The diet and constipation
#299828 - 02/14/07 03:56 PM
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dmdentre
Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 47
Loc: New England
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I have IBS-A, mostly C with bloating. I have tried the diet and find that no matter how much soluble fiber I get with the diet, I still have the constipation and bloating. If I add tons of insoluble fiber, then I don't have constipation - I go every day, but I get a lot more bloating (of course) and indigestion. Any suggestions on how this diet has helped those of you with constipation? Also - do any of you have more pain and cramping after you have a BM as opposed to before? Happy Valentines Day!
Thanks for your advice!
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I'm an IBS-C
The way I did the diet is I did BTC for a couple of weeks, while taking a laxative called Magnesium Citrate (for example Natral Calm or generic, I took the generic version), that is very gentle, while I did not eat much IF.
Then I started adding IF very very slowly, and was able to reduce my laxative dose to 0.
I do not experience much cramping (unless I overdose on fat or IF of course) or bloating. I was prone to cramping before, not so much to bloating... I mean, in the past my abdomen would swell, but not as much as to make me look pregnant, as some people on this board... after reading their accounts, I just think I have it so easy, I can as well say I'm not prone to bloating at all.
I think what I didn't do is I didn't shock my system with IF. I added IF very very slowly, plus I tend to eat the same things over extended periods of time, so my body doesn't get new "interesting" kinds of fiber over which to complain, nor does it get too much of fiber at once... It's used to the situation and I keep it that way.
Happy Valentines to you too!
--J
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For IBS-C, you really need both IF and SF together. I've tried all SF - I got bloated and sluggish. I tried mostly IF and little SF - I got crampy and not all that much less C. It's the combination that's magic! If I get some of both in every meal, I'm in good shape.
Don't forget the other components of living with IBS: you need to get exercise and you need to handle stress (hypno, yoga, meditation, etc.). Hypno really did help my C.
--AC
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I have IBS-D but take loperamide to make the bowels slower. When having a D attack I typically get a cramp first and then D and feel better (at least for a short time) after the BM. However when my bowels are slower and I sometimes have a big BM then I typically don't have pain before but get some after the BM. It usually goes away within 5-30 minutes or so though. I think that since the bowel is more sensitive to changes in pressure for people with IBS, the pain comes from the change between an expanded part of the colon suddenly being empty after the BM.
/Ulrika, IBS-D
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i don't quite know where i fit, i think i am ibs-a also. depending on the time of the month, one will prevail over the other. when i am on the c side, i have lots of bloating, gas and pain, but most important i have more pain and cramping after a bm than before. that drives me crazy, as i don't know what to do also. at least i know someone else has the same symptoms. yesterday i received my ibs starter kit (fennel tea, peppermint caps, acacia fiber, and both books) the best valentine's gift  i am going to slowly try each product, i'm going to try the tea for breakfast, and then try each of the others...though i'll wait as tommorrow is my b-day and don't want to have a problem on my day. i've learned that if i don't know how something will effect me, don't try it unless i know i'll be at home with nothing to lose. i hope you find what works, have you tried any of the teas or powder?
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You're probably right about the pressure. I thought the same, because I experience cramping (for a short time) if I waited until my bladder was full (so I really wanted to pee) and then emptied it all at once. I guess it's the same deal.
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[color:purple] [/color] :confused:
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Hi. I'm new to all of this. Although I have never been formally diagnosed with IBS-C, I have all the symptoms. I do plan to undergo tests to find out for sure, but until then I want to try this diet to see if it makes any difference. Does/has any one of you take/n Zelnorm? I do all the time. It's the only thing that works. But I'm afraid that I suffer with diharrea, cramping and back pain after. I ask my self often, "Is this IBS-C or is it just chronic constipation?" Would a doctor be able to tell me this? Would appreciate your input. Thanks
diva
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I have had chronic constipation all my life... last year it turned into IBS.
Well, Heather's diet is mostly healthy and might help your C (if you add enough IF).
If you do have all symptoms it could also be something much more serious than IBS. Not that IBS is not serious, just some other diseases require surgeries and other scary stuff.
I have not taken Zelnorm, but did you try doing a search of the board? It has been discussed lots of times. Do a search, unrestricted in time, and you'll find lots to read.
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A doctor should not have perscribed you Zelnorm until you were diagnosed with IBS-C. What kind of a doctor did you get the Zelnorm from? GI docs will give you a colonoscopy first to rule out any diseases, etc. I have tried Zelnorm it did not work for me at all. But, I am sure there are people on the board that it does work for.
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I saw the Zelnorm add on TV over a year ago and asked my GP to perscribe it for me. It worked. It worked too well! I was doing just fine until 2 summers ago I was diagnosed with having border-line osteoporsis. My doc put me on Fosmax. That's when I started having a lot of stomach upset and increased constipation. I finally figured out it was the Fosmax, but I've been on a downward spiral ever since with this constipation problem because I've gotten hooked on laxatives and other stuff. Now I go through each day and especially night with back pain - sometimes so excruciating I can barely walk when I get out of bed.
I KNOW I need to go to a gastro specialist. And I plan to as I suspect something serious, maybe diverticulits, maybe even, God forbid, CANCER, although I have not seen any blood. I probably need to do a colon cleanse too. In the meantime as I struggle with this, I am doing SF diet as much as possible, drinking the teas, and taking the peppermint oil pills to try to get my system to settle down.
Here's hoping and praying,
diva
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I relate! Since I have been on the SF diet which has been only about 5 days, I have noticed that the stool has more consistency. Otherwise, there have been no significant changes. I seem not have any peristalsis once the matter has moved down into the lower colon. Then I suffer with back/abd pain big time. So I take a Zelnorm. Everything moves out, followed by a lot of soreness/stiffness in my gut. Sometimes I have really bad spasms. But atleast I'm cleaned out for a day or so. Then it all starts again the next day. Drinking the teas seem to help calm my gut down, but I just don't know what to do about the lack of peristalsis. I will try your suggestion about more IF and see what happens. Thanks.
diva
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What you say makes total sense, and I am doing the SF diet with just a little of the IF, but I haven't noticed any difference except for one thing - the stool consistency is better. I'm drinking the teas for gut spasms/trapped gas but nothing I do seems to help with the lack of peristalsis. I have to take Zelnorm to get anything to move. I guess I need to try the Acacia, but am reluctant because of past experience. One time I ended up in the ER because of too much fiber. Once was enough! I think my system is really sensitive. Hypnosis? I'll think about that one. Why is it so great?
diva
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dmdentre
#307482 - 05/17/07 12:21 PM
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Jordy
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 2095
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How are you feeling lately? Have you gotten any relief from your constipation and bloating....other symptoms? If so, HOW?
--------------------
IBS-C with pain and bloat
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