I'm sure this has been asked many, many times, but...
#83455 - 06/26/04 08:57 AM
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atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
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At what point in the diet and supplements and such did you start to feel better? I'm not even talking 100% stable, I'm thinking... just... BETTER.
I'm not discouraged, or giving up 5 minutes before the miracle, heh, I'm just curious. I've been following Heather's diet to the letter for about a month now, but I'm only up to 3g/day of a SFS. I really don't feel all that much better. I guess my "attacks" aren't as severe, but they still happen, a couple times a week - and in between, I still feel less than spectacular. In fact, the only real difference I've noticed, so far, is that my skin is breaking out like mad, which really doesn't make me very happy, hehe. 
Anyway, like I said, I'm not discouraged, exactly, just curious... and kind of looking for a milestone or something to look forward to. 
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Are you on acacia. I am & along w/diet I feel great. I started w/ 1(baking teaspoon)in morning w/poland spring water & the same right before dinner. Cereals,graham crackers,& pretzels are morning and afternoon staples that help w/my regular meal times. Fennel tea has helped alot w/bloating-gas. I put a little soy milk vanilla & one sugar to get through taste, but it helps alot. I still think the acacia was the topper though. Feel better & good luck!
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... and quite happy with it, over all. I've had none of the problems with the inulin that some people seem to have, and the tablets taste so darn good that I almost can't wait to take more of them! But I did just start with it... it's only been a week. Before that, I was using Citrucel, and that didn't go very well.
And yup, my diet's just about the same as yours. Like I said, I'm following the diet to the letter, no cheats. I drink peppermint tea on days I'm feeling "iffy" - I've never tried the fennel because, thank goodness, I have NO problems with bloat or gas!
Thanks for your reply! I guess what I'm looking for is how many grams of fiber & how long on the diet before you noticed real improvement. I do feel a little better, I just need something to look forward to. 
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Hey girl. Unfortunately I think everyone is different, so I can't give you a day that you'll start automatically feeling better  I'm sorry you're still hurting so much. I still have a bunch of bad days too - and I've been on this diet for 4 months now. Not to discourage you - because believe me I am 95% better than I was before - but I'm still trying to figure out what I can and can't tolerate. I think I've also been getting more attacks because I got SOO bored of eating pretzals, mangos, white rice, and french bread for a month - so I've been cooking a LOT of these recipes and trying to find out what bothers me. SO - adding a lot more foods could be giving me some bad days right now.
Confused yet? I tend to ramble a lot.
Anyways, despite what everyone says - I think I increased my fiber pretty fast....I was up to 9 grams/day in 2.5 months, and I never had a big problem increasing. I'm not sure why I never had a problem with that?? I had some 'bubbling' in my stomach for about a day, but that was it. I would try to increase your fiber - but don't go too fast because everyone seems to have problems with that. If I were you, I'd add half a tablet each week or every 2 weeks or something. See how you handle the increase the first week.
It will get better - believe me. From where I was then to where I am now is unbelievable. I'm still stuggling with the whole, 'why did this happen, this is a pain in my a$$, I hate IBS' everyday. Soon I need to get over it and just accept it!
Sorry I just wrote a novel I'm bored waiting for my husband to get home from work. I hate that he works so many Saturdays! 
Have a good weekend!
~Cara
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~Cara~
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Heh.
#83497 - 06/26/04 12:52 PM
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atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
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I'm actually increasing the fiber pretty quickly... well, compared to how I struggled with the citrucel, REALLY quickly, heh. I did 2g/day with no problem for maybe 4 days, so I bumped it up to 3g, and I'm still having no problems. I figure I'll keep increasing at that rate unless I get some kind of sign that I shouldn't, LOL!
Now that I'm thinking about it, I guess I have gotten quite a bit better already. My "bad days" aren't nearly as bad as they used to be. I still have the urgency, and I still feel shaky and weak afterwards, but I don't get straight D anymore, nor do I have the cramping. So I guess that's improvement.
And yeah, I think you're right that some of it is still because I'm getting used to things and trying to figure out what I can and can't eat. The strangest things don't sit well with me (toasted marshmallows?? huh?), so I finally broke down and started keeping a food diary. I'll get it right yet, darn it.
You know, it's funny... I've had this for so long, and I don't think I've accepted it yet, either. I keep thinking I'll find the right combination of things and never have a problem again as long as I live, and I know how unrealistic that is... but I'm not accepting it yet, either.
Sorry to hear you've still been having some bad days. Hope you're feeling a bit better & enjoy the rest of your weekend. And don't apologize for rambling... that's what we're all here for, isn't it? Heh.
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My SFS was Benefiber, made me sick, didn't realize it until I read Bev's post in the LR this morning. Since I am an A, predominately C, I have let myself become so confused. I have to start over, I am going back to Heathers post about the SFS and start all over again.
I am doing ok with the diet, its just the supplement that I am having a hard time getting the right one and regulated. I hope that day comes soon!!
Of course, being only human, I have been enjoying things that make me feel bad. Just a few things though, not totally overboard.
I am having grilled seafood for dinner, dry baked potato, and at the end, if I have any room, a little salad !! The best thing about this meal is that I am not cooking it, we are going out. Thank goodness for a restaurant that doesn't serve everything fried !!!!
I also love vintage clothing, garage sales,and road trips. I think we would have a blast together !!!!
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Hey, Just to throw in a little tip. My Dr. said fiber tablets are not as good as the powder. I tend to do better with a big scoop of powdered citrucel clear with water at bedtime. Sorry you mentioned you couldn't take citrucel. But any powder fiber is better then pills. I guess it makes us drink more water with it. Hope you feel better soon. Marilyn
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-----Marilyn-----
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This is of no importance...but I LOVE GARAGE SALES too I get so excited when I see one - my husband thinks it's funny. Hmmm...now you got me in the mood to go look for some
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~Cara~
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Hey Casey, hope you get to feeling better soon. I started on Heather's diet and the SFS at the same time so I can't say that either one was the deciding factor, but I can say that within a month I could tell the difference. But I had to do two weeks of nothing but chicken and rice in order for my gut to settle down first. At four months I was stabilizing nicely and now at 10 months I'm feeling pretty good.
I'm glad that you're doing the food diary because that will show you what may be triggering an attack for you. It did for me, plus it had another advantage for me - some 'safe' foods were making me really sick and I went to my allergist and he ran bloodwork and discovered that I am allergic to yeast, vinegar, malt, and fungus...so the 'safe' french and sourdough bread that I was eating was making me sick. Also discovered after that I'm allergic to carrots too, thanks to the food diary.
Hang in there, girl, it will get better. Some people take longer than others to settle down. I was having 3 - 4 attacks a week prior to the diet and I've had only two major attacks (not of my own doing, hee hee) in 10 months so I can tell you that the diet does work. I have my days when I feel horrible, so tired I can barely move, and I wonder how in the world I'm going to live the rest of my life with this crappy IBS. But I just eat something safe, take my fiber, and wait it out, knowing that it will pass and I'll be able to get on with my life. ((HUGS))
Shari
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Well...
#83532 - 06/26/04 03:15 PM
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atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
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I definitely drink plenty of water, both with the tablets and otherwise... I get roughly 120oz a day. No joke. It's all I drink. So if that's the logic behind taking a powder, I've got that one covered. I do take each dose of my chewables with a 12oz glass of water.
I was really, incredibly miserable taking a powder supplement. I just don't like them - even tiny doses made my stomach hurt, I think from the volume of water all at once (relatively speaking). I appreciate the tip, for sure, but unless I see the FiberChoice making me SICKER (or not making a positive difference at a higher dose), I'm definitely not going back. Call me a baby, but I like my chewables!
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