Bad Bloated Belly-Help Please
#50135 - 03/12/04 04:46 PM
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Jules3
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 71
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I have the worst bloating today. I am IBS-C. Part of this is the fact that I haven't gone in days. I have upped my fiber intake a lot, but it seems to be doing nothing, acutally seems to be clogging me up more. I have been taking FiberCon a few times a day as well as Citrucel. I have been doing this for the past few days. I've been drinking lots of Peppermint Tea, as well as some new tea I got yesterday with Peppermint, Fennel, cinnamon, and some others called "Eater's Digest" I even went out last night and got some phazyme to try and remove some of the bloat, but nothing...Today is the worst I have felt in a long time. My stomach is all deformed and beach-ball like. Here's what I ate today: Breakfast, Banana and Rice cake. Lunch, Chicken and steamed veggies (mainly spinach, I thought a little insoluble fiber was ok?), and an apple. I think that I really need to stop drinking soda, I had a diet coke today and I think that is not helping one bit. I am sorta new to this, so I am sure I am doing it all wrong, but I am trying. I am going to the gym tonight, even though it's the last thing I want to do...maybe that will help. Ouch! I hate the way I feel and look right now...
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Hey there...sorry about your tummy!!
I know that bananas cause lots of bloating and gas in some people so that may be what's triggering you (especially if you're eating one in the morning on an empty stomach). You may be taking too high a dose of fibre supplements...you could try decreasing the dose a little for a day or two and see if that helps. Try fennel tea on its own...that might help. The diet coke was a BIG NO NO!! it has aspartame in it...which is very bad!! The carbonation will cause gas and bloating.
When you hit the gym tonight try just walking on the treadmill for a while (don't push yourself)...
Hope this helped! Keep us posted on how you're doing!! 
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I think you need to add some food that has real bulk like rice, pasta etc. You are eating a low carb diet, and that is known to cause constipation.
good luck! 
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Thanks. I'll try eating some other stuff, but you are right the diet goes totally against what I have been eating to lose weight. I read the article that carbs wont make me gain weight, but its gotta be a slow transition, because my system isn't used to it either. If a banana is bad on an empty stomach, what is good? I am not a huge breakfast eater...I sometimes make turkey bacon, but am so skeptical about what to eat now. I just took a bath and the heat seems to have alleviated some of the bloating pain. Its so nice to have a place to talk about all this...most people are grossed out by it and have zero input. Thanks Heather!
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Hey there. If you are wondering what to eat for breakfast on an empty stomach...try oatmeal!! I hate to cook too but even the instant kind is good. You can also try having white toast (the fresh bakery kind) with a tiny bit of peanut butter or try it with a bagel instead.
Good luck!!
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Please cut out the soda!!!! This stuff is the devil to IBS. Remember you need to eat soluble fibre with EVERY meal - so have some pasta, rice, potato or white bread with that lunch!
You don't want to suddenly up your fibre intake, you have to take it slow. Upping it alot at once could well make you worse. Cut down for a while and then increase your dose slowly.
The fennel in the tea will really help. And keep on moving! I sometimes forget to do this when I'm bloated and C and boy do I pay for it afterwards! Walking on the treadmill is a great idea, though I'd walk around the block. That way you can get the gas out  without annoying the gym bunnies! 
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Thanks! I think I will actually add oatmeal to my dinner. I am just having hard time, since I just lost 20 pounds by cutting carbs and fat, and I am so nervous to put it back on. I read the article that it wont make me gain, but it's just a hard trasition. I read Heather's araticle about this, but the reason stated for not having weight gain, is cutting out the fat which I already did. I know some of it is mental, but gaining the weight back will make me more stressed, and in turn not help the IBS-C either. Comments?
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I agree with Linz cut out the diet soda. I don't drink soda anymore and never was a big soda drinker either. I noticed diet soda will cause bloating and gas for me and lots of pain with it.
It is fine to eat insoluble fiber with your meals, but eat soluble fiber first. One of my favorite breakfasts is Oatbran hot cereal and have no problems eating it. Or if you are eating plain oatmeal add two tbls. of flaxseed meal or wheat germ.
Good luck with your new diet and excercise is great for C too.
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Oatmeal
#50289 - 03/13/04 05:05 PM
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Jules3
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 71
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SO after a suggestion yesterday, I have added oatmeal as one of my staples...I haven't eaten it since I was a kid, and I had a bowl with dinner, one first thing in the morning, and now one as a snack. Is this overloading my system, or is it ok? No soda and no dairy today, and I must say...my stomach is about half the size it was yesterday
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Jules
#50292 - 03/13/04 05:27 PM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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Yay Jules! Glad your tummy's going down! Good stuff.
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Soluble Fiber
#50386 - 03/14/04 11:53 AM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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Jules,
You've gotta get some variety in the soluble fiber, but you can plainly see it's working! Yay! Try some sweet potatoes or plain potatoes with your meals. Or how 'bout rice? Pasta? Soluble fiber needs to be the base of all of your meals. For example, that cooked spinach you have... you could toss that into some pasta. That chicken... put it with some rice and spice it up!
I've been worried I'd gain weight, too. I lost 40 pounds last year and refuse to add a single one back. I just won't do it! But I've been following the diet for about 8 months and haven't gained an ounce (except for the time I spend drinking Coke instead of Diet! Once I quit sodas for good, that 5 pounds fell right back off). I got really serious about it after the holidays and have lost about 4 pounds.
Please don't think about rice, pasta, rice noodles, and potatoes as carbs... please think of them as soluble fiber. Don't add a lot of breads, if it makes you feel better. I don't eat them at all and still do fine. You're still going to have your veggies and chicken and fish and fruit and no oil and all the other things you're used to, but you've gotta have the soluble fiber!
BTW, the Diet sodas.... you gotta ditch em. Sorry. They're so terrible for you and they are responsible for some of that bloating, I guarantee it. After a few weeks, you won't miss them as much. (I PROMISE!) 
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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OK, I have gone 2 days without soda, and although it sounds like nothing, it is my one vice...I do feel better. Thank you for easing my weight gain concerns, I take that to heart since you know where I am coming from after losing it! Today I think I have done ok, but I am sure I've flubbed somewhere. I had oatmeal with a banana in it for breakfast, and for lunch I had some turkey bacon (I think thats ok) and am now having a bowl of noodles (thanks to you!) The only noodles I have in the house are yolk-free egg noodles. Are these okay? What are the best kinds of pasta to eat? Sorry for all the questions...I have been reading all of Heather's info, it is just a lot of info to take in at once. I have been taking my FIberCon and Citrucel regularly, as well as drinking Peppermint tea, and another tea I have with Fennel and Peppermint. I am still a sugar junkie, although I am not sure that poses a problem to my IBS-C. Mostly Jelly Belly's...they're too good. I really appreciate your advice. Here's to feeling better Thanks!!!!
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I love Jellie Bellies.
Your yoke-less egg noodles should be fine. Any type of plain white pasta is fine, from elbow macaroni to rotini to shells. Rotini, the ones that look like little corkscrews, are my fave.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Yolk-free egg noodles are fine. I'm sure as long as wheat isn't a problem for you just about any kind of pasta will be ok as long as it follows the usual guidelines (low fat, dairy free, etc...).
I don't eat wheat, so have become addicted to rice noodles. They are amazing. They come in a kajillion styles. (I get them at the Asian markets near my house, but the regular groceries have them, too) Since they're made with rice, they're ok for my tummy. And they're sooo easy to cook! Soak in water for a few minutes (like 3!). Some are done then, others you then toss in boiling water for another 3 minute and then they're done. Easy! And if you dice up your veggies of choice and toss 'em in. YUM! I'm going to post my rice noodle sauce on the recipe boards at some point today.... it's SO EASY! And yummy!
Don't forget those potatoes, girl! They're not as bad as you think! Check out my pear and sweet potato and chicken recipe on the board. SO TASTY! Or you can take a sweet potato, toss it in the micro for about 6 minutes. Take it out and wrap it in tinfoil for another 5 or so (if it's not soft enough already). Eat like a baked potato- drizzle a little maple syrup or honey on it, or try some soy yogurt. I toss some brown sugar on top of the honey, to tell you the truth! Or get some new potatoes: boil them 'til soft-ish, drain, and toss with some fresh herbs. You can sprinkle a little vinegar on, too, if you wanna jazz it up a bit.
If you're not much of a lover of the cooking experience, you really need to at least start experimenting with some herbs--- toss 'em with taters or pasta and you'll get a whole new taste each time. Even if you don't like it, it's not like you've wasted hours in the kitchen! Pasta and taters are fairly easy! So is rice!
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Thank you so much for being an AMAZING correspondent! I think (thanks to your advice) things are looking up and I am begnning to "get it" a little more. I will have to grab some rice noodles, yum! As for potatoes, my mother force fed me too many yams with marshmellows one Thanksgiving, and I haven't been able to eat them since, but I will try as an adult to see if I can push past that Your recipe looks mmmmmmmm. I think regular baked potatoes are fine, yes? I haven't been eating them lately, but I will. In the past I have actually made them IBS safe anyways, with a little barbeque sauce or salsa, avoiding the usual all dairy toppings. I went out and bought some cereal yesterday...I like it dry as a snack. I got Rice Krispy's (actually to make the squares, but there are plenty left) and whole grain cheerios. I think I am okay with wheat, I'll have to experiment. If I eat those with a lunch on the go, that soluble fiber, and I'm okay, right? I'm moving in 2 days, so I'm trying not to get too stressed and keep myself on track. I think it's working. Sorry for all the questions, but you seem to have this down pat and are very, very nice  Thanks again!!! Jules
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Jules,
Glad to be of assistance.
What's a lunch on the go?  I am not familiar with that....
And as for the wholegrain Cheerios, I'm not so sure... I know the regular Cheerios are ok, but generally we stay away from the whole grains. They're too hard to digest. But I have an aversion to Cheerios in any form (a kid thing!), so I may not be the best person to ask.... I'm not sure how much whole grains are actually in Whole Grain Cheerios. If you notice your symptoms coming back, you may want to skip to the regular Cheerios. It's hard to get the old-kind of healthy eating out of your head, isn't it!? It took me a long time to stop reaching for whole grains, multi grains, etc... and start focusing on Italian breads, French breads (I didn't like sourdough). Now I stress less 'cause I don't have bread at all. It's funny, if you've dieted for a while, you really get stuck on it! "Whaddya mean no yogurt!? Is there anything else out there to eat!?" I switched to soy and got past that personal demon.
Regular baked potatoes are great. I like to mix it up, the way you do. A little salsa one time, a little shredded veggie cheese the next... Try the sweet potatoes, but if you don't like 'em, don't force yourself! I understand childhood aversions (see Cheerios!).
And please, please, please don't say "rice crispy treats" around me! I am coming off a weekend-long binge (that started on Friday) and I'm detoxing! I WANT SOME MORE! I'm gonna gain weight if I don't watch it...
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Pasta
#50716 - 03/15/04 09:51 AM
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Kree
Reged: 10/08/03
Posts: 3748
Loc: Northern NY
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Jules, if you're looking for different types of pasta you might want to try brown rice pasta, too! I discovered it when my cousin was doing an elimination diet and not eating wheat, and I love the flavor! Brown rice is a whole grain so it has more insoluble fiber, but is also generally very well tolerated. I get it in the natural foods section of my local supermarket. Just another thought for you!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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I'll try the brown rice pasta, I know there's an unopened bag of bron rice in my cupboard. By lunch on the go I meant, no time to sit, or make anything...in the door, grab something, out the door. And Im a snacker, so cereal is something easy to have as a snack. I have rice Crispy's too...but a question about that. The box says no fiber, but I am assuming there is soluble in it, isnt there? THanks girls!!!
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about your supplements...I recently switched from Metamucel (causes bloating) to Benefiber with great results! I just mix it in with anything soft and hot at supper time and the next morning is big relief!
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