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SFS necessary for stability?
      #152510 - 02/21/05 02:20 PM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois

I know a lot has been posted about the benefits of SFS for both C and D. But do some of you honestly believe that they may cause more problems than the benefits they may or may not provide.

I take citrucel for C and find limited relief, but lots of gas and bloating. I have tried FiberChoice, benefiber, fibercon, equalactin, citrucel caplets,... All have either caused cramps or didn't do anything.

I went onto Remedy.com for IBS and the fiber supplements didn't score very high from the IBS folks as being helpful for IBS and many reported that they were more hurtful. I have also read articles reporting that SFS only effective for about 50% of people with IBS.

Any comments? What is an IBS-C person to do? I eat insolubles, I've tried Zelnorm. I don't know what else is left.
Thanks, I know everyone is probably tired of the SFS question, but confusion remains!

--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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Maybe, Maybe Not... new
      #152550 - 02/21/05 04:33 PM
Bevvy

Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State

This may not be of much help to you, Augie, 'cause I'm a D person, never EVER had any C.

I tried all the SFS, all of 'em. Frankly, I had a problem with them: excessive gas, bloating, and extremely urgent D at the most inopportune times, several of them being very close calls! I had many very embarrassing encounters out in public -- not a pretty picture.

As soon as I quit the SFS, I returned to "normal." But, again, I'm a D, so I didn't need any "encouragement" in that department. The SFS just made the D much worse -- urgently worse, if you get my drift!

You need to try them very slowly. You mentioned a lot of them except for Heather's Acacia. Why not give it a try? Again, ya gotta do it SLOWWWWLY.

I should comment on Equalactin: it's phenomenal stuff. I never go anywhere without it! Truly, it works like no other. Whenever I go out to eat, I take an Equalactin beforehand -- especially when I have my beloved cup of coffee -- and it works each and every time (unless I have too much coffee). If I feel rumbling in my tummy, I immediately take an Equalactin, and before I'm a mile down the road, the rumbling is gone.

Don't give up. Try them all, until you find one that DOES work for you. Check out Heather's Acacia.

Bev

--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy


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Re: SFS necessary for stability? new
      #152557 - 02/21/05 04:40 PM
Shell Marr

Reged: 08/04/03
Posts: 14959
Loc: Seattle, WA USA

I'm C and I take a total of 9 citrucel caplets per day and water... you have to have water. I don't have any extra gas or cramps with them. But I also exercise regularly and that really helps as well.

I've told Shane several time....."SFS is my friend!! "

--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr

www.myspace.com/shellmarr




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Re: Bevrs... new
      #152570 - 02/21/05 05:11 PM
LittleLisa

Reged: 06/22/04
Posts: 2018
Loc: USA

Bev, can I butt in here??? Does the Equalatin have to be started slowwwwly too or is that something like say a "Lactaid" that you can take whenever you need it?

I'm currently on a prescription (Bentyl)and would like to stop taking it if I can take a "natural" remedy. The only thing that scares me a bit is the calcium in it. I did a search on Equalactin and saw it contains calcium. I had a calcified kidney stone a few years back and am SCARED to death of getting another but if this is something you can take say perdiem, then I might give it a try.

--------------------
~~~Lisa~~~


Edited by LittleLisa (02/21/05 05:12 PM)

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Equalactin new
      #152753 - 02/22/05 08:24 AM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois

I think this is too expensive as a maintainance SFS. I have tried it and think it may help D more than C because it contains calcium which tends to constipate.

Thanks for your input Bev. You are lucky you don't have to mess around with finding an SFS and dosage level. It's a major aggravation in my life. I don't know if I should keep searching or just give up!

--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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Re: SFS necessary for stability? new
      #152773 - 02/22/05 09:04 AM
fishnets

Reged: 10/09/03
Posts: 515
Loc: MA

It depends I guess. For me, my SFS (Metamucil) is necessary for my stability. Lately I keep missing doses cause I'm working a lot(keep forgetting to bring it to work!), and I notice my IBS is worse. I've had trouble with Citrocel, Acacia, and Benefiber.

--------------------
IBS-C

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LittleLisa new
      #152797 - 02/22/05 09:25 AM
Bevvy

Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State

Hi Lisa,

I don't take Equalactin all the time; it's far too expensive, and I don't need it every day. It's not my "main SFS" (I don't take a "main SFS" anymore).

One Equalactin tablet is very little SF, so taking only one would be considered "slowly." I take it as a med, not as an SFS. Whenever I feel cramps coming on, I immediately chew a tablet, and the cramps go away right away. If they don't, then I turn to my heavy meds (Donnatal).

I take a lot of calcium every day (1,200mg.) and have done so for the past 30 years, at the doc's orders. If I didn't, I'd be sure to have osteoporosis. It's a serious issue for old broads like me. If there's calcium in Equalactin, yippee!!

Lisa, if you're looking for a SFS to take every day, and you want a "natural" remedy, you can't ask for anything more natural than Heather's Acacia. It's inexpensive, has no taste, and works well. Okay, it didn't work very well for me, but that's because I'm an extreme "D" person, and most definitely did not need any more "encouragement" in that department!

Good luck,
Bev

--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy


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Re: SFS necessary for stability? new
      #152806 - 02/22/05 09:44 AM
RachelT

Reged: 07/01/04
Posts: 2350
Loc: Minnesota

Hi Beth!

I've only tried Benefiber and Acacia, and neither seemed to help me. The Acacia made me retain water for some reason, and the Benefiber, after time, made my C worse. I've since then started taking Mirilax and have increased my insolubles ten fold. I'm afraid to try taking an SFS again, as my C has finally gotten to be manageable. I think for myself, soluble fiber is still a must, but rather in the form of food instead of a supplement. Honestly, the thing that showed the most difference for me, was my increase in insolubles.

--------------------
~ Rachel (IBS-C)
If life hands you lemons, make lemonade!!

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Re: SFS necessary for stability? new
      #152817 - 02/22/05 10:02 AM
Meryl36

Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 163
Loc: Dallas, Texas

I guess everyone is different but I can't imagine going without my acacia now. I'm C & started taking it about a month ago. I'm up to 9 grams a day & I really think it's made a difference. I did have a little extra gas & bloating when I first started but now I'm fine & find that I have a BM almost every day & the bloating has gone down dramatically. I also walk 3 miles a day & have about 64 oz of water every day. I add insolubles when I find I'm really stable.
Hope that helps.
Meryl

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I love your picture Meryl!-nt new
      #152820 - 02/22/05 10:04 AM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois



--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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Re: I love your picture Meryl!-nt new
      #152844 - 02/22/05 10:38 AM
Meryl36

Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 163
Loc: Dallas, Texas

thanks Beth. That's my little baby Ozzy. He's got cancer so now he gets to go everywhere with me. I even made my hubby buy a used RV so Ozzy can come on vacations with us. I also have two yorkies that I'm nuts about. They've all heard me bitch & complain about my IBS so much that I figured they should be represented here LOL!

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Re: Maybe, Maybe Not... new
      #152863 - 02/22/05 11:02 AM
quietwalker

Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 39
Loc: West Texas

Bevrs ,I agree with you I have tried them all & slowly etc. System does not handle it at all ! I read where some people that are D it does not,help but makes it worse. I also read on the web site from other people helpful hints. One Lady with D Says she take a calcium tablet 3 times @ day with meals. At first I just started trying it ,she said at first it might upset tummy ,which it as so I'm taking 1/2 tablet at first. Seem there are a lot more C on this board then D's!!! Can only get so lucky!

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Be careful what you wish for new
      #153017 - 02/22/05 08:05 PM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois

I've been severly D and severly C and they both are horrible!

--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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Re: Be careful what you wish for new
      #153036 - 02/22/05 10:14 PM
doubletrouble

Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1530
Loc: Canberra, Australia

Oh yes!!!! Me too. When you are majorly C you pray for the pain to ease up and the nausea to go away and wish and wish for some D. Then when you spend all day dashing to the loo and being to scared to move far from it you wish you could be C! Funny enough I feel my best when I haven't gone for a day, but by day 2 I'm feeling a bit blech then day 3 I pray for the D to come back!

--------------------
Amy


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Re: SFS necessary for stability?-bump-nt new
      #153644 - 02/24/05 09:53 AM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois



--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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AS an A... new
      #153654 - 02/24/05 10:04 AM
khyricat

Reged: 08/05/04
Posts: 3612
Loc: Michigan

I need it for stability... Whe I'm on it I have cosnsitant passable BM's... unles I'm on antibiotics or some other issue is stopping me up- or I eat wrong and cause an ungainly bout of D... its actually the single biggest help i getting under control.. but when I tried things other then benefiber/acacia I just got nasty gas.. and both of those I had to ease into... I am easing back in because for a few weeks while sick I wasn't eating and was only taking one dose of acacia a day and its totally screwed me up...

--------------------
Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant


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i thought IBSers shouldnt eat alot of insolibules?? new
      #153882 - 02/24/05 11:41 PM
little bear

Reged: 12/22/04
Posts: 736
Loc: chicago

i thought IBSers shouldnt eat alot of insolibules??

--------------------
VEGAN ASHLEY~IBS/C



www.myspace.com/dutchflowers








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IBS-C ers need insolubles to make the food pass.. new
      #153908 - 02/25/05 04:46 AM
khyricat

Reged: 08/05/04
Posts: 3612
Loc: Michigan

us a'ers do too, but we need to balance the diet overall..

--------------------
Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant


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Re: SFS necessary for stability? new
      #153910 - 02/25/05 04:52 AM
Sara-Sage

Reged: 02/04/04
Posts: 5508


Beth, my own personal answer is no. I stopped taking one AGES ago and actually improved when I stopped. But everyone is different.

Sorry I haven't emailed you in a while Beth, I've had A LOT going on in my personal life. I will email you soon though missy!

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Re: SFS necessary for stability? new
      #153919 - 02/25/05 05:15 AM
Natalie1985

Reged: 08/09/04
Posts: 1329
Loc: UK - Leeds for uni, Merseyside for home!

Augie,

Hey it seems like ages since me and you had a proper chat how are you??? I have been meaning to post a message to see how you're doing....Im always worrying about you lot who are so unstable and need our support!

I have had a few really nasty attacks recently....all brought on by myself though so atelast I have known the culprit! About the soluble fibre...I think Ive already said to you before but I dont take one and Ive managed to get quite stable without....I probably would be able to get stable for longer periods of time and be able to cheat more often without as nasty consequeneces but being a student I just cant afford to keep paying for it all....Im gona see if I can get anything free on prescription and if I can then Ill try again. I used to take heathers acacia and found it had no side effects at all. Have you now tried that?? Ive heard its one of the most gentle ones you can try and its a prebiotis aswell!

--------------------
Natalie



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Maybe C and A's need them, but... new
      #153994 - 02/25/05 08:17 AM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois

D's don't?

Tina and Natalie, are you guys D?

--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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Tina new
      #153998 - 02/25/05 08:23 AM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois

Are you a D?

Don't worry about the email. I know you have a lot going on in your life. Going to miss you on the boards during the weekend! We have our best chats then!

You need to get your own computer pronto! Make it a priority over your furniture! Just kidding, sort of!

I got your email today! I will respond as soon as I can! I miss emailing you so much!!! You are such a sweetie and I admire your strength and commitment to not taking the easy way out and doing what you need to do to make your life better. You are a good influence on me!

--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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Natalie new
      #154003 - 02/25/05 08:34 AM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois

So good to see you back on the Eating Board!!! I know you've been busy with your twins!

And I've seen what you've been eating and drinking with those guys! No wonder you've been a little unstable! Alcohol would kill me!

So are you a D or a C? My theory is that maybe D folks can get away more without the SFS but maybe C folks need it more?

I have never tried the acacia because of money basically. How long have you been "stable" and how long did it take you to get there, and most importantly how?

I'm doing the same! Pain every hour of every day and very constipated and gurgly and burping too. Lots of gas, bloating, you name it, I have the symptom Don't know why I can't get a handle on this. I'm following Heather's advice and never ever cheat. So I am frustrated and confused.

Did you get stable following Heather's diet alone?

Look forward to more replies from you sweetie.

--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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Augie new
      #154120 - 02/25/05 11:07 AM
Natalie1985

Reged: 08/09/04
Posts: 1329
Loc: UK - Leeds for uni, Merseyside for home!

Yes I am following heathers diet and heathers diet alone....I am IBS-D and yea I think you're probably right about the soluble fibre thing....it seems those people with C find it much more necessary. Basically I started the diet in January 2004 and from then up until about august september I was kind of stabilising.....but it was a long and hard process trying to find out exactly what was helping and hurting my ibs cos basically I just followed heathers diet thinking if she says its ok its ok even if my body is different and actually I shouldnt be having it eg soya milk....which I cant handle!! So I really really lived off bread and crackers and water until I was adding things and finding the culprits. Now my diet is still quite limited but Im finding I can add more stuff here and there now and again. Now this said....I am IBS-D and the only medication Im currently taking is immodium....I can take up to 10 tablets a day sometimes....the day I was sick off alcohol I had taken 12....I know I know!! I think me and nelly are the only ones here I know of who can take that many in one day and still need the toilet the next day without being c like everyone else! I take 2 first thing when I wake up and I usually go to the toilet up to 3 or 4 times more after that sometimes with a bit of pain and discomfort but that clears up quickly and I can get on with my day. This is what I regard to be as stable....sometimes I only go once and everythings ok....it really depends....but the fatc that the pain and cramping has gone is the main reason I say Im stable cos although I may not be visiting the toilet like a normal person I feel so much more normal the way I am now to how I was.

This is just a list of some of the food which I eat on a regular basis....hope its somekind of a help but I know you are kind of c as opposed to d so Im guessing you'll be really different...this list makes me look so unhealthy....I do eat more than this but this is the sort of stuff I eat daily....I add other things to balance myself every now and again.....

I eat lots of chicken, turkey and tuna
Crackers with peanut butter(the reduced fat one)
Bread/toast with peanut butter(live off it)
French bread/crust bread
rice(sometimes with soy sauce...low fat fried)
Pasta...with very minimal tomato sauce(that does affect me sometimes)
Homemade pizza bases with barbecue sauce tuna and soya mozzarella cheese
Bizzarely...I love the sugary finger things u use to make trifles....not sure what theyre called but I eat them like biscuits
Rich tea biscuits
Low fat ready salted crisps
Tasty bars(choclaty rice krispie snack(dairy free))

They are all my stables....couldnt lie without them!
Keep asking me questions...I really want to help!!!

--------------------
Natalie



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BUMP FOR AUGIE!!!!n/t new
      #154300 - 02/25/05 06:26 PM
Natalie1985

Reged: 08/09/04
Posts: 1329
Loc: UK - Leeds for uni, Merseyside for home!



--------------------
Natalie



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Re: Tina new
      #154306 - 02/25/05 06:37 PM
Sara-Sage

Reged: 02/04/04
Posts: 5508


Yes I am a D.

hey it's Friday night and I'm on the boards. I'll still be on, don't worry Beth!

Well that's nice of you to say that I am a good influence on you. Thanks!

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Thanks Natalie new
      #154421 - 02/26/05 09:08 AM
Augie

Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois

For going to all that trouble and for wanting to help. I think since we have opposite problems (C vs D) I'm not sure if your diet would help my C.

I am so glad you have found your triggers. That is what has been hardest for me. I have been on this diet for some time and have yet to pinpoint one single problem food!!! I just always hurt.

I was surprised to see soya cheese on your list and you mentioned soy was a problem for you? I too thought that everything Heather listed and all her meals in her cookbook meant they were safe for everyone with IBS. But I don't know anymore. There's a lot of onions and garlic in them!

So that was a good point to bring up. Thank you for your input! I don't know how to find triggers. The diary mechanism hasn't helped and I don't know if I believe in these companies that advertise testing by sending in a speck of your blood.

--------------------
~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!

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