For all IBS-C Benefiber users!
#207561 - 08/22/05 04:59 PM
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I was wondering how much Benefiber all C'ers take. I am currently taking 2 tablespoons/day, and am wondering if this is enough. Any input?
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I take Fiber Choice Chewables 3 times a day as each tablet is equivelant to 4 grams of fiber. You don't need to take it with water either but I do. I find it to work really well and it has a great taste. I haven't tried the new flavors yet. I too suffer from "C" as well. Heidi
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If I'm reading the package correctly, 2 tbsp powder = 6 grams = 12 caplets (I take the caplets). I've been at 9 caplets a day (4.5 g) and will up to 12 this week. I've been doing good on 9, I think I'll do better on 12.
The real question is---how do you feel? Do you feel it's been helping? Dosage probably differs with each person.
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Thanks for responding. As for how I feel...I am not sure. It seems that when I up the dosage, I see results, but that seems to wean off as I get used to that dosage. So I am wondering how high I will have to go, and will I ever reach a dosage that will show consistant results, or will I be forever upping the amount. So, as you can tell...I am a little perplexed on this one. That's why I wanted to see the amount that works for others.
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How long have you been on it and how often have you increased it? I'd say you can work your way up to the max (check the bottle, I can't remember). When you say you "get used to it" do you mean that you are constipated again?
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yes, by get used to it, I mean C. on the other hand, I do think it is making a difference-i have almost stopped taking zelnorm but am doing well!
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Ginger??
#225419 - 11/16/05 12:07 PM
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Augie
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois
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How's the benefiber working for you now? How many grams fiber are you up to? Have you found a good amount for your body yet?
I can't believe you can poop on only 4.5 grams!  I'm up to 13.5 and I still ain't going!
Oh, did you ever try restarting that probiotic that you stopped at the same time you stopped the Acacia? I forget which probiotic you were taking. Or is Benifiber your only supplement? No digestive enzymes or anything else?
PS. weather today is horrid, isn't it! 
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I thought I was mentally prepared for the (gulp) snow, but I wasn't! Only a few flakes here downtown though...
as for Benefiber, I think I MAY up it to 5 pills at a time. Geez that seems like a lot. I've got the powder too, but for some reason, I didn't like it as much. No patience maybe? But all in all, I'm doing pretty good, and going pretty regularly. Maybe I get enough fiber in my diet to account for the low dosage?
I've thought about taking the probiotic, but I'm kind of afraid! I guess I could always do a "test" week and see how it goes. if nothing happens right away, that would be fine. but if gas and bloating got bad again, I'd quit. Maybe after the holidays...
Also, I just had blood work done yesterday morning to test for thyroid levels. My doctor said I've got some of the classic symptoms: feeling cold, tiredness (I've had mega bouts of near exhaustion for NO reason), constipation. My mom and dad both have underactive thyroid. But I haven't gained a ton of weight, only 5-6 lbs over the last year, and I can't definitively say it's beyond my control (as in, underactive thyroid). But we'll see. It would be great if I could help my thyroid and alleve the constipation too!!
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I'm IBS-D, and I take 4-6 tbsp./day (i.e. an average of 15g/day of SF).
I don't know if that's helpful.
Kate.
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Ok, that does it!
Stable Able until the tegretol and now I am as C as Could Be.
I'm even having Hemms and going DAYS at a time without any action at ALL! 
So...I am starting benefiber tonight! 1tsp here I go...
I'll let you know how this goes!!!
Thanks sooo much for the inspiration everyone!!! 
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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How many times a day do you take the 5 pills? A total of how many pills per day?
I thought I was eating enough fiber, but I don't know anymore. I usually get 2 fruits and 2 veggies a day.
Let me know how your thyroid test comes back!
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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1 tsp. of Benefiber would equal 1g SF.
1 tbsp. of Benefiber powder equals 3g SF.
You might want to try at least 1 tbsp. to start with.
Kate.
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I take Benefiber three times a day. So now I'd be taking...15 pills I guess? On a good day. Usually probably only 10. cause I usually forget either lunch or dinner.
I looked at some common stuff I eat to see how much fiber there is: whole wheat bread, apples, yogurt, oatmeal, veggies....I don't have the same food restrictions as a lot of people so maybe that's why I can eat more fiber in my food????
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Kate?
#225616 - 11/17/05 06:49 AM
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epa_ginger
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1158
Loc: Chicago, IL
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So you take Benefiber powder, do you think that's more economical than the pills? I take the pills, cause it's easier for me, but I'm worried that I will break the bank with buying them. I do have powder at home, I haven't opened it yet, and I haven't compared the total fiber/bottle.....
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Re: Ginger
#225639 - 11/17/05 08:55 AM
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Wind
Reged: 04/02/05
Posts: 3178
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Yes, I take Benefiber powder. I have a high sensitivity to sweeteners. I get it from CostCo. A bottle contains 42 doses.
1 Tablespoon of Benefiber powder = 3g SF
Like Acacia, it mixes well in foods, too.
Try it, perhaps?
Kate, IBS-D.
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Do you think the sweetener in Citrucel could be contributing to my reflux?? I am not tolerating it very well right now, except for in the morning. I thought about switching to Benefiber because of the Citrucel's choking hazard anyway. I get kind of nauseated when I take my fiber, now, and I'm afraid of throwing it up.
Michelle 
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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How can I switch?? Did you experience more gas and bloating when you started taking it?? How many TBS do you take a day??
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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Kate!
#225650 - 11/17/05 09:13 AM
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epa_ginger
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1158
Loc: Chicago, IL
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Well, ok then, I think 1 tbsp powder = 6 caplets. Can that be right?? That would mean 60 "servings" in the powder (going by the bigger bottle stats) vs. 26 "servings" in the caplets (160 caplets/6).
Does this make sense?? if so, I'm REALLY wasting money on the caplets. And the price is the same!! Eeek!! Tell me if my math makes sense.
Also, how much do you take at a time? How much do you think I could dissolve in a full glass of water? (12 oz, roughly). Thanks!
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I don't take Citrucel, but what the heck...choking hazard? Scary!
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I read the back of the bottle one time after I took it and had gotten really nauseated just to see what it said about nausea and vomiting. It says it is a "potential" choking hazard, like metamucil, because it thickens up and can potentially swell in your throat. And with my hiatal hernia being so bad lately, I get nauseated alot and it says on the back of the bottle that if you experience nausea after taking it to seek immediate medical attention. It freaks me out, pretty bad, when I take it now.
I want to switch to one that doesn't have the choking hazard. I tried Acacia and it made me blow up like a blimp, even just on little doses. I tried Fiber Choice and it made my D worse, but I didn't have any gas really (oddly enough).....So, now I want to try Benefiber. I already bought the caplets, I just haven't made the switch, yet, because I'm afraid of blowing up like a blimp again. All that gas makes me nauseous. 
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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Well, I'm not Kate...but I do know that orange flavoring would def contribute to mine!
Is it a citrus flavor by any chance? maybe I'm over sensative but that could def upset my tummy! I couldn't take citrucel...I don't recall what it did to my tummy...but i know that citrucel and I did not get along at all
how are you feeling today? *hugs*
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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YES! Citrucel made me nauseous and bloated....the stuff was way harsh...and I could never seem to drink enough water with it...
And it is a serious choking hazard! If you don't get enough water it really won't go down right
Good for you for switching (sorry if I am offending anyone that takes it...I do NOT mean to! if it works for you that's GREAT...it just gave me bad tummy days!)
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Hey Ruchie! You're just a sweetheart! I'm doing okay, today. My doctor changed up all my prescriptions and we'll see if it makes me any better. I was supposed to have my gall bladder hida scan tomorrow morning but I woke up again this morning at 3:00am with horrible reflux and had to take a bunch of stuff for it. So, I called the nurse this morning and told her that I was going to have to reschedule the appt again. Now that he (gi doc) really wants to get this hida scan done, he's actually starting to do something about this reflux.
I take the Citrucel clear, but it still tastes sweet. Yea, the orange citrucel does not do well with me at all. It makes my reflux worse and gives me worse D, but drinking the clear citrucel is just like drinking benefiber, but a whole lot thicker!!. It's like glue!
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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How should I make the switch?? Do you get bloated with Benefiber when you first start taking it??
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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I tried Benefiber but it tasted like drinking liquid with sand in to. I could never get it to dissolve completely.
Terry
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Ginger
#225682 - 11/17/05 10:14 AM
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Augie
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois
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The bottled powder says to take it with 4 oz of liquid per Tablespoon. So for 12 oz of water, you could use 3 T of powder (9 grams fiber).
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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My juice plus shipped yesterday! I can't wait to get it. My doctor told me this morning to get a multi-vitamin because I'm not eating well enough and I told him that I already had one on the way. I can't wait to get some nutrition in my system. I feel soo weak......
Did you get bloated up when you took the Benefiber??
Have you tried the caplets?? I have the caplets sitting in my pantry but haven't taken any of them, yet.
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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Re: EPA!!!
#225698 - 11/17/05 11:09 AM
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Wind
Reged: 04/02/05
Posts: 3178
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Holy Cow!
The math sounds right to me.
1 Tbsp. dissolves just fine in 1/2 c. fluid or soft food. Heck, I mix it with applesauce all the time! I'll add it to a soup or smoothie or sauce/dressing. I'll mix it with tea/teecino.
I generally take 2 tbsp. in one sitting, i.e. 6 g SF. You can add it to oatmeal, or hot cereal, I suspect. I've mixed it with soy yogurt even.
Wow, you actually pop that many Benefiber caps. in a day?
Aie caramba, Epa. Honestly, the powder is a breeze.
Kate.
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I'd start with 2 Tbsp., taken 1 Tbsp. at a time and see how you respond.
I don't get gassy from it or bloated. No nausea, either.
I take 4-6 Tbsp. per day. With any SF supplement you need to drink lots of fluid as well.
Kate.
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Yes. Sweetners are a bad thing. They make me gag. Also, they give me D. Stevia, and well...sugar of all kinds are the only safe kind. Honey, though, gives me MEGA acid. Not sugar, just honey.
Is Citrucel plain or flavoured? If it's flavoured, the flavour could be making your reflux worse. When I read the name "Citrucel" I immediately think Citrus and that's a huge reflux trigger. Benefiber powder has NO flavours, no sweeteners.
Hehe...guargum in also PREBIOTIC.
Kate.
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Orange flavoured anything or oranges/orange juice would give me the WORST reflux, acid, heartburn...
I'm with you on this, Ruchie.
Kate.
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I tried psyllium and had the worst choking/asthma attacks, and GAS, not to mention BLOATING. I looked like "a giant marshmellow" or pregnant skeleton. I felt just terrible.
Psyllium (metamucil) intensely disagreed with me.
Kate.
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Hi chica 
I'm glad the doc is FINALLY listening!!! (I was gonna say you should get a new one!!)
Well, I didn't switch my fiber. I WAS stable until I was put on tegretol for my bipolar. I decided to try a sfs again. All of them so far have given me gas/bloating so I am going to have to give it a good month this time around and hope it works...I NEED fiber!!!
I am also trying an enzyme I already have in the house so we'll see wht happens. I'll def keep ya posted..
Sorry I can't help you out on this one...but it looks like some others have given you good advice
Let me know how you do on benefiber if you decide to switch! *hugs* You're gonna MAKE It...your attitude rocks!
Your an inspiration to us all *hugs*
Love ya,
Ruch
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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OH, you're truely an inspiration to me, too. You have such a positive attitude about everything! I wish I were more like you. I'm really trying to accept whatever it is that I have over here and just keep pushing ..... "press on, press through", right??
You and Kate Rock! Both of you have been a really big help to me!!
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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The citrucel clear that I am using right now is not flavored but it does have sugar in it.. but it's regular sucrose, sugar. So, that isn't making my reflux worse, huh??? I wonder why I get so nauseated when I take it. I was taking it for 2 years with no problems at all until now. I guess my body just doesn't want it anymore!!
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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Hey you big giant marshmallow!! hehehehe....oh, man you're killing me. I have not had a good laugh for a long time until I read that....it's so true!!! I know exactly how you feel. I tried Metamucil the first time I was diagnosed with IBS in 1994-5 and it blew me up like a balloon, too. So, I switched to Fibercon and used that forever until I just didn't even need it anymore. I just tried Citrucel "clear" in 2003, when I got sick again and it worked sooooo good......but, now it's not working very good at all. I don't know what's going on with my system.....???
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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Ok, so I think I'll keep my caplets for when I'm at restaurants or travelling, but use the powder when I'm home or at work. I drink water all day long from a big bottle, so it's no problem to mix it here, maybe even better if I spread it out by drinking it. I can't believe I didn't think of that when I first decided what to use!!
And yes, I was taking that many caplets a day!! Coupled with 2 pills of glucosamine/chondritin, a prenatal multivitamin (not pregnant yet), and an Oil of Olay omega supplement. No actual "medicine" though, ha ha.
Ok, officially going to start the powder form tonight! I do love applesauce and yogurt and oatmeal, so I'll remember that as things to add it to.
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your body!
One day I can eat something and digest it fully. Sometimesm the very next day, my bod will reject that same food.
I guess it's good to mix things up more often??
Maybe that includes forms of fiber?
In any case, you're not alone!!
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Hugs. Trust me, I know intimately how frustrating and embarrassing and just utterly self-esteem shattering that feels. After a huge D streak, I get that "pregnant skeleton"
rebound effect until my bowel tone/gastrocolic reflex bounces back into shape. I assure you that it does happen.
Doesn't IBS-D and Acid Reflux suck? I was thinking of you when I had my invariable 3 a.m. Pepto. scramble.
Here's to us, "pretty in purple (i.e. Nexium) and pink (i.e. Pepto.)!"
Kate.
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hehehehehe....it does suck!! I really don't like having both at the same time.....it hurts....
That's sooo funny!!! I was thinking of you when I was up at 4:00am this morning downing my Pepto!! Ain't we just a pair!
Bottoms up! hehehehehe.......
Man, I hope it doesn't happen tonight. I really wanna sleep......
I hope you sleep, too.
*hugs*
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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I take the citrocel tablets (can't stand any kind of liquid) and have never had a problem. I drink water, then I eat a bite or two of food and drink some more. That way, I am sure the pills have gone down all the way. My esophagus doesn't move food as fast as "normal" people and I was concerned about the same thing, but haven't had a problem.
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Or do you just consider the Benefiber your SF source? I'm not sure if just taking the SFS is enough to buffer the tummy or if you need SF food as well.
What is your experience? And I'm assuming you eat the apples with the peel, hey?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I know you've been using Gaviscon. Have you tried DIOVOL PLUS? I use that when the going gets tough and it works within 1 minute. 2-4 caps. is the dose. It's simethecone-based.
Just thought I'd share.
Kate.
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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and I have never seen this stuff in the stores!?!? I guess I might have to order it on the internet or something, huh?? I really have never seen this. Do you just buy it at the drug stores and stuff???
Hmmmmm.....thanks for sharing, Kate!!
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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and I take gobs of them -- 8 of them at a time - 3 times a day. I just drink most of a tall glass of water with them to make sure it all goes down. It is so convenient and works so well for me. I have never felt better than with the Citrucel.
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Doesn't Citrucel Clear contain other inactive ingredients, like potassium citrate (which I know in large doses can cause D, but I'm not sure about the amount in Citrucel)? Maybe this is aggravating your symptoms.
Also, do you eat a lot of salt? I don't know if it was discussed already, but a recent study came out suggesting that reducing salt intake might help with acid reflux.
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Try a drug store/pharmacy. They work better for me than Gaviscon ever did.
Kate.
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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I don't know, really.....I will look. I don't eat salt at all that much. But, when I was taking sodium bicarbonate for my heartburn, I noticed that it made it worse. My whole body tasted like salt to me......Maybe that's why it didn't help me......
Thank you, Maria!
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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I guess I don't go out of my way to eat SF before IF. I usually just hope I've eaten enough that day. I will say it sometimes gets me in trouble, but not often. I do eat the apple skin, but I'm planning to switch to apple sauce, because it's less messy and noisy (at work).
So I didn't take any last night, I was in a hurry and ate out and forgot it, but I'm going to use the powder this morning. Hopefully it works just as well as the caplets, I can't see why it wouldn't.
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