There was a time when food was one of the good things. A meal out with friends. A home-cooked dinner you actually looked forward to. Trying something new without doing mental maths about what it might do to you later.

Now? Every plate comes with a negotiation. Will this bloat me? Will I be in pain in an hour? Can I even eat this without spending the rest of the evening curled up on the sofa?

You've stopped ordering what you actually want at restaurants. You've turned down dinner invitations because the anxiety of what happens afterwards isn't worth it. Food has gone from something that nourished you to something that punishes you — and that quiet, constant dread before every meal is exhausting in a way nobody around you fully understands.

It's not in your head. Your gut is inflamed, reactive, and struggling to do the basic job of breaking food down comfortably. The bloating, the cramping, the trapped gas, the pain after eating — that's your digestive system telling you it needs real support. Not another food to eliminate. Not another thing to avoid.