Frustrated
#38197 - 01/16/04 05:28 PM
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I have been suffering with IBS for as long as I can remember. I always thought that I was the only one suffering from this. It is so comforting to know that there are other people out there who know what I go through each and every day. Thank you to everyone out there, especially Heather. I can not tell you how much this website and information have meant to me. I'm 25 and actually think that IBS has made me stronger. I feel that I have so much potential to go out and conquer the world. I don't want to be limited by my IBS in any aspect of my life but always seem to be. Right now, I am in the process of interviewing for a job that I have always wanted, however, I have been so frustrated with IBS lately. I have been on Paxil for many years but feel that if I could get a hold of my IBS, then I could gradually get myself off of it with the help from my doctor. I have been using Citrucel ever since I found Heather's book. I have my good days and my bad days. I recently order acacia and began at a very high dose, which left me bloated, gassy and my IBS - C actually got worse, or so it seemed. I am now taking 1 tbsp in the morning and then again at night. I am exercising regularly now, I am even training for a small marathon in March. But it is just so hard to have IBS sometimes! Sometimes, I just go to bed and cry myself to sleep, hoping that tomorrow will bring a better day but worrying that it may be worse. How do I begin to stabilize my IBS? I have been speaking with my doctor about medications, she has told me that I just have a "slow gut." I have heard such horrible stories about Zelnorm and IBS - C. I try to get a lot of soluble fiber in my diet each day, eating bagels and bananas. I find that the worse part of my day in around 3 in the afternoon. My intestines get tight and I lose my concentration at work. I drink tea throughout the day and make sure to get up and walk around while taking fiber supplements. Does anyone out there have any advice for me in regards to my thinking or just how to stabilize my IBS? Does anyone out there keep a journal or anything? Please help, I'm desperate!!
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Journal Or -- ?
#38220 - 01/16/04 07:06 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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I'm the journal keeper. I've been keeping a dairy diary for years; I'm on volume 4.
Keeping a journal helps you to see which foods affect you, and how. It makes you aware of what you're eating, and how much. The secret is to be honest and "put it down like it is" -- if you lie, you're only lying to yourself, and in the end it won't help you. Keeping a diary would help if you are in denial about what you're eating or you're just not aware of what you're putting in your mouth.
I'm not sure a journal would help you as much as something like hypnosis. Have you considered it? After reading your post, that was the first thing that I thought of. I just finished the program, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. It has certainly helped me -- I had terrible anxiety, I was a mess -- people have commented on the difference in me (and I can see it myself).
It sounds like you're doing everything right, and certainly you should congratulate yourself on the upcoming March marathon! WOW, all that exercise has GOT to be helping. And interviewing for a new job -- I'm really impressed. My IBS ultimately kept me from working at all -- after 42 years, I had to quit my job. For someone with IBS, I think you're doing VERY well. Maybe you don't appreciate how well you are doing?
Give the hypno some thought -- check out the board here. The mind plays quite a big role in our body, you know? And it just seems to me your subconscious is getting some negative messages from your conscious. Negative thoughts produce negative results in the body; positive thoughts produce positive results.
Good luck -- and keep us posted.
Bev.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Have you been getting enough insoluble fiber? I see you have bagels, bananas, and fiber supplements trying to get all your fiber in - those are all solubles. If you don't get enough insoluble, it will make your C worse.
Try getting more insoluble in your diet with smoothies, pastas, soups, etc. Of course make sure you always have insolbule with your soluble base.
Also, make sure you're getting enough water and exercise.
Hope you feel better soon! 
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Good advice from Bevrs and Mags,
I agree - try the hypno
And INSOLUBLE FIBRE FOR IBS-C is vital. If I eat too much soluble fibre alone i just get awful C. From what I can pick up from the experts and these boards, the people with IBS-C seem to tolerate and, more importantly, need more INsoluble fibre than those with IBS-D, who have to be even more careful.
Just make sure you're eating plenty of soluble fibre, eat it first at each meal and than try gradually increasing the amount of insoluble fibre to as much as you can tolerate. I find it best to start with the cooked veggies and can tolerate a lot of these.
Yesterday I had a total fibre day: porridge oats for breakfast, lentil soup, salad sandwiches on white bread, lentil soup, fruit, brown-rice cakes and then baked beans on toast (and a teeny bit of dark chocolate filled with marzipan for dessert) and LOTS of hot water to drink. Thismorning I had one of the best BMs I've had in MONTHS! OK, so I can't guarantee this will happen every time but there's certainly an awful lot more fibre in that one day than I would have been eating a while ago.
Shells 
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Thanks for all of the help. Yesterday at work, I ate a great breakfast of a bagel, banana, and then some egg whites with some tea. I was feeling great until around 2. For lunch I had a grilled chicken sandwich. I also took some fiber supplements before hand. At around 3, I had the worst C. I had made some homemade applesauce the night before, and I ate a lot of it. It tasted so good, and my sypmtoms seemed to lessen after about an hour. What other fruits can I mash up like that?
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What kind of fruit do you like? What about making yourself a "smoothie" in the morning on your way out the door? Some soy milk in a blender with some frozen blueberries (my fave) and a fresh banana -- and of course protein powder! I like the vanilla best.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I have been thinking about making a smoothie like that. That sounds great. Thanks
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You are filling yourself with all soluble - no wonder you're constipated!
Try making a smoothie with banana (this can be your soluble base) and blueberries, strawberries, and/or peaches for example. I use Heather's strawberry banana smoothie in EFI as a guide and then sub other fruits.
Check out the Recipe Exchange. There are tons of pureed soups & sauces over there.
What did you have on your grilled chicken? Maybe try a tiny bit of lettuce and/or tomatoe for some insoluble.
Please start slowly & carefully adding in some insoluble fiber - you should feel a lot better!
Let us know how you make out.
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