Hi, Shelli:
CONGRATULATIONS! for sticking with the diet, and I am sorry You have had this setback--oh, there will be those darned setbacks!!
can a food test negative for starch and still be a problem?
Well yes--caramel is a good example.
I was in a similar state as You are now, right before my niece's wedding quite a distance away and anticipated some physical exertion, even a day hike involved.
Swollen knee, iritis, terrible hip bursitis, etc.
ALL I did for myself I should not describe in polite company, but it involved the colon irrigations, especially some retention with a solution of sulfasalazine.
But also and perhaps more important was a quick fast of three days then two of apples, followed by very careful diet--clear consommes and tofu; that kind of thing; there is a condition called "septic hip" or "megacolon" that could have caused my knee edema. And I even wonder about Clostridium overgrowth and the fact I had been taking antibiotics.
Got over the episode within the requisite 10 days or so, and managed to hike nearly 4 very rough miles with only minor repercussions due to knee and no complaining from previously locked-up left hip.
Just experiment and keep to an aseptic, laxative, and low-roughage diet for now.
HEALTH,
John
