Does Heather's diet truly work for constipation.
#259356 - 04/20/06 09:06 PM
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I have constipation and bloating troubles and was thinking about giving her diet a shot. I just bought the book today. Does it really work for IBS-C? The doctor tells me to eat fiber (regardless of what kind). Are there any modifications I should make to her diet for IBS-C or does it truly work for IBS-C and IBS-D?
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In my opinion, yes, it does. I'm an A myself, but I know of at least several C'ers (who don't post here much anymore, so I'm speaking for them) for whom the diet has really worked.
I can't stress enough the importance of knowing the difference between soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, so if there's one thing I can say that it's really important for C'ers to know, it's that. You should start for a few days only eating the "what to eat when you can't eat anything" diet - soluble only. This will NOT stabilize you. In fact, you might not feel any better. What this WILL do is keep any potential trigger foods out of your system, so that when you start adding things back in, you'll have a "clean slate" to work with.
Your goal should be to eat as much insoluble fiber as you can get away with, adding foods in gradually, and always eating them with a soluble fiber "cushion". One of the common misconceptions on this board is that insoluble fiber foods are "bad". SO not true! You need them for a healthy diet in general, and you definitely need them for bowel health, so don't fall into the trap of that way of thinking! Just remember that soluble fiber base, and to take things slowly, and you should find gradual improvement.
The last word of advice: be patient! It honestly took me over a year to stabilize, but it was completely worth it. Trust me on this one!
Good luck! 
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To be completely honest, it does not uniformly work for C's
like it does for D's. There are very few D's that it doesn't
work for, like maybe two percent. Personally, I haven't heard
of any that it doesn't work for. The diet "as is" probably
doesn't work for a third of the C's. The basic guide lines do,
but often you have to do some significant modifaction of the
diet. By the way, what is it that you can't think of? And
welcome to the boards! -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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I am a "C" and the diet specifically has not worked for me...I am not unfamiliar to balancing SF and IF...what I have learned from this site is to idenitfy my own triggers and not concern myself with others triggers as they are not all the same. The common denominator seems to be dairy, red meat and fried food.
There is a wealth of information on the boards...do searches and ask questions and you will be well on your way to finding your path to stability. I did...
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Have a blessed day! Rachel
Formerly poochibelly...
I have IBS but it doesn't have me!
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For me, personally, it has not helped so far (almost 2 years). I keep trying to tweak it, though. I just don't know what else to try.
I agree with Rachel...read the boards and you'll get a much broader range of experiences. For some, it has worked. For others, not. It certainly is worth a try....and you'll know if it's right for you.
Do you take an SFS?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I have to agree with the other C's, it hasn't worked for me either but there is information in the book that can help you. I've also been finding that dairy, red meat and rice are big triggers for me. Bread causes gas so I've eliminated that as well. I'm currently eating a lot of vegtables and anything else that I can find that doesn't seem to cause a problem. Drinking a ton of water has also helped.
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Jon - (IBS C)
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I know D's who it hasn't worked for, Bob.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I can tell you my experience with the diet... and I've been tweaking it for over a year now. I was a HARDCORE C.. and I used to eat lots of organic fruits/veggies daily. No red meat, low fat very healthy diet. Sadly, for me, cutting out almost all of my IF is what helps me to go. I am very well educated in nutrition (studied it in college) and have tried all means of IF- pureed, babyfood, cushioned by SF. It continues to be my greatest trigger. I have to take mega laxatives when I eat veggies. This was just my experience- everyone truly is different- so try to block out the people who tell you "YOU MUST" do this or that... read the boards and absorb some of the trials & errors we have all gone thru. You kind of have to find what your personal triggers are. But I can tell you that for me, when I am really C- I have to go totally SF.
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Hi there. Heather's diet has worked wonders for me to stop the bloating, the pain and the gas. I am still constipated but I have only been doing the diet for a month now and honestly, have not incorporated IF into my diet yet. It took me about a month to feel stable enough to risk this introduction. I am so hoping that once I add IF into the diet, I will start being more regular and stop the C.
Give it a try, use Acacia, use peppermint teas, etc.
Good luck!
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Why wouldnt Heather's diet have as much sucess for a c, and what is the biggest problem, the insolubale fiber modifcation?
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IBS-C and Bloating
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That's the million dollar question. About the only thing that I can eat is vegtables and water it seems without having some sort of gas,pain, attack,etc... That said, it sounds like IBS-D can be more unpleasant at times. I can't imagine what it's like just being out doing errands and having to sprint through the store to find the Men's room. The last time I had to go #2 or #3 in public was the 1990's. The bloating(Trapped Gas) I'm guessing is worse for IBS-C. They're just two different types of IBS.
Most soluble fiber causes IBS-C gas so it's not exactly a wonderful start.
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Jon - (IBS C)
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YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG I was going to make a new thread on this, TRAPPED GAS.
Last week, for the first time in weeks, I felt a lot better, and to NO surprise, it was during which time I was releasing more gas.
Therefore, I can conclude there is SOME correlation between gas and bloating, do any of you know a deeper explanation for this and what the best treatment is?
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IBS-C and Bloating
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I'm an IBS-C and trapped gas/bloating, though they are not always the same thing, are my worst symptoms. It makes me cry when I can start to feel my stomach bloat up after eating something.
I've found that taking 2 enteric coated peppermint capsules (I found one that has fennel and ginger in them, like Heather's) about 20 minutes before meals helps with the gas. I've also upped my water to at least 64 oz (I was getting lazy) has helped me.
I have an appointment with a new GI on May 11 and am going to ask him to test me for SIBO and food allergies. I guess there's a test out there that checks over 500 different foods.
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~jules
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The 3 kinds I've tried have all said to take it 60 minutes before meals. 
How long do most of you wait after taking before eating?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I've been taking the peppermint caps right at the start of meals, as that was what my doctor said to do. Sometimes, I have no problems with them (and they do work wonders for my painful gut) but sometimes, I have emphatic gastric reflux that's as bad as the IBS. Should I be taking them longer before the meal? Have you guys had success with that?
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