GRRRRRRRR ROAR GRRRRRRRRRR
#71186 - 05/17/04 04:15 PM
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I am getting really fed up with all this... granted these diet/fiber/pep caps/lifestyle changes are all helping me.. but not significantly enough to make up for the time consuming lifestyle changes I've had to make, and yummy foods I've had to give up. grrr please tell me its gets better and easier!!!!!!!
I was under the impression that diarrhea could be cleared up within a few days after taking fiber.. i've been taking fiber for about a month now and I'm still having diarrhea everytime I go to the bathroom. Ocassionally its a little more solid than it used to be but nothing awe inspiring or exciting to note!! I'm just in a bad mood today because i've been on the toilet about 7 times and its only 7pm. I haven't even ate anything bad for the past week. The only difference I've made was that I ate an apple, and had a package of twizzlers last night. All things that I've done many many times. I eat twizzlers like they're going outta style and haven't spend the next day on the can. booo. I don't know what it could be?!? I take pep caps religiously and for about a week now and I haven't noticed any difference in pain or diarrhea prevention as of yet, and I take fiber right on schedule, and follow the diet the best that I can. I am still eating veggies.. all cooked.. but do you think that could be the problem?
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Hi,
So sorry you are having "D" so bad. Have you checked to make sure anything you are eating or pills, vitamins, etc. may have Sorbitol? Also High Fructose Corn Syrup?
That's about all the help I can give you, although, if I ate an apple I would be on the potty a lot!
Feel better soon
Barbie
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which fiber are you taking and what dose with what frequency?
as for the veggies, i doubt they're the problem IF you're having them with soluble fiber as well and if you're cutting 'em up and chewin' em well. same with the apple! but you've GOTTA have those with the soluble fiber.
a snack of an apple on an empty stomach may be too much for you. a bowl of broccoli and some chicken, that could be a trigger if you don't have some potatoes or rice or noodles or other form of soluble fiber with it...
i was greatly helped by starting acacia, in fact seeing improvements within a few days. mind you, i had been religious on the diet for a few months prior to that, and not-so-religiously for months before that! i also didn't notice that much of an improvement on other fiber supplements. you have to find the right supplement (for you!). also, you have to make sure you're getting the right dose (for you).
post that info and let us take a look-see. that may be the clue we need to help you out.
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I'm a big candy eater but I have to stay away from Twizzlers because they kill my stomach for some reason. Gosh I hope you start feeling better soon. Can you keep a food diary and maybe you can narrow down what it is that is bothering you? Don't give up hope! 
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Lions Roar!
#71202 - 05/17/04 05:15 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Sweetie, you can vent all you want here. We all understand what it's like. All of us have gone through much frustration and anger -- and you're entitled too!
I'd cut back on those veggies a little and see if it makes a difference. About that apple -- I haven't eaten an apple in YEARS! -- Did you peel it first? Did you have the soluble fiber beforehand?
Jen has given you some great suggestions, so I won't repeat them. But Acacia was my salvation; I've been increasing it ever since starting on it 5 months ago, and I think it's helped me a lot.
Have you thought about trying a probiotic? Like you, I'm a D, and I finally have nice firm stools. I love my Jarro; I've been on it for about 4 months now.
I never heard that "diarrhea can be cleared up within a few days of taking fiber." I think the body has to adjust to the fiber, and it takes weeks, not days. At least that's how long it takes me to adjust to the increases, even though I do it VERRRRRY slowly.
Spicey, I know you're frustrated, and I understand how you feel, but try to be a little more patient with your body. Cut back a little on the veggies (and "tough" fruit like apples), and see how you do. Don't give up on the soluble fiber supplement, though.
It's hard giving up our favorite foods, believe me I know. We ALL know! (I swear, I'll always miss coffee, I just miss it something terrible!) And it sucks that they ARE lifestyle changes, that's true. But it could be worse -- you know that, I'm not telling you something you haven't already figured out yourself. Think instead of the healthy lifestyle changes you have made, and how much better off your body is (and will be) as a result.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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haha thanks ladies! overcoming ibs is such a daunting task. To answer some of the questions.. I am keeping a food diary, and nothing that I've ate is out of the ordinary or off of the diet, aside from the apple. But I ate the apple after a pasta dinner, so I had soluble fiber in me. I've wrote down the times I take each supplement, how often I go to the bathroom and exactly the texture and/or pain etc that accompanies it.. hmm what else.. I also write down everything I eat, and at what times etc.
As for fiber.. I started taking fibercon and I was fine in regards to bloating gas etc.. I was only taking one pill three times a day however, and working up to four times a day when I stopped. I switched to acacia instead because most people on the boards said I'd have to take TONS of pills and that its better to switch to powder. I've been on acacia about a week and I'm taking 1tsp in the morning and 1/2 tsp before dinner as of now. I am not experiencing gas or bloating on acacia either. However, neither the fibercon or acacia have changed my stools dramatically. I'm just getting frustrated, and I know I know it takes time, but I've had this since I was sixteen. I've rushed into the bathroom at least once in every single store in this town (and this is a big town with lotsa stores) with major D attacks.  However, since joining this website that has occurred less and less. I have also noticed that I no longer have a serious urge to go RIGHT after I finish eating which was so often the case before. However, I still gotta go PRONTO whenever I have to go.
Any help or ideas..
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oh ya.. and I have considered a probiotic, but read through Heathers info and she said they are not necessary and do little to help.. at least thats what I gathered from it. although.. I guess I'm willing to try anything if you think they will help. I tried to avoid them because its hard enough taking birthcontrol, fiber, pep caps, multivitamins daily. I didn't want to become a walking medicine cabinet. Do you really think they are worth a shot?!?
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Ashley, before you try the probiotic, why not first try to get your body accustomed to the acacia. Actually, you're on a very low dosage. You did say 1 TEASPOON, right? Not 1 TABLESPOON? That's not very much. How long has it been now? I think maybe I'd start increasing it, but SLOWLY!
I always take my probiotic at midnite (empty tummy), but lately I've slept through and haven't taken it. I haven't noticed a difference without the stuff, but maybe it takes longer than just a few days. I do intend to get back on it -- as soon as I wake up at midnight.
Try increasing the acacia just a little, wait a few weeks and see how you're doing, then maybe increase a little more. I'll bet you'll notice a difference (a good difference).
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Hi, I have actually only been on acacia for about a week now, since I switched over from fibercon. I'm trying to switch up in amount.. well see how that goes..
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slowly but steadily, because you need to try and work up to 2-3 tablespoons a day.
And probiotics can definitely help - and they sure won't hurt. There are good clinical studies to support their effectiveness, so don't hesitate to try them if you're interested.
- H
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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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Where do you buy this?? Is it organic or something? Over the counter?? I don't know anything about probiotics but I'm interested. Thanks!
~Cara
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~Cara~
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ya.. me too!
who what when where why and how?
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Here it is: Jarro Probiotic The full name is Jarro-Dophilus EPS Enhanced Probiotic System. On the cover of the box you'll see a drawing of a colon with lots of little smiling faces crawling all over it.
If you do a search, you'll find a lot of posts about probiotics, especially Jarro. There was a newbie here who was on a different kind and was having problems. He switched over to Jarro, and the problems disappeared.
I take it, Shanna takes it, Mags takes it -- lets see, who else? .....
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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is it to primarily help with D... cause thats what I need.
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I don't think so. But I'm a D, so I can only answer as to me. It helped with my soft stools; I'm much firmer now.
I have diverticulosis, and when I had a diverticulitis attack I was on a course of antibiotics, which wipe out all beneficial bacteria in the colon. I also used to have a problem with urinary tract irritations, which required more antibiotics -- again, losing all "good gut flora." The probiotics replace all the good bacteria. I would think that would apply to C people as well as D.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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will it still help however, even though I haven't taken antibiotics for years..
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Yes, I take acidophulus, which is similar, every day and it helps my D. I've tried stopping and felt worse, so it's definitely helping.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Ashley, if you're seriously interested in trying this stuff, do a search and see what others have said about it. Did you do a search? Here's what Heather said a few months back: Probiotics, Etc.
You can also search for ShawnEric's LONG post of 1/03/04 entitled "Understanding probiotics," in which he quoted an article by Drs. Ringel and Drossman about the potential beneficial effect of certain probiotics in reducing some of the symptoms of IBS. It's very long (9 pages!) and very technical, practically all of which went right over my head. But give it a try!
Also, on 12/16/03 ShawnEric posted a Harvard article entitled "Probiotics Significantly Reduce Symptoms of IBS," which you might find interesting: Harvard Article
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Edited by Bevrs (05/18/04 09:09 AM)
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I use it a few times a week when I'm not eating lots of soy yogurt. I'm predominantly C, but I definitely take it when switch to D (rarer and rarer these days - yay!). I think it helps a lot.
--AC
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I don't take a separate probiotic (I definitely hate the idea of being a walking medicine cabinet -- plus, how do you know what is working/not working if you try too many new things at once?) but I like these Wildwood (that's the brand) soy smoothies that have probiotics in them. The cafeteria at my work sells 2 different flavors of them, which is nice, but I have seen them at Whole Foods as well.
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hmm really.. what kinda smoothies are they.. and what do they have in them?!?
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For those of you who take them....are they safe to take everyday? And are they herbal - like safe to take when you're pregnant?
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~Cara~
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Do you take Jarro Original? Or the +FOS one? They both have that little colon picture on them.
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~Cara~
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It's EPS
#71496 - 05/18/04 06:43 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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It's the Jarro-Dophilus EPS. It's not FOS or Original.
I just pulled out all the info on this stuff, and it doesn't say anything about not taking it if you're pregnant; actually there are no precautions anywhere on the box or the info that they sent with it -- except to keep it refrigerated (if possible, but not required).
If you have any doubt about taking a probiotic while pregnant, why not call your OBGYN?
The Jarro Customer Service might be able to help; their number is 1-800-726-0886 (Los Angeles), and they're open Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Raw apples will get me every time but I can handle applesauce. I eat the natural type without added sugar. I know I'm not eating all the veggies I should yet but working on it slowly. I used to be "D" but this year seem to be "C". I tried citrucil for a month with no help then switched to benefiber and increased it and it has helped tremendously. I have acacia also but haven't tried it yet since the benefiber seems to be working. It took my bod a month to adjust to 2-3 tablespoons which seems to work for me, plus I eat oatmeal for breakfast and some wheatbread for lunch which doesn't bother me, personally. Don't know if the same things will work for "D" but just letting you know that it just may take a little time. I hated to give up yummy foods too but it is so much better for me in the long run. I don't know what twizzlers are but if you are eating anything like they it's going out of style, maybe you are having too many. Hang in there and vent - away. 
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Thanks so much Bev, I think I will talk to my GYN!
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~Cara~
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