More fiber?
#259866 - 04/24/06 11:59 AM
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I have had IBS for about 12 years and it has been under decent control for years until I decided to get out of the military, move across the country, get married, buy a new house and start graduate school all in 2 weeks! That has been about a year and a half ago and I'm still not back in control of things. School is extremely stressful and I don't have many friends here yet. I'm hoping once I get a job with a normal schedule that I'll start getting into my own routine.
I have always also been an extremely gassy person, not sure why. I have always thought I was IBS-D, but now I'm thinking I'm a little bit of both. Some days I will go between 3-6 times a day, and other days I will not go hardly at all except for a few little pebbles throughout the day. On the days I don't go the gas is foul smelling and embarassing but it's almost uncontrollable. I almost feel embarassed to get into bed at night because I don't want to gross my husband out! This may go on for a day or so and then I'll go 3-6 times a day and the gas will go away. I've decided to try Benefiber and have been doing so for about 1-2 months. I take 3 capsules in the morning and 3 at night. It may have helped slow down the D a little bit but not a lot. When I first try something new (like Benefiber and Probiotics), it works great for about a week and then I replapse back into my cycle. In addition to the Benefiber, I also take a Primal Defense twice a day. Am I more constipated than I think? Do I need something like Miralax to help things become normal again? Or, do I need more Benefiber? Also, my attacks come at different times of the day; usually in the morning but sometimes after lunch and rarely around dinner. I definately notice stress effects it but I think there might be something out there to help better. I'd appreciate any help! I['m on Birth control too, does that do anything to IBS people?
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Have you read around on this site? You may need to go on the "what to eat when you can't eat anything" diet, which is just Soluble fiber foods for a few days, just to get stable. Just read around on the home page & it'll guide you on what you should do to stop the cycle of IBS. Hope this helps. Feel better soon, & welcome to the boards!
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Kiwi
IBS-C
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Have you tried Heather's Acacia fiber? It took me months to work up to 1 TBSP 3 times a day but things have been soooo much better.
I've heard decent things about Benefiber but I've been warned off the capsules. I can't remember the extra ingredient that is added to the capsule form that makes it unsafe.
Anyway, if I were you I would at least switch to the powder form of Benefiber but Acacia is probably best.
Good luck,
Leigh
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Re: More fiber?
#259914 - 04/24/06 02:47 PM
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Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
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I don't have a lot of trouble with gas myself, but you can try fennel tea and see if that helps.
You may be IBS-A, but to me it sounds like you're having D, then your system is empty so you can't really go for a few days. I would focus on making sure you're eating in accordance with EFI guidlines and getting up to a high enough dose of SFS. That should get the D under control.
My own experience was that following the EFI guidelines eased the urgency, but frequency was still a problem until I got up to a high enough dose of SFS.
Quote:
I've decided to try Benefiber and have been doing so for about 1-2 months. I take 3 capsules in the morning and 3 at night.
Assuming you're taking these, you're only getting 3 grams of SF from your Benefiber. That's not very much at all. I would say you need to increase your SFS, but do so slowly, going up just a little bit at a time.
You don't say specifically that you're on Heather's EFI Diet. My experience is that an SFS by itself doesn't help, I also need to be on the Diet. If you're not following the EFI Diet the varying times of the attacks may have to do with what you're eating when. It makes sense most attacks would come in the morning because your tummy is empty then and more sensitive to whatever you're eating.
"The First Year - IBS" talks about different stress management techniques. Perhaps one or more of those would be helpful.
HTH.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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