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I have an open question here because I'm frustrated and confused. So after the D yesterday afternoon I ate a few handfulls of cheerios and felt ok. This morning I had some pretzels and felt ok. It's been about 3-4 hours since then and I just had two small sourdough rolls with nothing in them but flour, salt, yeast, and water, and a small cup of applesauce with just apples, water, and natural flavors. The only thing I don't recognize is "gum arabic." I don't know if that's bad or not. The total calorie consumption is likely under 500, with 4-5g fiber (I'm assuming all SF), no fat, 8g protein, and the rest carbs (13g "sugars" the rest regular carbs I guess).
Anyway, despite feeling pretty ok (if very hungry) all day, before I was even finished with this I immediated felt like I was running a fever. My head just lit up with warmth and I had to take a moment and concentrate to kind of retain clear thinking. My GI doesn't feel particularly problematic, but even now, about 30 min later, I still feel warm in the forehead and my mind lacks focus. I have been drinking plenty of water today, like always (8-16 ish 8oz glasses).
What the heck is going on? I have friends coming into town from out of state for three days this weekend and I will be expected to entertain and show them around and I simply cannot be under the weather. What is the absolute bare minimum GI safe diet I can follow from now to Monday to ensure no problems? It doesn't have to be nutritionally complete or anything, I can go without for a few days, I just need to be able to function. Any ideas?
Thanks!
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I know exactly what you are talking about. My GI docs have dismissed these symptoms too. Recent advances in the understanding of IBS indicate that there can be sub-clinical inflammation processes active in the bowel of some IBSers. Chemical and mechanical irritants such as byproducts produced by the fermentation of indigestible food in the bowel or cereal bran may stimulate the inflammation causing symptoms you described. They usually pass within a few hours.
For me two things are guaranteed to cause these symptoms: (a) too much insoluble fiber, particularly from bran, raw or unpeeled veggies, nuts, seeds, fruits and salads and (b) foods with excess fructose such as apples, pears, honey, HFCS, etc. Since I eliminated these from my diet I rarely have these symptoms. Previously they would occur almost daily sometimes with chills and sweats too.
I have base diet that I use when I travel or when I have a flare-up. Oatmeal w/banana & brown sugar for breakfast and grilled chicken breast or fish, white rice and soft boiled peeled carrots for lunch and supper. Snacks consist of toasted sourdough bread with berry jam and Kettle low salt, low fat potato chips. Heather describes a break the cycle diet which may give you some clues.
Gum Arabic and acacia are the same thing. Gum Arabic is frequently called gum acacia. It is a commonly used as a thickening agent. 
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Thanks Syl! You are a wealth of information and I appreciate it!
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Quote:
saw an acupuncturist on Saturday who suggested a number of supplements that I began taking that same day: 2 fluid ounces of Aloe Vera gel a day, a calcium/vitamin D/Magnesium twice daily supplement (I take it once a day though), a digestive enzyme (Betaine HCI, Glutamic HCI, Papain, Pepsin, Pancreatin 6x, and Ox Bile Extract - with each meal), and a GI herbal blend pill (Marshmallow, Cranesbill, Slippery Elm, Chamomile, Aloe Vera Powder, Cabbage - 600mg total three times a day).
It isn't just the aloe there that is a problem but the enzymes too. Not that enzymes are bad, but when starting or when taking too much, sudden D is probable. I took enzymes a few months ago when a friend said how well they worked and to take one an hour then start tapering off. I got bad sudden D from it.
And those GI pills, all of them, are who-ha. They don't work and oftentimes make people worse. Your diet and your teas sound fine. To get back on track after D up the acacia slightly and drink lots of tea and eat real safe foods for about 2 days.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Thanks Minnie! I won't be going back to the GI mix. I am typically at about 60% (that is, of normal what I used to be) and thought maybe they would help me get up to 80 ish anyway, but they made me drop down!
Did you ever find a sweet spot with the enzymes where they worked and didn't cause you D?
My problem is I have C now but I'm afraid to throw in more IF because I definitely can't have D this weekend. I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.
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Hi Mike,
Unfortunately the herbal blend given to you are mostly laxative ingredients. Aloe is considered a harsh laxativie and so are the other herbals in the formula. For an individual without IBS, these ingredients help to soothe the gut, but they are much too abrasive for IBSers. Also, Calcium magnesium can make diarrhea worse. You might want to consider Calcium carbonate. Stress is also a huge factor in IBS "relapse".
I hope this helps and you are feeling much better very soon!
Erin
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER - This email is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Any application of the recommendations in this email is at the reader's discretion. Heather Van Vorous and Heather & Company for IBS, LLC are not liable for any direct or indirect claim, loss or damage resulting from use of this email and/or any web site(s) linked to/from it. Readers should consult their own physicians concerning the recommendations in this email
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Thanks Erin! I really am flying blind since I just do what health care people say. I need to get a book on herbs myself (wikipedia is terrible for this) that tells me what they all do before I just try something.
Also, it's annoying to have C one week, D the next, because most herbs and medications do tend to focus on one or the other, so by fixing one I make another one worse.
Anyway, thanks again!
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Alternating IBS is the pits. although I still have bloating and gas my A is completely under control. If something causes D once in a while I never get C afterward.
I guess I sort of forgot about the enzymes. I leveled them off and that was ok but I never bought more for some reason. This friend at work gives lots of bad advice, but really talks the talk. 
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Is it possible to ever get stable with the gas and bloating? That has probably been my worst symptom throughout this whole ordeal. I look pregnant sometimes I get so bloated! 
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IBS-C, GERD, Lactose Intolerant, "Allergic" to Legumes (Soy!), Tree Nuts.
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Good question. I have conquered my bloating and gas almost completely the first two summers on the EFI diet. So it is possible to get rid of it, but very, very difficult.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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