plain IBS versus specific problems -long
#318555 - 11/13/07 08:15 PM
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My IBS has been severe for almost 15 years. I have been on Heather's diet for 3.5 years. My 'A' symptoms are much better on acacia and the safe foods. However, I have debilitating gas and bloating. Much of the year it is hard to do anything or plan on leaving the house at all. At work and at other engagements I spend the whole time trying not to fart, wincing from bloating pain and trying to not look pregnant. I own maternity clothes so I will have something that fits when I have to dress in evenings. For long spells my gas will be absolutely unbelievably smelly too.  I have tried various elimination diets without results. I take a probiotic. I drink fennel tea. I eat safely. I exercise everyday. I take 2T of acacia a day. Despite this the gas doesn't go away.
Mainly my theory on IBS has been, despite how depressing this is, that it is uncurable. If you really have IBS that means you are normal physically but nothing works as it should and reactions happen without reason. We can decrease reactions by treating our gut like a spoiled child, essentially walking on eggshells, but all in all it will do as it pleases. This to me is plain IBS. But when you add gluten intolerance or fructose intolerance into it you may have these in addition and get benefit by avoiding the gluten or fructose. But really how much can we expect to improve basic IBS? If I have no extra intolerances what can I do to start to lead a normal life? If I have eaten safely for 3 1/2 years why is my IBS so bad? I am just so sick of the gas! If I go to the GI doc he tells me I am doing everything right and hopefully some medication will come out eventually to help me.
There has been a lot of talk here about FI causing a person's gas. Part of me wishes this were true and by avoiding fructose I would have no gas, but the fruits I eat mostly are bananas and pineapple.
Another mystery is why I improved so much when first on the diet and not even doing it quite right. The first summer and then the second summer my symptoms were light. At all other times they were bad- so how could I have some extra food issue? All the diet journals I have kept have not lead to any discoveries either.
I am getting a stool test, food allergy tests and ph test in the next few weeks. It is all I can think of. Any comments would be appreciated. Bloating is a mystery but since some people here are pretty much cured by doing what I do I don't quite get it! 
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Hi Minnie, I do have some thoughts and recommendations I'd like to share with you however I'd prefer to do so through email. Can you send me your email? Mines kat_garson@hotmail.com
And yeah, I used to think IBS wasn't 'curable' too. I've had it my whole life. But I'm now believing that it is curable and that IBS is really not a normal state. I've had so many doctors tell me I'm healthy, and maybe I'm just made like this and I should deal with it. This was when I was running to the bathroom every hour, how is that healthy!? Anyways, I'd like to share some thoughts with you if you want, but preferably through email.
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Kat
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Hi Kat. I don't want to impose, but if you wouldn't mind sharing your thoughts with me, I might benefit from them. I know Minnie has tried many elimination diets and although I have not gone that route yet, I am beginning to try to find an IBS "plus" symtom too like fructose or ww/gluten to be the cause for my gas. The first part of Little Minnie's post described me so well...the embarrassment from the gas and the foul odors. It's weird b/c I can't recall it being like this before on a daily basis...yes, food related at times but not so constant. It almost seems like the d I had got rid of all the bacteria in there so it eliminated my gas. I do have bms pretty regularly now so I would think that would be enough but maybe it's something else. Thank you for your insight. I often think that I am just wired this way too. And hang in there Little Minnie. I admire your tenacious attitude despite your frustration.
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Originally IBS-D for a million years!
Then IBS-A, Now a transformed slightly C
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Yep of course I'll share with you as well. I'm warning you beforehand it's gonna be a looong email. Basically over the past few months I've done a ton of reading found a lot of information.
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Kat
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May I impose too, please? If not, that's okay. I really respect your opinions and thoughts, Kat.
Do you take anything (supplement/med)in addition to your diet?
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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Little Minnie,
All I can say is that I empathize and totally understand the frustration and trying to come to terms with this IBS.
Two things I wanted to ask are 1)are you sure the Acacia isn't causing or increasing the gas/bloat even though it is helping with the BMs? It may be a trade off. Have you ever tried just plain flaxmeal?
2) Bananas can cause gas and bloat in many people....me included. Have you ever tried to omit them from your diet?
Also, I think I have a problem with egg whites even though they are considered "safe".
I know.....we feel like we have tried everything and maybe this is just as good as it's gonna get for some...while others may have less severe cases or not all the same symptoms. I know some have posted that they do not have gas or bloat at all....so these aren't even concerns for them and they find the diet helps the symptoms they do have.
I really really understand. It's depressing when you have spent so much time trying to get it under control to no avail.
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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I can forward information about what I've done in the past few months, and what I've been looking into as ways to improve my IBS and overall health. Email me at kat_garson@hotmail.com if interested.
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Kat
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Quote:
It almost seems like the d I had got rid of all the bacteria in there so it eliminated my gas.
That is an interesting comment. The way I have always understood bloating was that it was caused by contractions and spasms in the gut. Then some say it is bacterial overgrowth. Some think it is gas producing foods like broccoli. I know doctors consider acute bloating to be a mystery. One thing I don't do is take pep caps before eating. I have considered it and wondered if that would stop the spasms that lead to the bloating. I use pep caps more like immodium and take when I feel cramps and pain.
Today I went shopping all day. I started with french toast with homemade applesauce. Then a workout. Then at 10 I had a banana and a cereal bar. Then I didn't want to buy lunch so I ate the luna bar in my car. At one I still didn't want to try to find something for lunch so I munched on the new MIng Tsai chips at Target (awesome!). I got home at 2:30 and had a flat stomach and no gas! Then I ate leftover meatloaf and rice. Then I got bloat and stinky gas. Was it the food I ate? No, it was having lunch that did it. Everyday after lunch and dinner I get sick, pain, bloat and atrocious gas (it is better if I poop midday if I can do it). I am going to talk to my supervisor tomorrow about munching all day and just having a little something at break and lunch times. This will be inconvenient but I believe it will help.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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If you don't mind, I would love that information as well. Right now my biggest symptoms are gas and bloating, and I really have no idea how to deal with these, it's really debilitating to my life. My email is jcaputo@bcps.org. Thanks so much in advance, Kat!
Julie
IBS-D, GERD, lactose intolerant
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"We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."
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update
#318921 - 11/17/07 10:31 AM
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I am definitely being helped by consciously reducing my amount of food at a sitting and eating way more often. I had sort of strayed from this a little. I am eating a larger breakfast than before and snacking when I am hungry. I am trying to reduce the size of my dinner- even eating in two separate sittings. At work I am bringing easy to eat snacks back to my desk and then on breaks or lunch just having something like half a grapefruit or half a sandwich. If I have a banana at my desk I don't have to worry about being hungry later on. So I have still been gassy but since Tuesday I haven't been as bloated or painful.
Also I have thought about the times I have been feeling well and the times when I haven't. My doc had mentioned once in passing how the body responds to change. This is why I have had really good spells after a diet trial (elimination diet that is) and when I first started Heather's diet and felt cured. But then trying to feel that good again is really hard. We should not underestimate our body's natural reaction to change in our deciphering our own conditions. The body naturally seems to feel better when we change our diet. I don't know how this can be used to stay stable but I do know it is really important to remember when doing trials and eliminations. They have to be repeated to really see if you feel better, along with doing food allergy tests. So I think it is a huge process to be completely sure you have a food intolerance.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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HI K2 would you mind emailing me also with your thoughts and recommendations- i'd really appreciate it. My email is sarahaw@hotmail.com
Thanks
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Sarah
IBS-C
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I've noticed too that when I change something in my diet I feel better right away. This makes me sad because I'd really love to be able to know once and for all what is good or not good for me. Patience is a virtue, they say, and God knows we need it!
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To K2
#318969 - 11/17/07 11:04 PM
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Kat,
I've been reading old messages and came upon your offer to share your thoughts & recommendations and I was wondering if you would be willing to share with me. I've had D for many years, started Heather's diet and acacia and teas, and I'm am experiencing gas like I never had before. I was thinking this is my body's way of normalizing from D to hopefully normal, thinking that the gas is the inbetween stage, but as I read more and more posts on this board I wonder maybe the gas is here to stay and I'm starting to panic. I'd appreciate anything you'd be willng to share with me.
Thank you much,
Sarah T.
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um
#318974 - 11/18/07 07:26 AM
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Thank you but no. If you can't say it on the forum, I am sorry but I am leery. This is from past experiences. Please share any tips you have on the forum and we would all be grateful!
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Re: um
#318980 - 11/18/07 08:46 AM
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K2
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 1191
Loc: Canada
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I will post here most of my tips. I just didn't want to contradict Heather's diet on here. I will post all the information that follows her diet. I can also send around an email to those who asked with the full information. It isn't necessarily against Heather's diet. Her diet has helped me so much! A few topics though may seem conflicting and I don't want to cause problems.
I'm actually still writing my thoughts down. I'm a slow writer (sorry!). I'll post here in the next couple days probably, or maybe a in a new thread.
I won't be recommending any specific supplements, products, radical diets etc... Just food and overall health stuff 
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Kat
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Re: um
#318991 - 11/18/07 11:13 AM
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welshsarah
Reged: 06/30/07
Posts: 297
Loc: England, UK
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Hi K2,
Hope you don't mind but i've emailed you to ask for tips from what you've found out. I hope you don't mind- it's just that i'm really interested in natural and nutritional therapy so thought it'd be really interesting and potentially beneficial. I'm happy to share what i've read with you also. Thanks
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Sarah
IBS-C
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littleMinnie,
I was reading this thread, and read your message and would like to share something with you if you don't mind.
You wrote:
"Then I ate leftover meatloaf and rice. Then I got bloat and stinky gas. Was it the food I ate?"
I find that I don't do well with poultry/fish/turkey leftovers. I try to eat these only fresh. Also, the meatloaf was it red meat? Because I thought red meat is a definite trigger and I've been off red meat since I started the diet. I'm not without gas all the time, but I definitely noticed that leftovers & food that is cooked for too long do me in big time. I do best eating oatmeal with a little banana & mango cut into it & brown sugar for breakfast and all day I eat french bread almost every hour a slice or two. Then when I get home from work I eat my protien; chicken (I love baked chicken breast cut thinly close to the bones glazed with honey with sweetpotato cut in), fish-sushi, grilled salmon or some other fresh fish, turkey (also glazed with honey and baked for about 2 hours), with rice, potato, sweet potatoe and sometimes sauteed vegies. But only freshly made. I also keep cooked apples in the fridge and snack on this after dinner. cut up apples with a little bit of water and let cook for about an hour on low flame till really soft and in the summer I add peaches or plums makes it really tangy and so sweet no need to add sugar. I've been trying Heather's cakes & breads and snacking on these too when I have them.
When I stick to this diet (and granted I'm new (4 weeks) I'm pretty much gas free.
Wishing you all the best of luck. I know it sucks BIG TIME.
Sarah T.
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I would love to know your full story and tips....email me at east30s@msn.com...thank you very much
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Hey Kat, I'm always interested in hearing new ideas.
Carolynjoy1228@yahoo.com
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I'm pretty stable nowadays, but I am also always interested in new ideas. jannabailey@gmail.com.
Thanks!
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i dont post often, but i read a lot of what goes on here. i am an ibs-c. i would love to be included in the info! here is my email if you have the time: livingsamantha@gmail.com
thanks!!
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Quote:
We should not underestimate our body's natural reaction to change in our deciphering our own conditions. The body naturally seems to feel better when we change our diet. I don't know how this can be used to stay stable but I do know it is really important to remember when doing trials and eliminations
Are you saying that you think some of us may be eliminating foods unnessessarily, LM? That the intitial "relief" if there is one, may give us a false conclusion and that means it would not be beneficial to eliminate the foods in the long run?
How do we know when it is a true intolerance, and not just a short lived reprieve?
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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We all appreciate you doing this for us!  I would want all the info I could get to fine tune this demon. 
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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What I mean is that it is important to try to test yourself for intolerance several times knowing that the body responds to change usually well for a time. So to be really sure you are intolerant of something try a test at the doctor a few times, a few eliminations and a few glutting of the product (lots on an empty stomach I mean). Because I think it is really hard to be sure!
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Re: um
#319121 - 11/19/07 04:43 PM
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I understand what you mean. There are one or two things I don't completely agree with. I still cannot recommend the break the cycle diet to a Cer.
I am looking forward to your tips!
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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That is really interesting. I have heard my mom have particulars like that. For instance she doesn't do well with crock pots or gas grills. I always have leftovers on Tuesday and Thursday (can't cook those nights) and sometimes for lunch. I hadn't noticed anything relating to that but I will look back in my journal.
I do make my meatloaf with turkey. I never eat red meat anymore and not just for health reasons. I have decided I would be a vegetarian if not married. 
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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I want to clarify that REWARMING leftovers and overnight cooking in crockpot causes mayhem in my tummy. I'm Sabbath observant, & the tradition is to make a meat dish consisting of meat (in my case turkey or chicken), beans, barley and potatoesand any vegetable to ones liking. This starts cooking Friday afternoon and goes all night till lunchtime. This dish is a killer for me even if I only eat the vegies and turkey. I don't think that if I eat cold leftovers I would have a problem. But I do try to eat fresh.
I always thought vegetarians stayed clear of all animal food. I guess I'm vegetarian now too and not married. 
Hope this helps you.
Today i had a good day, had sushi for dinner and got a bout of gassy and touch of D with a little pain. Maybe I ate too fast. I was starving. oy. How nice it would be when I finally nail this sucker!
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Sarah,
I am well aware of tradition my step sister followed a Kosher diet for a few years. Her BF father was a Rabbi. But just a suggestion maybe you could take Gas stop or beano before eating. It might help with the barley and beans. I miss eating a mushroom barley soup but maybe once I get stable I will be able to try that again.
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IBS-C gas, bloating and acid reflux
Babies is the plan for 2008!!Hope this IBS cooperates.
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thanks auntdeb, I used to take beano and forgot about it. For now, i'd rather stay away from the "cholent" Sabbath dish, until i feel more secure and stable. But I'll keep it in mind. I forgot where I bought the beano? Any idea who sells it?
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Actually, Sarah you can buy anywhere now. CVS, Riteaid, Grocery stores. The girls on here say gas stop is better or stronger. I have it but havent had to take since acadia has helped that area. But I got it at my local health food store. But I am sure whole foods has it.
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IBS-C gas, bloating and acid reflux
Babies is the plan for 2008!!Hope this IBS cooperates.
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Is gas stop GasX? Or is it something else?
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Something else. It is a digestive enzyme. Same idea of Beano.
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IBS-C gas, bloating and acid reflux
Babies is the plan for 2008!!Hope this IBS cooperates.
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Re: too long..
#319347 - 11/22/07 09:06 AM
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K2
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 1191
Loc: Canada
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Hmm if I try to post some of it here, it will be very long (in total about 15 pages) so I'm thinking I won't post here? I don't know.. If anyone didn't get it simply give me your email address and I'll forward you my thoughts on IBS.
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Kat
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dhelmus@verizon.net Please forward me your thoughts.
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IBS-C gas, bloating and acid reflux
Babies is the plan for 2008!!Hope this IBS cooperates.
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Re: too long..
#319349 - 11/22/07 10:50 AM
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Syl
Reged: 03/13/05
Posts: 5499
Loc: SK, CANADA
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I am interested too
Please send a copy to sun1024@live.ca
Thanks
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Kat, please send it to me too at xxx
Thanks a lot!
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IBS-C, bloating, cramps
pregnant
Edited by Zara (01/19/08 04:40 PM)
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kat
#319398 - 11/23/07 08:48 PM
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line415
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 976
Loc: New Jersey
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Kat. You are too kind! Boy, did you open up a can of worms when you offered to share your experiences! It just goes to show how helpful your advice is to everyone here. Plus we all love a success story. I'm not sure if you sent the email out yet, but just a reminder that my address is line415@comcast.net. Thank you.
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Originally IBS-D for a million years!
Then IBS-A, Now a transformed slightly C
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