Intro and where to find Acacia Gum in the UK?
#34324 - 12/30/03 04:51 AM
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Hi all,
I'll ask my main question first and put the intro below as i tend to ramble, so, does anyone know where to buy a pure Acacia fibre supplement in the United Kingdom? I've tried Fibregel and a few other brand names which caused bloating. After reading about psyllium and inulin i've hunted high and low for pure Acacia powder but can only find it as an ingredient to something else. Greatly appreciate any help.
(Always hate writing an intro for a new board, but here goes 
I'm a 21 student studying in Wales, i've had stomach problems from the age of 16/17 onwards, up untill that point i had an iron stomach, i could eat anything and i would be fine. During my last year of 6th form college (17yo) i started to have serious bouts of Diarrhea and missed lots of lessons, after numerous visits to the doctor and various tests (barium meal and enema, ultrasound, blood work) i was told i had IBS. I was surprised at this and blamed other reasons (I was over perscribed pain killers for a number of years which can't be good).
The doctor perscribed me Loperamide and booked me to see a dietician, it took months to be seen and the first person i saw was a joke, and disappeared after seeing her twice, then another few months to get an appoitment with no progress etc etc. I'm currently looking into seeing a private dietician and hoping this will be more succesful than my previous experiences on the NHS. My confidence in doctors at the moment doesn't exist, i can honestly say i doubt i've had a single good experience. (I almost lost my leg when i was 15 to a massive bone tumour in my ankle that was un-dianosed after going to the doctor 10 times over a year, the bone had started to compress and colapse in my ankle at this point, 4 operations and 2 re-occurences and its all sorted now)
So if anyone knows a good doctor or dietician who specialises in IBS in the UK and has any information that would be a great help.
I've come to realise over the past few months how my stomach controls every element of my life, for the past 6 months i've been smoking 10-15 spliffs a day, its the one thing that lets me forget my stomach, and its easier to be known as a stoner who doesn't go out much than to explain i'm just worried about crapping my pants in public.
I'm perscribed 40 loperamide a month which will generally be all used up by the time the next perscription is due. My worst time is in the mornings, which happens to be when most my lectures are, i don't think i've made a 9am lecture this term, even if i'm up at 7am my stomach will still not have settled by then.
My diet is awful, i live in a house with 4 other heavy pot smokers who eat junk food and our kitchen is awful for preparing meals.
Its time i did something about this and stop feeling so sorry for myself, i can happily give up smoking pot, its ciggys i struggle with.
Ok, i'm starting to ramble again
Thanks for any help
Martin
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Hi, I'm in the UK too, but I haven't seen a specialist - just my GP. He said to me two keys: STRESS and SOLUBLE FIBRE. I'd start by reading ALL the info you can on this site - Heather has explained what IBS is and how it can be managed in more detail and far better than any UK doctor. Her information is fully backed up by the most recent info on IBS via NHS Direct online and BBC Health online:
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk and www.bbc.co.uk/health
Do a search on IBS to access the correct pages on both these sites - they say the same as heather - IBS is not caused by stress but is exacerbated by it AND the key is to avoid triggers to your oversensitive gut (triggers are high fat foods, coffee, stress, dairy products, insoluble fibre and ALCOHOL and SMOKING!!!). This may sound a little overwhelming at first but it's really not - just read the info on this site. IBS CAN be managed.
There are loads of helpful people on these boards who will give you lots of support and advice when you need it.
Acacia - I couldn't find it in the UK. You can order it online from this site. It arrives quickly and well packaged (I just got mine) and after trying other soluble fibres I can only say IT's FANTASTIC - I'm noticing the effects after only 1 day - and it's far more palatable than any other soluble fibre i've seen.
Hope this is helpful to you.
Shellsbells
My problems also started around 16/17 and the college/uni years
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Again, Michelle, good advice. And about the acacia -- you're right on! It dissolves instantly in hot water, then I stick my tea bag in -- what could be easier?! AND there's no taste to the acacia. I like it a lot. More importantly, IT'S WORKING . . . . 
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Hi, and welcome! Please do look around the site - the diet info starting here diet will really help get you back on a good path. Don't know where to get Acacia in the UK - I don't even think it's available in the US anywhere but from me. If you can't find it locally, I can ship it to you in 3-5 days. There's info here acacia
Okay, I know you know this, but you really have to give up the cigarettes. They're a GI irritant, stimulant, and carcinogen. In other words, one of the worst things you can do to your IBS. If you're interested in gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS (check here IBS hypnosis ) that can be a helpful tool for dealing with the stress of quitting cigs as well as fabulous for IBS itself.
Any chance of moving to a more hospitable environment where you're not surrounded by junk food and can cook some decent meals for yourself?
The pot smoking...well, there aren't any studies on its use for IBS but marijuana is a painkiller and muscle relaxant so it's quite believable that it's helping you. But it's also putting you in a bad environment, making you much more susceptible to overeating and to eating the wrong foods, and it's not certainly not helping your health in general. I guess I'd worry about that last at this point - the cigarettes and junk food diet are probably much bigger problems.
Look around the whole site, the boards, etc. and let us know if you have any questions!
Best,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Hi Martin
Sorry to hear about your problems. I'm a 23 year old student in London. My husband and I both suffer from IBS. Please don't see a Dietician. Instead find yourself a Nutritional Therapist. My husband is one and his advice is very good - changed my life and makes a lot of sense. I could suggest you see him but it would be easier for you to find someone nearer yourself!!!
There's a lot you can do for yourself in the way of diet change and a Nutritional Therapist will go through this with you in great detail. They can also send you for an allergy test (which is expensive) but worth it. If you want to chat more about this feel free to email me scap_uk@hotmail.com
Diet is the key to so much in all of our lives!
My husband, like you, can't get relief in the morning. In fact he sometimes doesn't get relief all day 
I'd love to chat to you some more but don't want to bore you so get in touch!
Best Wishes
Sarah
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Hi all,
Thanks for the warm welcome all, i've had a good browse around this site and found a wealth of information.
Sarah P:
That has something thats always confused me, i've never actually been sure who i should be seeking help for this from. I asked my local GP a number of years ago if it would be possible to do an allergy test but he said they were no longer done due to dangers of extreme reactions (anaphalatic shock? sp) and they were only carried out now for 'serious' allergies under very controlled conditions.
I am currently looking for doctors/nutisionists in this area but seeing someone in London wouldn't be totatlly out the question, i come from Eastbourne on the coast straight down from London, i'm currently studying for a BA in 3D Computer Animation on meh second year. First year was a breeze, the workload was nothing and i had an en-suite room in halls of residence on campus, now the workload has gone up 10 fold, i'm living off campus 10 mins away with 1 toilet between 5 people. (The 6 hour train ride here the other day was not ammusing, felt sick as a dog all day from the moment i woke, took too many Loperamide to try and feel better, now suffering the backlash 3 days later, hope i'm alright for new years tonight). University is so hectic at the moment with lots of deadlines anyone i see won't be for a good few months anyway.
Heather:
The order for Acacia will be with you in a couple of days The only place i can find it in England was online for £2.50 for 25g which is very steep. I tried all the health food shops in my area and hardly anyone had heard of it, but when i told them i had stomach problems they had a 1000 different things that would 'cure' me. I eventually bought some Slippery Elm just to get out of one of the shops. Not tried it yet but it sounds like its a fibre supplement like Acacia
Thanks for putting this site together, there are some great tips and advice, i must admit i was a little scepticle about the Hypnosis tapes but after listerning to the samples available they are looking more attractive.
Thanks again.
ShellsBells
I know stress is a large factor for me. My stomach seems to know when i have to go out and gets worse just before hand, its obviously anxieties and i think i'm starting to sort some stuff out in my head and this is improving but its not easy.
A clear example of this is this certain girl who i like etc etc long story , when i'm with her my stomach seems to get 100x worse, things spiral out of control in my head and then i just feel awful, a factor in this is probably being stoned a lot of the time, i've always been paranoid about my stomach to other people but this can get quite bad.
Its bloody weird talking about this stuff as i never have to anyone really, i've tried telling people i have stomach problems and the usual answer is "Yeah i get stomach pains occasionally too, maybe i have IBS"
Alcohol i've near enough cut out completely, i probably go out for a drink once a month now and only if i know i've got nothing for the next few days. Smoking is a weird one for me, i have a sneeking suspician that smoking could be the largest thing upsetting my stomach, but then i find it very hard to get through the day without smoking.
When i wake up in the mornings i have awful stomach aches/bloating, but can often find it hard to have first BM of the day, there's nothing like a ciggerette to help me go. So i know it affects me in a big way but i haven't been able to give up.
Anyway, thanks for all the advice everyone.
Cheers
Martin
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Hi Martin
Firstly, there is a difference between a Nutritionist and a Nutritional Therapist. What you are after is a Nutritional Therapist and they should be registered with BANT. A nutritionist is somewhat similar to a dietician in the advice you will be given (I know cause I worked with them for a while). Nutritional Therapists see the whole picture and take a very detailed history. It's like going to see a doctor privately for 45mins - 1 hour!
As far as allergy testing goes - Doctors don't do allergy testing for food stuffs as it's not what they believe in. I know this cause I was training to be one! You can get allergy tested her in London but you need to see a Nutritional Therapist first to get referred for an allergy test. What they do is take a blood sample from you and that's it. You then go home and wait. They do about 200 tests from your one sample and send you the results. You will get told what you are allergic to and how badly. There is no danger of any adverse reactions to yourself as it's all done from your blood sample. Furthermore very few people are that allergic to things we eat. I also wanted to point out that you should think carefully about the test as it is expensive and only have it done if you're prepared to cut out what your allergic to for good. I haven't been prepared to say goodbye to certain foods and hence haven't gone for the test yet as I know it would be a waste for me!
My husband had the test done and he's allergic to dairy and nuts. He also saw a Kinesiologist some years ago who said he was sensitive to wheat so he's cut that out to.
Cutting out wheat usually stops the bloating for most people. And I've found cutting out all wheat apart from organic wholemeal bread and not too much dairy except a bit of cheese has made me feel better.
So good luck with everything and if you want further info just ask
I'm in the 2nd yr of a Maths degree now in London and yes the workload is hectic. Not the kind of stress you need on top of IBS!
Take care and happy new year
Sarah
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Martin,
I think your first port of call is your own GP. Has he done any other kinds of tests to rule out other conditions similar to IBS? Have you been tested for celiac disease (allergy to gluten)? Your doctor can refer you for allergy testing (they used to do skin testing for allergies, which caused severe reactions in some people, so now they do a simple blood test). In most cases, people find they are not allergic to very much. Sarah did not explain the difference between and allergy and intolerance - they are quite different. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY FOR ALLERGY TESTS!!! An allergy is a fairly immediate and recognisable physical reaction to a substance and can be life-threatening (or just very uncomfortable). An intolerance is basically a sensitivity to a substance and effects can be delayed or depend on the amount of that substance you consume - so a little might be OK for you but a lot will make you feel awful.
There are LOADS of companies offering intolerance testing - BEWARE - many are very expensive and not always reliable. Experts agree that the only way you can truly test for intolerance is by eliminating a food for a while and then reintroducing it into your diet to see if it has made any difference. Even most of the companies who do testing say that the tests are only an indicator and you have to cut out that food and then eat it to see what the effect is.
Your GP can also refer you to a nutritionist/dietician at your local hospital also. If you say to your GP that your symptoms are related to what you eat and you want to try cutting out certain foods but are worried about meeting your nutritional needs, I'm sure he/she will refer you. Again, be firm with your GP - you should not have to PAY for this help when it is available on the NHS.
Also, the websites I mentioned to you are official NHS and BBC Health sites, which offer starting points on diet etc and they totally back up the information Heather offers here.
As for stress/anxiety - you must remember: you are not weak or useless for feeling this way - IBS is NOT caused by the stress. Anxiety is just ONE of the triggers which sets off your gut (as it does in everyone - just not as badly as in IBS). Once I learned that IBS was a real physical condition, I learned to lighten up on myself - I'm not causing this IBS but I can now recognise the behavioural pattern that worry about my stomach causes anxiety in certain situations which then triggers an attack. Have you every noticed when you feel an attack coming on and then you are suddenly distracted by something else and you then realise that those symptoms have disappeared? Hypnosis and other behavioural therapies teach you strategies to do this for yourself on a subconsicous level - they're not magical, mysterious cure-alls.
Good for you for ordering the acacia - let us know how you go on.
Shellsbells
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Hi; what changes have you noticed with it to let you kniow it is working. Ihaven't tried it yet and am curious.
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No discomfort or low, dull stomachache that I had constantly - you know, that feeling of constantly being acutely aware of your gut all the time. Also, I'm pooping every day, even though the increase in soluble fibre would normally make me constipated. I'm still a little gassy, but much much calmer. Got to wait to see how long I go now without a D phase and how I am under pressure (i've been at home over the Christmas period).
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Quote:
Again, Michelle, good advice. And about the acacia -- you're right on! It dissolves instantly in hot water, then I stick my tea bag in -- what could be easier?! AND there's no taste to the acacia. I like it a lot. More importantly, IT'S WORKING . . . .
Can you tell me more about this. Are you making your
tea with the acacia? I thought I had to drink it
all down in one quick gulp. I have another question
too if anyone knows. If I drink my acacia in the morning
and then I have an attack of D later can I take it again
and if yes then how long do I have to wait in between
doses?
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A Safe Place
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Yes, Val, I dissolve my acacia in my favorite tea, which I drink in the morning and late afternoon. I never heard that I had to gulp it down; frankly, I don't think I could do that because the tea is too hot.
I don't have an answer to your last question; perhaps someone else here will. However, I had an "attack" a few days ago, yet I still took the acacia with my usual tea, and actually felt better afterwards.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Hi - Normally, Acacia dissolves best in cold or lukewarm water. I'm surprised that someone is making it with boiling hot water, because when I do that it takes a while to dissolve (and I'm impatient). Instead, I just dissolve my Acacia dose with a small amount of cold water first (doesn't take much) and then I add boiling water to fill the cup, then brew my tea in it.
You do not have to drink Acacia in one gulp. It will not thicken or gel the way Metamucil and psyllium do. You can actually let it stand for hours and it still won't gel. It's not gritty - it just dissolves into nothing, and it's totally tasteless. That's why you can easily add it to tea, smoothies, or even sprinkle it on moist foods like hot cereal, rice, or pasta.
You can take the Acacia in as many divided doses throughout the day as you like, and you don't have to wait if you're having diarrhea. You wouldn't want to wait, actually, as Acacia (like all soluble fibers) will help resolve the diarrhea. Same thing for constipation - it simply normalizes gut contractions and bowel water content, which means it normalizes bowel movements from either extreme.
You could take up to 15 grams of the Acacia per day - that's about 3 Tablespoons. If you wanted you could take that all in one dose - but that's a LOT of fiber if your gut isn't used to it. It's a much better idea to take those 15 grams in three different doses, throughout the day. You'd also want to gradually work up to that dosage level. You'll start at 1 level teaspoon (and that's a measuring/baking teaspoon - not a teaspoon that you'd eat with) twice day - that's only about 1 1/2 grams of fiber per dose. You want to slowly adjust to the fiber and not shock your gut with a sudden huge dose.
If you're already used to taking a soluble fiber supplement, you can start the Acacia at a higher dose. It doesn't really matter what time of day you take the dose. Before meals is good because it gives you a "buffer" for the food, and first thing in the morning/last thing at night is good because it will keep your gut filled with soluble fiber instead of becoming too empty.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Dissolving It
#35674 - 01/07/04 10:37 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Heather, you're right about the acacia not dissolving in hot water -- IF you put the acacia in your cup after the hot water. I found, though, that if I put the acacia in my cup first and then pour the hot water on top of the acacia, it dissolves instantly -- I don't even need a spoon to stir it!
Maybe my acacia is magic -- I know it's doing other WONDERS for me! 
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Oh No, WAIT!
#35756 - 01/07/04 04:14 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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I just figured out why. Heather, I only use 1 teaspoon per cup (I'm just starting out). I don't know how well a huge tablespoon (let alone TWO) would dissolve that way.
Let us know -- now I'm curious. Maybe I do a "test run."
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Thank you so much Heather. I've been taking Acacia
like it was metamucil and gulping it down like that
can bother my tummy ( I think it's all that water at
once) any way how great I can have a smoothie instead
or mix it with my food.
I'm glad to know I can take it if I get an attack and
I don't have to wait. Thank you so much I very grateful!
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A Safe Place
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Quote:
Yes, Val, I dissolve my acacia in my favorite tea, which I drink in the morning and late afternoon. I never heard that I had to gulp it down; frankly, I don't think I could do that because the tea is too hot.
I don't have an answer to your last question; perhaps someone else here will. However, I had an "attack" a few days ago, yet I still took the acacia with my usual tea, and actually felt better afterwards.
I guess I just thought that was how I was suppossed to
do it because thats how I had always done metamucil and
stuff like that. I don't remember reading instructions
on how to mix it or what I could mix it with on the package,
but I may have just missed it. I'm so happy to find
out this information it's going to be much better now,
especially since I have a cup of tea every night before bed.
I had an attack a couple days ago too and I drank the
acacia and everything calmed down. Thats what prompted
me to ask the question to Heather about how often I
could take it. How comforting to know I can take it
whenever I need it up to a point of course.
Thanks Bevrs!
val....
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A Safe Place
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Heather - I ordered your Acacia fiber. I put 1 tablespoon into cranberry juice, and watched as it formed little white chunks, with most of the fiber sinking to the bottom of the glass. I stirred. And stirred. And stirred. Finally got tired of it and drank it the way it was. I mastered the tea ball finally, but now need to figure out what I'm doing wrong with the acacia. 
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Hi there - Well, make sure your dose is only 1 level measuring tablespoon at most. I just posted a bunch of info in another thread about Acacia dosages. 1 T at once would be the max - you'll probably want to work up to that, and start out with 1 level teaspoon at first instead. You'd also need a good-sized glass of liquid for that 1 T, as it's over 4 grams of soluble fiber.
The acidity of the juice may be affecting the way the Acacia dissolves. I haven't actually tried the stuff in cranberry juice myself. Try dissolving it in plain cold water instead. You can also dissolve it in just enough water to liquify the Acacia, then add your cranberry juice to the glass. I also stir it with a fork - let it sit for about 30 seconds, then stir it again. That gives it a chance to really dissolve. The stuff won't thicken or gel in the glass so you don't have to rush to stir and then drink it.
Let me know what happens.
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Sa-WEEET Thank you for the info, Heather, I'll let you know how it turns out.
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Heather - your advice worked like a charm, by the way. I had been starting out with 1 tablespoon (yikes, no wonder I felt bad!)...I lowered my dose to 1 teaspoon and tried it with just plain cold water in a big glass, stirred it with a fork, waited for 30 seconds, stirred it again with the fork...BINGO! Thank you!
I swear, between the crunchy fennel tea and the flaky cranberry juice, I'm lucky my husband lets me out of the house, lol. 
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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UK
#39931 - 01/23/04 02:49 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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Hi Martin,
I've been away from the boards for a while, so I've only just seen your post.
First thing... have you seen a gastroenterologist? I saw one on BUPA, but you should get to see one on the NHS (which I agree is shiit!). Similarly, allergen tests should be available on the NHS. You could try getting a referral to an alternative doctor. I saw one years ago for migraines and had allergy/deficiency/etc tests done then. They could also help with giving up smoking and stress.
Thinking about the NHS, you can get a pre-paid prescription certificate which will save you loads. They're about £35 for 3 months and you can get as many prescriptions as you want. I use these to try and stock up. Go back for a new prescription before you've finished the last one.
Diet-wise, I've found that Heather's books and this site are the best source of info out there. Get the books and read them. This site is a fantastic source of recipes and help.
At the end of the day, a dietician can't help you if you're not helping yourself. You need to give up the junk food and start looking after yourself before there's any point in seeing someone like this. Harsh, but true.
Linz
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hi there Martin,
i just read your post, and just wanted to reply because I have exactly the same problem. I am a student, from Wales, studying in England, and I dread morning lectures. I sit through them, my stomach churning, but I do get through them.Its nice to know I am not the only one to have this bloody thing. Have you tried taking your Lopermide as soon as you get up? I have oats in the morning, and just try and go to the toilet as much as I can before lecture, and sit by the door in case I need to leave. I also have explained the problem to my lecturers, and they are very sympathetic, and say I can leave the lecture if necessary.
Stick in there kiddo,
Lynnie 
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