

I think that before taking this on, you should talk to both your field supervisor and your doctor to make sure that all the right things are done, and so that hopefully you don't end up in an uncomfortable situation. Other than that, I don't really see why it should prevent you from going into the field. People work with stomach bugs (because sometimes you just gotta soldier through) and if they can work, you can probably find a way.

Best of luck (and please tell me if you end up going on a dig!)

Dude, I either feel like I'm being a) stabbed/ someone is turning the acid in my intestines all the time, b) like I've been food poisoned, except it's just my body doing it's thing, c) so exhausted while also nauseous like I have the flu, d) all of the above.