DOES THIS DIET REALLY WORK!!
#245396 - 02/10/06 06:24 AM
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LivinginWA
Reged: 01/22/06
Posts: 18
Loc: Western Australia
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I live in Australia and have ordered the books from heathers website, the books havent arrived yet, though looking at a lot of the posts I am reading a lot about people who are doing the diet with very little results....the diet looks very very bland and I am quite concerned that I wont be able to stick to it, am wondering if it is worth it...if Im going to stay sick with daily diarrohea, then I might as well do it in style and enjoy yummy food....also what else can you drink on heathers diet other than herbal teas and water?? - also could someone tell me please is it okay to just take psyllium as purchased from the supermarket or does it have to be in powdered form?? thanks...any responses would be appreciated...have had another day from diarrohea hell...have all of my hopes pinned on this diet,
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Hi Western Aussie, Yes, the strict "EFI" diet does not work
for some of which I am one. However, a somewhat modified
version of it seems to be working for me. Also, for the most
part, the people for which it doesn't work for are C's. For
people with D like you, it has been highly successful!!!
Additionally, it's not really bland either. You'll see when
you get Heather's EFI book. By the way, have you tried
taking Immodium? If not, start taking at least one daily,
it should help your daily D hell. Most D's swear by it.
I'm sure there will be D's giving you more and better sugg-
estions than I. Hope this helps. -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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Hi,
I have thought like you and still do sometimes. If I'm going to go 10x a day anyway, I might as well be eating what I want! But I have found from experience, it does get better when you try to stay on the diet. It's more a lifestyle change than just a diet. You can modify just about anything you eat and enjoy it too. I love pizza, so I have bought Amy's vegan veggies only pizza or the one with soy cheese. They really aren't that bad, the veggie one is yummy. My husband thinks so too. I have given up coffee whieh I LOVED and drink teas that are just as satisfying to me. I just gave up dairy and have found great substitutes, Rice milk, soy,etc. I still have my days when I have D or go a lot but it has gotten better and I know I will continue to get better.
I think Bob's advice about taking an Immodium or two is good too. It helps with the urgency and decreases the volume. It helps on the road to stability.
This board is great too for all kinds of advice!
Sandy
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Well, I've been debating about whether or not I should be one to respond to this post. I'm not doing well and I've been on the diet for over a year.  (I'm IBS-C though, which takes more time....how much more, who knows).
I don't think you can go on how others have or have not been helped by the diet until you actually try it. Why not just make a commitment to stick to it for a time....you have nothing to lose.
I eat very bland, although many of the recipes are very "spicy". If you buy the cookbook or read some of the recipes you will see some very non-bland foods! I just cannot handle them...so I stick to bland food and rely on simple, easy to digest herbs for flavoring. Or add chicken broth to rice and/or make a gravy out of in order to give more flavor to the food. I'm used to eating bland and just trying to enjoy the natural food taste itself. They didn't have soda and all the complicated cooking back in the old days...so I guess I figure if it was okay for them, it's okay for me! Especially if it might help reduce some of the pain (I don't know if it does or it doesn't, but I'm not taking any chances). 
I tend to think that this diet works better for D folks...but I don't think there are any statistics to prove it...so, in my opinion, you being a D gives you a better chance. It has worked for many C folks...just not me. The D's seem to do better if they stick to the strict rules, why C's need more tweaking with IF and such.
As far as the psyllium capsules, they are fine to take. It doesn't have to be the powder. But that is not a very popular SFS for most people. It contains a little IF, so I think you might be better with a 100% soluble fiber supplement.
I only drink water and herbal teas. I missed the soda and coffee at first, but now I can't look at them without feeling pain...so I don't want them. I tried to drink coffee once and through the cup out because it wasn't worth it to me....nothing tastes better than feeling better (even if I still don't....I probably really don't stand a chance if I chose to drink soda or fruit juices). 
I have a friend who is a D person and she was on this web site for over a year and it didn't help her. She did decide to leave and just eat what she wanted because she had D no matter how she ate. She didn't see the purpose of restricting her coffee and foods if she was still going to have D and pain. She still has is the symptoms, but she is happier eating the foods she likes.
Although the diet has not helped me yet...after over a year, I have chosen not to give up on it yet. Bev (another poster) said it took her 3 years to get better. So, I'm praying that one day, I will feel some degree of relief. Not perfect...but better. So far, I have not felt one degree better, my symptoms are no better, and I have given up so many of my favorite foods. Why do I continue to do the diet? Because I'm scared if I don't, I'll never feel better and I don't want to lose the year and 1/2 I've already invested in this diet if I would have to start over again. It's the only hope I have left...so to give that up is to surrender to this. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe if I just ate what I wanted I would be less focused on my IBS and I would have less anxiety over reading every ingredient in every food before eating it. I could go out to dinner and enjoy a normal Thanksgiving dinner with dressing and gravy. Yummy. But, as of today....I can't give up yet. Maybe I'm making the wrong decision and I should just move on to something else. I often wonder why I keep eating a diet that isn't helping me. I often feel stupid for continuing to follow a diet that hasn't helped instead of pursuing other things that might help. But then I read a post by another IBS-C person who has had good results with the diet and it gives me hope again, and I continue on.
Sorry this is so long. I just know how you feel...and often, very often, question myself with the same thoughts and reasoning.
Perhaps one day I will give this diet up. I'm sort of brainwashed into it now! It's natural way of eating for me. I'm scared NOT to eat this way...so maybe the anxiety over not eating this diet would cause worse IBS symptoms.
Okay, I'll stop my rambling. Perhaps this entry belongs in a personal journal instead of on the boards.
Not sure I helped (probably not) but your post really hit home with me. Please keep me updated on if you decide to try the diet, and if you have any success with it. Or if you choose to move on.
No, it doesn't seem to work for everyone. But you might be one it does work for...and the only way to know is to try it...with a full commitment and no cheating.
Good luck...and sorry so long! 
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Hi! Well, this diet has worked for me, but it only worked when I stopped cheating; I would start feeling better so I'd have some pop or something with dairy in it and that would set me back. Also, a mistake a lot of people make, myself included, is staying on the Breaking the Cycle diet for too long. This is the very bland, SF only diet that you start with, which you're only supposed to do for a few days. Make sure to start incorporating protein and IF or else you'll just feel ill, grumpy, and hungry.
Also, as someone pointed out, this is a lifestyle change (in addition to a diet that regulates your digestive tract, you work on stress management, exercise, etc, to minimize your symptoms). It's also fine to take loperamide/imodium as needed and as a preventive while you're trying to get stable.
Instead of reading through the posts, I would read through the information on the IBS Diet & Recipe section on the main website. A lot of this is the same information you'll find in the books.
Psyllium is a really harsh SFS that will cause gas and bloating, so I would avoid that. Can you get Benefiber (guar gum) in Australia? Try that, or try Heather's Acacia.
I hope the diet works for you. A lot of people with D seem to have had good results. Take care! 
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I know this sounds stupid and all but peppermint tea has really helped me. I can eat pizza and chocolate without getting a d attack, and even really stressful situations which used to send me to the bathroom for hours, is only maybe a little stomach discomfort and thats it..
I am a sprite addict and it hasn't caused me any issues so far, and I go through about two 2L/week.. I find that even if I add say, pretzels as an apetizer before a meal that even helps.. So it's not all bad.. Peppermint tea is somewhat of an aqquired taste, but sugar makes it much better.. hope this helps..
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I admire you, Beth. You are such a strong person and you are very courageous. This post is excellent!!!
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>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<
Michelle
IBS-A, pain predominant
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I had IBS-D about as bad a D gets. It took me about a week on Heather's diet to start to feel some relief, three months to feel darn good, and 6 months to feel pretty much normal. I finally felt so great, I started eating way too far off the Diet and set myself back, so I definitely agree with the "don't cheat" advice.
I took Acacia as my SFS. Heather's diet helped with the cramps and horrible urgency, but I think the Acacia helped a lot with frequency. I started with 1/4 tsp of Acacia per day and worked my way up to 8 teaspoons a day and lots of fluid.
Immodium is a definite help and I have Donnatol for bad attacks. (I hadn't had a bad attack in months before I fell off the wagon.)
I would say absolutely try the Diet and try it straight down the line. It's well worth it.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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I was thinking about deleting it because I felt embarrassed after I posted it.
Thanks...but I'm not one to be admired, believe me. I'm an IBS flunky. And I often think about chucking the whole thing and giving up.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Beth, thank you for that post. I've only been on this diet for a few months (but I've been vegan for several years), and I've had pretty good results. But some days I get attacks no matter what I do, and on those days I want to quit. I think I may just print out your post to read on those days. Sorry if that sounds sappy, but it's a nice reminder to keep going. Anyway...
Have you done the hypnotherapy cds?
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I noticed that in a post in the LR that your mom has a gluten intolerance. Do you avoid gluten as well? I don't know if this is part of my problem or not.
Where you able to get that Acacia into the capsules? 
Anyhow, glad my post was able to help someone. Glad it was you!
And no, I have not done the hypnotherapy CDs yet. I have them...but my CD player won't "program" in order to stop after the first track. Have they helped you? Are you a C or a D or an A?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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but it doesn't work for everyone and I will admit I don't stick to it like glue, but it has made a huge difference in how to figure out what does and does not work and the guidelines have been a HUGE help as have individual comments and suggestions and hearing what DID and DID NOT work for others... because it gave me ideas of what to try for myself. one thing: if oyu are D, you may find psillium has too much IF.. but it won't hurt to try it first, benefiber is SF and so are some of the others... they may be more help...
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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Hi Beth, Say, what happened with trying coffee again? I
thought from your recent posts on it that you were all set
to run out to Dunkin Donuts.If it worked in the past, there's
a good chance it still will. Once it gets you going, you may
even stabilize in a short period of time. You'll never know
until you try. Don't be scared, and just think of Psalm 23.
-Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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There's nothing embarassing about it,Beth. Maile and Michelle
*really liked* it. Maile's even going to print it out for
future use. -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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Short answer: yes, the diet does work for MANY PEOPLE. Not all, no guarantees etc. but it DOES work for MANY with IBS.
Long answer  :
Quote:
I live in Australia and have ordered the books from heathers website, the books havent arrived yet, though looking at a lot of the posts I am reading a lot about people who are doing the diet with very little results....
In general, the boards are not the best place to get info about the diet. If you have a look through the books when they arrive as well as the rest of this website, you'll see lots of examples of letters from people speaking really positively about their results. In general, people post on the boards when they're having trouble, not when things are going well, so it's easy to get a kind of skewed picture of how many people it works for, you know?
the diet looks very very bland and I am quite concerned that I wont be able to stick to it, am wondering if it is worth it...if Im going to stay sick with daily diarrohea, then I might as well do it in style and enjoy yummy food...
Bland!? Far from it! This diet is not bland at all, I promise you! At first, you may find it a little different and difficult to stick to if it's very different from the way you currently eat and it may be difficult to give up some of the major triggers completely - but that's what you gotta do. You do have to decide between whether you want to feel healthy or you want a Big Mac more... but you don't have to decide between feeling healthy and eating good food! There is so much good food allowed on this diet. I think you'll find that you will discover lots of fabulous foods you never knew about before too - bonus!
also what else can you drink on heathers diet other than herbal teas and water??
OK not the answer you want but: stick with herbal teas and water. They are the safest drinks out there - they not only don't hurt but they HELP. Plus there are SO MANY great herbal teas. Make sure you're drinking lots of tea and water, but you can also drink (after a safe meal or snack) soy milk, rice milk and other safe "milks", most people seem to be ok with small amounts of cranberry juice, you can make hot cocoa with a fake "milk" and cocoa powder, most flavoured waters and mixes to make water flavoured are ok...
also could someone tell me please is it okay to just take psyllium as purchased from the supermarket or does it have to be in powdered form??
This is ok but it might not be as potent, not sure. If you suffer from bloating though you might want to try a soluble fiber supplement other than psyllium as many find it can be painful. Try it out first and see how you do with it. Make sure to read the info on the SFS page about dosages!
thanks...any responses would be appreciated...have had another day from diarrohea hell...have all of my hopes pinned on this diet.
Good luck! I hope you feel better soon. Honestly, as soon as I *completley* (NO cheating!) cut out all the triggers and followed the strategies of this diet, I started to feel better immediately - no more D hell! However it did take me about 6ish months to completely stabilize... so hang in there! You can do it! 
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Yes, this diet works, but I personally believe it doesn't go far enough for some people which could be why some remain ill. Also, some aspects of the diet may be unclear to some people. And, of course, some people may cheat on the diet which is why they get sick.
Where the diet doesn't go far enough for some is the food supply.
I believe the reason some people aren't succeeding at the diet is because they may have an ulta sensitive gut and need to stay away from anything containing additives, chemicals, harmones, pesticides and antibiotics. That means they should probably try eating organic.
Another reason some people may fail at the diet is because they don't totally understand how to combine and prepare their foods. As much as possible, food should be eaten with a soluble fibre STAPLE such as white bread, white rice or potato. Other soluble fibre food may be more difficult to tolerate. Also, sometimes (back to food supply) people may need to try different varieties of a food until they find one that works. For example, I kept getting D from white rice (even organic white rice) until I switched to organic white Basmati rice.
The other possibility, as I've mentioned, is that people cheat on the diet, or they take medications or they're eating prepared foods (Luna Bars for one!) which could be irritating their condition. Maybe they think they're okay with consuming these things, but, in fact, it may well be contributing to their overall malaise if they're still getting IBS attacks.
The whole IBS thing and diet is a very tricky juggling act. It takes a lot of effort and "detective work" in trying different foods to see what works. Not all so-called safe foods will be safe and not all so-called unsafe foods will be unsafe. Generally though there are some universal foods that are really not a good idea if you have IBS, including anything with caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods, etc.
Yes, I agree, beverages can be a problem. For years now I have only drunk water and peppermint tea. I cannot tolerate anything else although lately I've been able to use a brand of soy milk that contains no additives when cooking.
I have a very severe form of IBS (I've had it for 47 years now) and I have to be very careful what I eat. Yet, with Heather's diet as my guide, I have been able to greatly expand my menu and I lead a very normal life and am well most of the time. I rarely ever get any IBS pain. In fact, I can't recall the last time I did.
However, I can't eat, and don't agree with, everything Heather recommends. In particular, I find myself at odds with the prepared foods she recommends and with most of her recipes which seem to contain the very things that can trigger an IBS attack. I've heard Heather's rationale for these recipes, but I frankly don't agree with it. Unfortunately, I feel, while well intentioned, many of these recipes can be a disservice for many IBS people ... although obviously not all.
One of the best things about Heather's message boards, though, is that she grants us free licence to talk about whatever we want ... even if it may be to say we disagree with her on some things!
E-mail me if you need help when you embark on Heather's diet. I am a fellow "colonist" living in Canada!
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Augie,
Thank you for that great response. I to have been trying to follow Heather's diet and find that at times I seem to have problems even though I am doing the best I can to make the right choices.
I have found that it takes time and patience to find foods that are easy for you to digest and things that are healthy for you. I have found that trying to delete fats from my diet are helping and changing the way we prepare foods are great.
I do believe that each of us is different in that we need to use the suggestions here and try to adjust our personal diets accordingly. I find that getting better is something that I really want. I was like you a couple of years ago when I first found out I had IBS. Believe me I ate whatever I wanted and suffered through the IBS attacks and finally decided that I wanted to feel better and eat and that I had to do something to change it. That is when I came back here and went out and purchased Heather's book. It has taken a long time but I can now feel comfortable eating things but being very selective and very careful.
This is not like a minor illness or a broken leg, this does not yet have a cure. I hope for one very soon, but I am also aware that I may have to live the rest of my life with it, so I told myself just do it. Get on the diet and stop being sick all the time. I am sure that someday I will be stable and be able to eat other things, but I will be aware and able to help myself when I do have an attack.
I would say take all the advice you read here and try it for a month. Please let us know how you are doing. We really do care and totally understand.
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Honor the Creator... Seek peace!!!
Lummibeader
IBS-D with pain
and bloating
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Forgot to mention you can also drink Rice, Soy, or Almond "mill". (if you can handle soy...I stick to rice just to be safe). Also, there are some coffee substitutes like Teeceeni or Soyfree (I think that's what they are called). And some people can tolerate cranberry juice.
Also, adding sugar or stevia improves the taste of herbal tea by 100%!
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Lummibeader
#245589 - 02/11/06 07:19 AM
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Augie
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 5807
Loc: Illinois
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thanks for your response...but I think you misunderstood. I have been reading this board for over a year. And I have been on the diet (and not cheating unless I am doing something I am unaware of, which is possible), for over a year also. It hasn't been just a month.
that's why I'm so tired.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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beth, i wonder sometimes, and i'm sorry if you've posted this before, if you're really secure in your ibs diagnosis? i feel like, with chronic d, even if it's not ibs, the diet can still help, but c that isn't ibs needs a very different eating plan. i don't know what your dx history is - just wondering. and, if it is ibs, have you looked into other treatments to complement the diet? hypnosis tapes, maybe investigating going on an ad? i feel so bad, knowing you're struggling and not seeing any relief at all. i am so grateful for this diet, but if it isn't working for you, i want you to find something that will.
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jaime
ibs-a (mostly d) // vegetarian
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Have you tried taking any probiotics yet? I forget if you've answered this before.
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I started the diet about a month ago, before the books arrived, using the diet cheat sheet--I immediatley saw results (within 2 days!). I was so excited--I could not believe that something so simple actually worked.
I don't see the diet as bland at all now that I am able to slowly re-add foods to see what I can tollerate and what I can not--usually it is more of a quantity thing for me--for example, I love trail mix, which should really be a nightmare for IBS. On the days that only ate a small amount, with the bulk being banana chips, and watched my SF intake during the day, I was fine. However, one day I did not have enough SF, and a little too much SF--I was lucky that I did not have an D attack, but I did have some significant pain. I find the experimenting actually pretty fun because it is so encouraging to be getting stable again! I even ate a little chili on SuperBowl Sunday and was fine becuase I planned ahead and a lot of SF during the day, as well as with the chili!!
I say just "buck up" and give it a try for a while--if you read through the boards you can get ideas for taking the blandness away with just a bit of creativity and it is sooo worth it in the end!
Best wishes to you!
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Beth
IBS-D, IBD, Pain
Working toward stability
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Hi Beth,
I understand and sympathize with you entirely. I was diagnosed with IBS about 7+yrs ago and since 1998, I have not had one meal without the IBS problems, constantly everyday for the past nearly 8 years. I am embarrassed to have a one track mind with the only topic being what can I eat. I spend most of my days home alone on my bed in some kind of pain. Talk about being worn out, I am sorry if you got the idea that I had only been at this for a month. I have been using the diet since September 2005. Granted that is only a few months but when you have gone for years with no meal that did not double you over in severe pain and last for hours, one meal that does not bother you is a miracle. Last summer I went through a period where I was subconsciously putting my affairs in order. I was making plans and telling my husband where everything was, in my subconscious mind I had given up. Thankfully something changed my mind and I stopped.
My therapist said that somewhere in my mind I had decided that if everyday was going to be so awful that I might as well just curl up and die. I don't know what anyone else here had experienced, but that is only a very small part of my experience.
I understand what you are going through as do all of the people here. I do not understand what made you think this way. Please explain how this all relates to does this diet really work? Has it not worked for you??
--------------------
Honor the Creator... Seek peace!!!
Lummibeader
IBS-D with pain
and bloating
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Yep, we are definitely in the same painful place. I didn't get the impression you have only been on the diet for a month. I thought you that you thought I had only tried the diet for a month. When you said "give it a month". I've given it over 12 months...and still the diet hasn't worked for me personally...but that I have chosen to keep trying.
It sounds like this diet is working for you? Is that true? That you are beginning to have some pain free days once in a while? Are you going to continue on it? I think you should. 5 1/2 months is still too early to give hope hope on it! Are you a C?
I also had a point where I put my affairs in order and wrote a will....in case I decided that I would get to the point where I would just be too tired to fight anymore.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Yes, I have. I've tried Primal Defense, Udo's Choice, Jarrow, PB8, Mega Flora, Enzymatic Therapy Beads...
I really don't think any have helped, though. I take two a day. When I was on Primal Defense I actually went up to the 10 a day for 3 months, like it recommended for difficult cases. It just cost me about 2000 dollars for no results. 
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Well, thanks for caring Jaime. Hugs to you!
As far as they IBS diagnosis, I have been given that diagnosis by a few doctors. But I do also have other things going on that may be contributing to my problems...like delayed gastric emptying and a nonfunctioning gallbladder and gluten antibodie. The doctors have not been very helpful with these results and really don't know how to advice me on these points. See, I had anorexia/bulimia for 15 or more years...so it's hard to know what is IBS and what, if any, of these factors were caused by my Anorexia...or if there is even a way to treat them, if they were caused by a long term eating disorder.
As far as an AD...I am on Prozac. I've been on probably 7 different ADs...but my body either doesn't respond to them, or I cannot tolerate the side effects.
I have not starte hypno yet, but plan on it.
Thanks for caring. Are you suggesting I quit this diet and try something else? Not that Heather's diet doesn't work for many...but do you think it is time for me to call it quits on this for my own individual situation? Or don't you want to say? What would you guys do if it were you? Move on or keep plugging along?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Wow, that's great it's working for you. You're a D, right?
When you said "one day I did not have enough SF, and a little too much IF"...did you mean you had too much IF?
Are you taking any probiotics or an SFS? Or digestive enzymes?
I'm happy for you. don't get me wrong...but must admit I envy you. You've been on the diet about 14 months less than I...and are years ahead of me in feeling better. Okay, done with my pity party!
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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the teeceeni contains inulin which may cause problems and the soyfree, obviously is soy which can cause problems. I don't drink either because of this. But others do fine with them.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I'm sorry the probiotics didn't work for you.
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Hi Beth, sorry you are having such a hard time, I know the feeling of being alone a lot of the time, usually lying on my bed, in pain......close to the bathroom, preparing for the next urgent run to the loo, I have to wear sanitary pads every day, just in case I dont make it to the bathroom, and it is a bit of added protection!!....two years ago, I wrote a will out,I too had had enough, so understand the desperation you were feeling...,though glad I am still here, the anxiety gets to me a lot though, and of course the stress and depression...my doc prescribed anti anxiety meds, the side effects were just too much, including "diarrohea", weight gain, headaches etc....so I dont take them....unfortunately in Aussie, the IBS situation isnt really understood, we dont have many products available for it, it is not a discussed topic, I have never seen an ad on tv or in the papers etc, it is looked at as a bit of a nuisance, I think most of the doctors here are comatosed when it comes to IBS, Heathers books are not available in Aus, so have had to order them online from her, and the last time I saw my doctor and told him that I really thought food played a part he laughed and found my comment quite amusing, though told me ibs was stress related and indicated it was all in my head!!...have seen numerous doctors, and gastros, 2 colonoscopies, xrays etc...all said yes you have severe ibs...have a nice life!! - dont think they really accepted my version of how bad things are for me... so pretty much left to my own devices...anyway good luck, though you have been on this diet for a long time, am wondering if you need to look elsewhere, I dont have any suggestions, but maybe someone else on these boards with ibs C can give you some help...Donna : 
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Beth, have you tried going to a naturopath, or dietician? Maybe with your situation, your diet and/or supplements need some tweeking.
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I was afraid of this comment as I have IBS c and find much less to work for it and less info on the subject. any great reads or diet tricks in hand, I am never constipated but usually in pain and always distended.
Mg daily is what helped my C after trying most everything
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Have you tried the peppermint and fennel for the pain and the distended feeling?
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Beth, Do you have a specific food that causes a lot of pain? Where is the pain? What relieves it? I definitely know foods that cause trouble for me: fats, coffee, dairy, acidy foods, meat, some vegetables. Rich foods of any kind. Have you tried the donnatol, the flaxseed meal, the magnesium citrate. Don't give up!! We love you. Play around with foods and pills (cautiously). Did quiting the acacia help you? Bette
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(cool)
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Awe, thanks for your continual support, Gracie (I love your name, btw).
I have never been to a naturapath...basically because they aren't covered by insurance and I know some people who have gone to them and they weren't helped at all. Some even felt worse. But I'd still like to go to one if I could afford it.
I have been to a dietician, and she was not able to help. She first put me on a low fiber diet and it didn't help. So she put me on a high fiber diet (mostly in the form of IF) and that didn't help either. I don't think dieticians have even caught up with the whole IBS condition yet.
I would love to talk to one who could provide solid advice on how to manage the combination of gluten antibodies, IBS, nonfunctioning gallbladder and delayed gastric emptying...while helping me to gain weight. I don't know it that's asking for a miracle!
Have you been to a naturopath? Has it helped you at all?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I haven't been able to identify any particular foods that make me worse....nor any way to relieve the pain...except for the trusty hot water bottle. I don't understand how people can pinpoint their trigger foods. How do you pick out one food when you eat numerous foods throughout the day? And maybe the irritant doesn't hit you right away.
I'm trying a GF diet again. I was on it for a year, and I don't think it helped...but I don't know what else to do.
The pain is all lower GI pain.
I'm not sure if quiting the acacia helped or hurt. I have less gas..but less BMs too, I think. But I'm not sure though. I've tried Benefiber and now Citrucel. It's hard not to give up, boo. I don't understand why I can't seem to identify foods that cause me problems. I'm not stupid! This is getting embarrassing. But I don't have anywhere else to turn besides you poor people.
You still take Acacia, right?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I have found that paying attention to my own triggers and eating accordingly has done wonders. Pasta's (eggless) and white breads always made me feel as if I had a brick in my stomach. I enjoyed many of the high sugar recipes but I have never been one to eat much sugar.
I also put on 10 unwanted pounds.
I have for many years identified and paid attention to my triggers and no one elses and have found stability that way.
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Have a blessed day!...Rachel
stable and sooooooo thankful!
I have IBS but it doesn't have me!
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I'm not sure I understand. You say it didn't work for your IBS-C, but then you said you are never constipated. Could you explain your situation a little more. Are you following the diet or not? Are you just relying on your magnesium for relief and not any specific diet or fiber supplement? How long were you on the diet?
How much magnesium do you take? And what form?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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...reach peace and stability and know their bodies...you all are my role models.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I would just give it a good try. It works for some and it doesn't for others. It's been working for me. I still have bad days but not every day like it used to be. Besides what have you got to lose trying it? I would give it a good month at least if not more and see. And the food doesn't have to be bland. One of my favorites is chicken alfredo pasta. My alfredo sauce is made with soy ingredients and it tastes really good. Just be a little creative. I also make a meat sauce with yves veggie ground round (a ground beef replacement). It's so tasty that even my picky husband eats it and loves it!
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Cheers!
Sher
IBS-A
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It took time. Lots of time. (Like, over a year.) Patience. Sticking with the diet to the letter. Using the diet in conjunction with stress-management techniques - if you have IBS symptoms related to anxiety or stress, diet alone won't do it.
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Following the diet for about a month helped me, with adding new foods every few days etc. I am IBS A and mostly get pain as a symptom. When I am good ie eating in a balanced way then I am symptom free.
A lot of the others have said this already but it really does mean watching your own triggers and your own body. I remember feeling good and then having small setbacks that really messed me up and depressed me. Some of us can eat raw onions, other's ie me can't, some (ie me) thrive on wholegrains like wholemeal bread, for others it's an instant attack. Listen to your body, write down what it tells you (ie symptoms) and what you eat and hopefully you will be posting your success story. The diet guidelines on the website are enough to get started with, so start with some of the basics by cutting out caffeine, dairy, red meat etc and work from there.
(if you want to read about my IBS story here's a link to my first year, I hope you find it encouraging)
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S.
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Yes I've been going to a naturopath since my teens and it has helped a lot. He's the one who started me on a fibre supplement, probiotics, and vitamins, and of course has told me since day 1 to exercise too because it helps with the IBS. I hope you find some relief soon Beth. Try to keep a positive attitude that one day you WILL feel better.
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Beth, you just keep posting. Maybe something or someone will click on something that will help. I still take 2 T of acacia. I still think the triphalla and the flaxseed meal and the fiber in stevia plus helps the most, plus the Mg citrate before bed. The donnatol before bed stops the pain from the spasms. Tonight I took one Beano before dinner. It must be very hard, if not impossible, to find the trigger foods when there is not a definite reaction. I went off the diet, had coffee and ice cream and really regretted that. Don't know much about the Gluten, but I imagine just a speck of it would cause trouble. Pray for help and stay positive. xo B
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(cool)
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Yes--I am a D with a capital D!! 
Anyway, what I meant to say was that one day I had too much trail mix!!Yikes!
I know that I have been lucky--I am taking Lotronex, which I am phasing out slowly as well as Colazol--I got great results from the Lotronix at first, but still had significant pain, weight loss and then the bad D attacks started again with no rhyme or reason. I had the colonoscopy done on Jan 6th of this year which determined there was more going on than just the IBS--I think that the combination of the diet with the massive doses of Colazol for the IBD and a great Doc are the reason for my rapid stabilization.
Feel free to envy me--I don't mind--I know I am one of the lucky ones! I still have bad days (there is something about Mondays in particular and I really love my job), but when I think back to how sick I was over the holidays, I feel really good about where I am now.
Best Wishes!! Keep looking for answers. I have appreciated the support and comraderie I have felt as a "lurker" for the past few months--this is great place to be, especially on the bad days!
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Beth
IBS-D, IBD, Pain
Working toward stability
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The doctors give me conflicting advice on the gluten. 1/2 say not to eat it and 1/2 say I should be fine eating it because I don't have celiac....just gluten antibodies. I'll never have a definitive answer. I might always be in pain because they can't give me an answer.
I went GF for almost a year and just went from D to C...but pain is same. Then I ate gluten, except for wheat. Now I'm trying to eat GF again.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Beth, Out of curiosity, what did Dr.J say? -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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He said he wants to concentrate on the Miralax and getting me going before tackling any gluten issues....which of course is not what I wanted to hear since I think they are connected. Plus, I want to know what kind of foods I should be spending my money on and ingesting. If gluten is causing problems, how can he just "put it to the side" for a while?
I know you trust him...but after having so many bad doctors, it's hard for me to trust him. I'm the one hurting, not him. So, doctors always have so much less vested in what they say than we do.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Beth, If you hadn't specifically mentioned the antibodies,he
may not know about it. I had some problems with getting the
people up here to send him *all* my info. Also, since I've
been going, I've been getting better. Now, mind you,sometimes
I end up going four or five times a day because the BM's are
not that big. On good days it's sometimes two or three larger
volume BM's, and once in a while they're actually close to
normal. Yes, for the most part right now they are just
piles of thin mushy stools, but I am feeling a whole lot
better! I have also noticed that on the better days, I had
happened to eat more IF on the previous day. There does
seem to be a definite correlation. -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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...it's one of the first things I told him. I want an answer and thought he would be able to give me one. But he just says "doctors just guess at most things". Margo just emailed me yesterday and said the doctor wants me to continue to incorporate gluten into my diet. But, I just went on a GF diet again Saturday and restocked up on GF breads and cereals. I wanted to test out the GF diet again. But he told me not to??? I can't afford more groceries...so that will be on hold until I can afford to go shopping again. why can't he just tell me yes or no on the gluten issue?
He also said to eat fiber foods and not depend on an SFS, but I can't seem to make myself give it up totally. I went down from 12 grams of Acacia fiber to 4 grams fiber from Citrucel...just to act as a cushion before my meals. I suppose I'm not doing anything he wants me to do! I keep trying different things on my own...since he seems to be guessing at all this as well.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Beth, OK, first of all was there a check for a false positive?
When, I called in to my GI doc's office here about the test,
the nurse said,"Bob, You've already had it,and it was negative
". I then asked about any chance on a false negative and she
said no, there were two samples taken on consecutive visits
and they were both negative. I just said Ah Great, thank you
very much. I can't believe I didn't remember though<Laugh>.
In any case, if they only did one test, one sample with you
, you should have it done again.
Also, eat the GF stuff you got now, and take careful
notice on how you feel, write it down if necessary. Once
you've finished it, start eating Gluten as per Margo's
instructions. Ramp it up slowly, and again take careful
note on how you feel. If it's no worse, Then I think Dr.J
is right about being not concerned about it, and you prob-
ably even had a false positive test. If it is noticeably
worse, tell him, and the issue has to be addressed. -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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and it came back positive all three times. No, I had it four times. I had it after being on a GF diet for over a year and that's when the antibody tests came back normal.
But, since I didn't feel better, he is saying to eat gluten, despite the fact that the antibodies came back normal while being GF for a long time. I am dizzy with confusion.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Oh, are you saying that even though you ate gluten free for
over a year, that you didn't feel one iota better than when
you started eating GF a year before? If that's so, then just
go through the GF stuff you just bought and then start eating
gluten. From what you've said you shouldn't start feeling
worse. It may even get better. By the way, did he tell you
to just do one dose of Miralax per day, or did he leave it
up to you? Do you have the 257 gram jug or the 527 gram jug
of it? -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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Yeah I took Primate Defense up to 18 per day for one year it cost me more then that, but when you are desperate what else will you do? I just learned I had IBS, finally gave up on Primal Defense and saw a doctor.
Edited by AndreJ (02/28/06 04:56 PM)
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Thanks this is really helpful.
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Although Primal Defense did not work for you, I hope you don't give up on all probiotics.
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