So far...
#215704 - 09/25/05 11:38 AM
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Augie
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois
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Too early to tell, I think. I stopped the psyllium and the citrucel altogether, and decreased the acacia to 1/2 tsp twice a day. Yesterday I added another 1/2 tsp. I think I will now add 1/2 tsp every 5-7 days. Do you think that sounds like a good speed?
Since stopping the psyllium and citrucel, I feel worse.  I needed to take a donnatol a few nights ago...and that is always my "last resort". I have gotten into a pattern of no BM one day, but lots of pain. Then, I go the next day, but it is long, skinny, painful, "D" type consistency  . Not the logs I was hoping for!
I'll stick with the acacia for a while. Hopefully, once I get up to a higher dose, the spasms will decrease and the BMs will be more regular and firmer. I can't believe I just typed all that yucky stuff out on the world wide web!
So far, I am disappointed in the Acacia...I am having spasms, pain, and discomfort all day. But like I said, I'm hoping it's just because I'm at a low dose and went from 8.5 grams fiber supplement a day to only 3 or so. Only time will tell though.
It's nice to have a buddy going through this at the same time! I hope it works for both of us! Have you tried it before Jen?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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First of all, I want to point out this is my own personal case, and I do not want to cause anyone more problems than they already have. However, I did want to share some things I've noticed when taking SFS.
I find that C returns regularly no matter how high of a SFS dose you are taking. I was up to at least 4 tbsp a day when I was taking acacia yet I was not having regular BM. I also noticed that I never experienced problems when increasing a dose of acacia. If I increased it too much the only side effect was a regular BM.
About a month ago life got busy and I quit taking the acacia and nothing bad happened. I found that as long as I was eating well I could more or less control the symptoms. I set myself off again recently with a few forbidden foods so I decided to take acacia to try to calm my stomach. First dose in over a month and I took 3 tbsp in one day. Result - nothing but a BM!
What I'm trying to say is I'm wondering if SFS would work better for IBS-C people if it wasn't taken daily. I think I might try taking a full dose twice a week. For me I always adjust to it quickly, but if I'm never adjusted then it should continue to have a natural laxative effect on me.
Has anyone else had any experiences like this? If I actually follow through with my twice a week plan I will post about it in a few weeks.
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Psyllium had a terrible effect on me, had two bad attacks when I tried taking it this spring. When I was taking acacia I increased my dose by 1/2 tsp every couple of days, and by the end I was increasing it by the same amount every day. I never did hit a point where it seemed like too much!
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Well -- I'm great - but I haven't switched my fiber. I am still doing my whole 12 grams of Citrucel. I do understand your frustration though -- because I did that whole switching back and forth thing for quite a while. I am thinking about you -- and I hope that this whole thing works out for you.
Maybe you need a mix of the fibers to work best for you. Some people do that. You said you felt great that day when you were using both -- maybe that's what you need to do.
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Hey Beth! I'm doing the same thing right now and I stopped taking my Citrucel three times a day and I'm taking 1/2 tsp of the Acacia twice a day and at about 3:00pm I will add in a 1/4 tsp before I eat. It seems to be working out okay for me so far. I do have alot of intestinal gas right now or rumbling.....I don't know what it is but I can tell that my insides are trying to adjust to the new fiber.
Keep us posted on how you are doing!
Michelle 
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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I'm glad to hear you're doing well, today!! I am feeling kind of wierd, so maybe I will combine them. Actually, I think I did yesterday, but not today. And today, I feel more wierd then I did yesterday.....if that made any sense at all. I am having some gas, today. Little bit of a problem eating......but, I'm surviving!
Keep us posted! Talk to ya soon!
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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When I was constipated in the Navy, which is nothing like I am now (I'm IBS-D), I would only take some fiber when I really needed it with a HUGE glass of water and it would finally move my bowels. I didn't take it everyday. So, I can see what you are saying. It might be better that way for some people. It's worth a shot. However, I'm soo bad with diarrhea, now, that I have to take a SFS every single day or it will be a nightmare!!
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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Yikes! If you stopped the psyllium and Citrucel, shouldn't you be taking extra Acacia to make up for it?
Although since you're having problems, I do think it's a good idea to only try one fiber at once. Some people take so many supplements etc. I wonder how they feel they can know what's doing any good.
1/2 t every 5-7 days seems pretty slow for a C. But, at the same time, going slow isn't going to hurt anything -- it just might not yield you results that quickly. I'm at 1/4 t and it's giving me troubles, so I won't bump it up until the gas subsides. When I do, it'll only be by 1/4 at first. Depending on how that goes I might get a bit more aggressive.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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I'm sorry about it. That's how it was with me too -- it got a little worse instead of better.
Don't give up though -- I know the right amount/combo/type of fiber is out there for you. You'll find it.
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When you take only 1/4 tsp of acacia, do you still mix it in water? I am only taking 1/2 tsp at a time, and I'm afraid I may be losing some of it (or a lot of it) on the sides of the cup or even on the fork.
Do most people take the Acacia in food? I wanted to take it before the food so I could have serve as a buffer for my IF. But it won't work, if I am missing out on the full dose. I haven't been going at all yet. I'm at 1 1/2 tsp a day.
I did go down a lot in my total fiber amount, but just felt safer doing this even Heather says you can start acacia at the equivalent fiber dose as you were taking before. Do you think I should bump it up...considering I'm so darn C! But won't this cause other problems (bloat, gas). It is a different form of fiber.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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