BMs and fiber increase. Am I doing something wrong?
#48315 - 03/05/04 01:27 PM
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Seahawk
Reged: 03/03/04
Posts: 43
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Okay.
This is beginning to drive me crazy.
I do not know if I have done something wrong or not...
I recently [since Sunday] upped my fiber intake [+3g] by adding a soy fiber/protein drink [Balanced Total Nutrition].
I never change what I eat for dinner [Benefiber (1 tablespoon) + sliced banana + rice cereal + rice milk]; yet Wednesday morning [and every morning since...  ], I have had to go twice [first: REAL big, second: not D, just loose]. Since I changed to the Diet, I have always had to use the restroom only once before leaving the house. I would always have to use it again, normally around 4:00pm. In other words, quite regular... I also now do not need to use the restroom around 4:00pm. I know that this may sound trivial [as little as 2 BMs a day]; but it is the sudden alteration that has me really confused. I had gotten quite used to the routine, especially knowing that I would not need to use the restroom again for at least twelve hours.
Is it the fiber increase, or is it the soy drink?
Should I decrease my fiber intake?
Advice? Suggestions?
The anxiety is beginning to creep back into my head in the mornings...
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-Seahawk
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Are you adding too much at once? 3g. seems a lot to me.
Do you have any bloating? Gas?
I increased my acacia (albeit accidentally) too quickly and had a problem -- but it was mostly gas and bloating. It went away when I dropped back to my original dosage. I then SLOOOOWWWLY increased the fiber, and did just fine.
Do a search in here for fiber dosage recommendations. When I started on board here, I was taking in only 1/2g. fiber twice a day, and when I switched to the acacia, I had to start out with only a teaspoon twice a day. 3g. all at once really seems to me like an awful lot on your gut.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Are you getting enough insoluble fiber?? If not, that could be causing things to slow down.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Thanks, Bev!
The soy drink is 3g all by itself.
Should I consider myself stable at less than 20g a day? It was my understanding that we should try to get more of our fiber from foods, not from soluble fiber supplements... 
On a more positive note:
I switched to the Jarro-Dophilus last night. You were right! No pain! I am debating about taking one in the morning and one at bedtime.
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-Seahawk
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Actually, from my perspective [good mornings to bad mornings], it is causing things to speed up... 
I think I understand what you mean, though.
I do not eat very much insoluble fiber currently. 'Course, I did not eat very much before.
I am really confused. I do not like HAVING to go before I leave for work. Before I upped my intake, I did not have to...
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-Seahawk
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I agree with Bev, 3 grams is an awful lot to increase at a time! Is there any way you could get Fiber Con tablets or another fiber supplement that contains less fiber per dose and start by adding that in smaller amounts, maybe 1/2 to 1 gram at a time? Then once you get up to 3 you could just add an extra shake. I know when I up my intake too quickly I get VERY gassy and uncomfortable! 
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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I am certainly beginning to think that it was too much too soon...
I really wanted to add something else besides more soluble fiber supplement. 'Course, leave it to me to mess up a good thing... 
I was probably already stable until I amp'd up the fiber.
Would that seemingly minimal increase cause me to have more BMs? I thought that the idea of adding fiber was to control BMs.
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-Seahawk
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Seahawk, have you gotten Heather's book yet? I can't remember your initial post. I think maybe you don't have the concept of the fiber down pat yet? Fiber Supplements
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I think you are right...
When I was first diagnosed [back in January], I started eating soluble fiber foods right away. I had some gas/bloating for a while, but then it seemed to subside. I was eating, so that was the most important thing. When I discovered Benefiber, I started using it at the recommended dosage. I assumed that my body would adjust. It did for the most part...
I do have both of Heather's books, though. I guess I should read through the whole book... 
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-Seahawk
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Would I make myself worse [i.e. more D]?
Thoughts?
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-Seahawk
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When I cut back, I felt a lot better -- the bloating and gas almost disappeared. You can't hurt yourself by doing it. Then, when you're stable, just begin adding more back in, but VERRRRRYY slowly.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Yes, ma'am! [Salute]
I specifically did not drink the soy fiber/protein shake today. I ate a banana for my midday snack, instead.
I just hope that I go back to one BM in the morning, and one BM in the late afternoon. It was really nice to know that it was roughly twelve hours apart each time. I did not like the urgency in the morning; but I assumed that was the one thing that I could deal with...
Thanks again!
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-Seahawk
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Yes, it is good to increase your soluble fiber, so you were doing the right thing! But supplements tend to pack more of a wallop, so our bodies have a harder time dealing with that increase than they would an increase in soluble fiber foods. That's why it often helps to go about it much more slowly!
Good for you for having a banana! That's one of my favorite snacks. 
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Yep, mine too! 
I think that I may eat too many of them, though...
I think that I may have figured some of my problem out. I have my entire soluble fiber supplement in two major doses [morning/night at 3g each]. I will split the doses to 1.5g when I wake up [with Jarro-Dophilus], 1.5g in my morning protein shake, 1.5g with my dinner, and 1.5g at bedtime [with Jarro-Dophilus]. My system may be able to handle the same amount I have been taking, just over a longer period throughout the day.
It certainly pays to listen to everyone...
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-Seahawk
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