IBS-C and scared to start soluble fiber supplement
#72912 - 05/24/04 11:57 AM
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Hi, I need advice from IBS-C people. (I wrote a post before (but not at a good place). Here's a summary of it:
For the diet (with food), I follow it perfectly for a long time now!!! I see a naturopath who helps me a lot!!
Now what i'm NOT doing well is the soluble fiber supplement. Years ago, I triied metamucil and It didn't help. I was still constipated (but a little bit less than now if I remember well) but I was soooooo bloated!!! Now, I think that i'm SCARED to start again with soluble fiber supplements since i'm in a bad period!!! The constipation IS really bad for more than I week now but the pain is less intense today!!!
This is what I do now. This is from a post that I wrote days ago:
Quote:
For now, since I was never able to take soluble fiber supplements (even in really small amounts) It always increased the pain and the bloating. My naturopath (who aften suggests soluble fiber supplement) told me that it won't be a good idea for me (not for now).Therefore, she suggested that I soak flaxseeds in water for hours. After, to strain them and to drink the water. This way I only have the soluble part of the flaxseed. She told me that it is a gentle way to start adding soluble fiber. She even uses this method with babies who suffer from constipation. When I'll be able to take the maximum dose that she suggested (4 tbsp per day), I'm going to start acacia.
I'm at the 3 tbsp per day and i'm still constipated. I know that it's not enough soluble fiber. The pain is a little less intense. I'm tring to introduce slowly a bit of insoluble fiber to help with the constipation.
I really think of triing the acacia. BUT like I said before, I'm SCARED or feeling worse!!
I read many posts on the board and I have the feeling that acacia gave better result with IBS-D? Am I right? Can it REALLY helps with my major symptoms which are constipation, pain and spasms!!!! I read posts from someone who takes acacia and need to incorporate metamucil too to reduce constipation. I don't want to take metamucil!!! Am I going to have good results on my constipation, pain and spasms with acacia alone?
I finally found how to eliminate bloating and gas!!!! I feel so good without it! Will acacia makes bloating and gas come back??? This is something that I WANT to avoid at all cost!!!
Again, I'm a scared about it!!!!!
Any advices from IBS-C people!!! please!!!
Thanks! Byebye! 
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Well, I'm IBS C and have been for 18 years. I take Miralax for the C. I also take Heathers Acacia. I used to take fibercon but was taking 8-10 pills a day and that still wasn't enough.
Anytime you start ANY fiber supplement, it can cause a little extra gas and bloating, but this is TEMPORARY! I felt worse for about the first week, I cut my dose back a bit and it went away. I have gradually increased my dose. I am currently taking a very large, heaping spoon every morning. The trick is to start off SLOWLY and know that you MAY get a little extra gas and bloating but it will go away. You have to stick with it, in the long run it will help you! I still get some severe attacks but my day to day IBS is much better since folowing all the advice here!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Acacia is great. You might get a little bloating when you start, but that'll go away quite quickly. It's so much gentler than some other SFS, I promise.
Just don't up your dose too fast or too much.
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I'm a "C" and have been even before IBS. With IBS it got considerably worse. I take acacia too, but not Miralax. I took it a while then resorted to others. I also take Benefiber and citrucel, and Citrucel and Fibercon pills when out. I mix a lot of them up you might say, so the brain never gets immune to anyone and stops working.
Michele is right, the gas and bloating is temporary. Now the pains are a different story.......you may need to get an antispasmodic for those. They were a life saver for me. Different people have different luck with different kinds so you may have to switch a few times to see which is right for you.
As to amount of fiber on a daily basis.........well, I'd say between soluble and insoluble (which would be the ones from foods) I likely get 40-50 grams of fiber total. (Many "C's" do fine on just 20-30 gm. a day.) I know that seems like a lot but it is the amount that works for me. You will have to increase your overall fiber intake to more than what you get right now with JUST the flax seed water but do it slow and easy and you'll find the right amount for you!!!
Kandee
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Hi,
I'm IBS A and for months had D. Then I went to C for the longest time. I took Kandee's advise and tried using more than one fiber supplement.
I was only using Benefiber and I still couldn't go for days. After suffering 5 days at a time would use a glycerin suppository. Once I listened to Kandee about the Citrucel (as she switches back and forth) it DID work and has been working ever since. I take the Benefiber in the morning and the Citrucel at night. I have been going for the last couple of weeks every day with a normal BM. These work to regulate you and give you the extra fiber you need. I know that Metamucil causes a lot of gas but have no problem with these at all. I also take digestive enzymes and these help with the bloating, cramps, gas etc. also.
So many people on here will give you help. Don't be afraid to try their ideas as they are all going through the same thing. I think doctors would benefit greatly from reading this website as they would be able to better help their patients. Thank goodness for all the help we get here!!
Hope you're feeling better soon!!
Pat
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