I'm very confused
#278427 - 08/15/06 01:42 PM
|
|
|
|
|
demo
Reged: 08/15/06
Posts: 48
Loc: New York
|
|
|
I've had IBS-C for about 10 years now. I'm on Zelnorm, which has helped considerably, but lately, I've been experiencing horrible episodes of flatulence, about which I'm indescribably embarrassed. I think I've tried everything on the market--simethicone, beano, etc.--and I've not really had remarkable results. It's affecting my sleep because I'm afraid of what the night will bring for my boyfriend.
I was following all of the advice on this site (including fennel tea and acacia), but nothing has really helped me.
I started seeing a nutritionist, and she recommends upping the fiber intake (whole grains, beans, etc.)--i'm a vegetarian also--because fermentation of the stool can cause these side effects.
I'm really at a loss. And I'm miserable.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Whole grains - bad idea. Try for small meals (5 or 6 throughout the day), always eat SF and then something else. Also, avoid all the gas producing veggies, or eat them in small quantities, and very well cooked.
Chew thoroughly and slowly.
Eat slowly and don't gulp your drinks.
There's some great gas relievers in the Yoga for IBS icon on the Left hand side of this page.
Keep up with the fennel - drink several cups a day.
It could also be you might be trying too much acacia at once. What's your dose? Did you increase it slowly????
--------------------
Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
It's affecting my sleep because I'm afraid of what the night will bring for my boyfriend.
I understand your embarassment but your BF should be supportive of this. It happens to us all. Gas comes with the territory for many of us. Something like hypno may help - it should reduce the gas, and will likely allow you to not be embarassed by it.
--------------------
***********************
If you're not dead, you've still got time.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Just read your siggy line-HA HA! Don't know whether to laugh or cry though!
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
He is supportive, but it doesn't relieve my embarrassment!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks, HanSolo. I'll try the yoga advice. My nutritionist tells me that white breads and potatos are constipating, though. How do I win and does anyone have suggestions on what I can eat to avoid both constipation and gas in terms of flour products?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I guess we are suppose to just eat more IF with the white products? I still think I get constipated with white rice and white breads even when I eat them with IF veggies.  Maybe it's all in my mind, though? 
I want to try Acacia soon too! Keep posting on how you are doing with it. How much do you take? Is it causing you gas/bloat?
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
NO!!!@! White bread and potatoes do NOT cause constipation. If you read the dietary guidelines on soluble fibre, you'll discover that it draws water into the stool to make it soft to pass. Know what virtually ALL fiber supplements are made of? Yup! Soluble fibre. Yes, if you ONLY ate soluble fibre and nothing else, yes, chances in the end you would be constipated. Not from the SF, but from the lack of insoluble. You need to keep taking in the SF FIRST. Then add in the insolubles slowly and carefully. SF is now your best friend.
I get really angry when doctors or nutritionists say that potatoes or white bread or white rice have no fibre. That's not true at all - it's SOLUBLE fibre. And all they care about is insoluble - because they think that's the only kind that counts. Not so. Soluble has lots of benefits, too. Especially for us.
I know it's confusing. Hang in there, and sorry for the rant. I just love my SF and get defensive (not at you, but at ignorant doctors, etc.)
--------------------
Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Okay, I'll keep up the SF intake. Thanks again. So much.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I agree wholeheartedly about the importance of soluble fiber. SF is so soothing to your gut, and will not produce the kind of gas you are suffering from. However, if you struggle at all with constipation, it is really helpful to eat IF foods with things like potatoes and white rice...in my experience, those kinds of starchy things don't provide enough fiber on their own to keep me regular. It also depends on your individual tolerances, though...I need lots of safe(r) IF like cooked lentils and beans, brown rice, and cooked veggies, but I know some D people who can only tolerate a very small amount of IF in their diet. Of course, the most important thing is to eat both kinds of fiber at the same meal or snack, in the right combination for you. Your best bet is to experiment, and find out what works for you! Good luck!
--------------------
Julia
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I understand. I'm glad that he is supporting you through this. If you haven't tried hypno yet, I suggest giving it a go. It was the only thing I found that really helped reduce the amount of gas I had.
--------------------
***********************
If you're not dead, you've still got time.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
It helps with gas. You should probably tell a difference after a couple of months.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
--------------------
Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
I get really angry when doctors or nutritionists say that potatoes or white bread or white rice have no fibre
Why does the label on my white rice and french bread say 0 grams fiber? I'm really confused. If they contained soluble fiber, how can it say 0? That would include SF and IF.
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
It's because they're counting the insoluble fibre and not the soluble. In these days, they really have us brainwashed that soluble fibre is not really a fibre and therefore doesn't exist. 
--------------------
Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
But with something like Oatmeal, they put 4 grams down for fiber (2 of which are SF and 2 IF). If it contains no IF at all, they wouldn't just state the SF?
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks for your recommendations. I do suffer from constipation, and will try what you suggest and eat the two fiber types together. I'm also going to try to take Beano with every meal I eat that contains IF, such as beans, to see if that helps. So, brown rice is IF? I figured as much, since it still has the rice bran attached, but wasn't certain.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Getting some today!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
so, if we have a meal of chicken, brown rice, and spinach, we aren't getting any SF with that meal? Would it be advisable to change the veggie to squash or carrots then? I love brown rice....but I've been eating it with spinach, green beans, zucchini, peas.
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Some products list only INsoluble fiber, some products list both combined, and some break them out. As HanSolo says, many health claims today consider only INsoluble fiber, which is insane not only because of IBS but also because soluble fiber seems to be the one that best removes cholesterol from your system. Oatmeal, on the other hand, lists both types of fiber because oatmeal's health claims are based on the fact that is has both: soluble fiber to "sweep" cholesterol out of your system and insoluble fiber for the benefits it seems to bring with regard to some colon cancers.
As if that isn't confusing enough, some products label like this:
Fiber: 4 grams
Soluble Fiber: 4 grams
Now, does that mean 4 grams of IF *and* 4 grams of SF, or just 4 grams of fiber all of which is SF? It depends on the product. (I actually emailed one of the banana companies about their bananas because of this type of labeling. For bananas, it was all SF.)
Everyone will have a little variance, but I strongly recommend you begin by trying the EFI Diet as Heather lays it out: avoid the triggers like the plague; make SF (as defined on Heather's list) the basis of every meal and snack; eat safe proteins; eat IF safely - always cushioned by SF and, if you need to, chopped, cooked, and pureed to make it easier to digest.
If you're IBS-C, you want to eat as much IF as possible while cushioning it with enough SF to keep your gut from spasming. Think of starting with SF as getting your digestive motor going, priming the pump, and cushioning the blow all at once. (how SF works; cars and charts; metaphors; SF is your friend - and so is your SFS)
As for brown rice, it's one of those strange foods like oatmeal and cornmeal - some SF, some IF. All three show up on Heather's list of SF foods, but tolerance for them varies a lot. I wouldn't make brown rice or oatmeal my SF base, but some people may be able to - and I do fine with cornbread as my SF base. Here's an old thread that will tell you more about brown rice than you probably ever wanted to know.
HTH.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
What is EFI Diet??
--------------------
IBS-D, extreme pain and cramping - GERD - lactose/dairy intolerant, OCD, Fibromyalgia
DX: w/ Multiple Sclerosis 3/10
I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. Phil 4:13
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I was told Brown rice is IF.Also if a label on a food does not list any fiber, does that mean it doesn't have any, or it does and it is IF??? I do like the way oatmeal is labled, but I assumed, like with Stacy's Soy chips, which soy is SF, the fiber content means SF, am I wrong. I have been thinking that if something like, white bread, potatoes, carrots, soy crisps etc., have a fiber content it means it's SF. The confusion is setting in!!!!
--------------------
IBS-D, extreme pain and cramping - GERD - lactose/dairy intolerant, OCD, Fibromyalgia
DX: w/ Multiple Sclerosis 3/10
I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. Phil 4:13
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
I have been thinking that if something like, white bread, potatoes, carrots, soy crisps etc., have a fiber content it means it's SF.
Me too. So, I assumed if the product listed 0 grams fiber, it had no fiber, either IF nor SF because I've seen some SF foods that do have fiber grams listed.
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I think in oatmeal's case they count it to look like you're getting more fiber. The labeling on things is extremely inconsistent when it comes to fiber. Read the ingredients carefully. Look for the brown or white rice, etc. Wheat flour= white flour, whole wheat flour = insoluble. They often say wheat flour for white, so to not let people know they're not getting whole??????
I don't know, and don't pretend to know what the companies are thinking when they label things. I think it's all a conspiracy to market their things the way they want to. What I do know is that it's a pain in the butt and I read the ingredient list instead.
--------------------
Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Fibre is sort of a continuum. In the field of rice, wild rice with the heavy brown coating on the outside has the most insoluble. Then comes plain brown rice - it's insoluble, but really close to soluble on the continuum - the inner part of the rice is soluble.
Then, white rice is all soluble because that second layer of brown is removed.
Make any sense?
Like wheat -
The more you grind it, the more soluble it gets.
--------------------
Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
So is it safe to say if something is labeled wheat (not whole wheat) flour/or white flour it is the same thing and it is soluble??? Just making sure. I understand about the "whole" being insoluble. Just making sure I'm doing what's best for my tummy.
--------------------
IBS-D, extreme pain and cramping - GERD - lactose/dairy intolerant, OCD, Fibromyalgia
DX: w/ Multiple Sclerosis 3/10
I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. Phil 4:13
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Isn't it difficult and confusion!
Do you think it is bad to eat IF veggies with brown rice?
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Gracie, which brand/formula do you use?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I've used Primal Defence, and Enzymatic Therapy's Acidophillus Pearls, but others here have used some other brands with success like flora Q, and Jarodophillus.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I read his book and it said to take up to 9-12 per day for 3 months, then do a maintance dose of 3 per day. Did you do this high dose and now take 3 a day? I wonder if one a day would do any help.
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
i built up slowly to 4 a day for 3 months, then reduced down to 3 a day which i have been on for 3 years now.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I started with 1 a day and worked my way up to about 8. I kept it at that for about a week then went down to 6, then down to 4. Each person is different so you might need more, or you might need less, but one thing for sure is you need to start slow, or you might get too gassy for a few days.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Do you use both of those together? The pearls only contain acidophilus, is that the main one we need?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
