new to forum.. trying to figure out my digestive system after 23 years of symptoms
#351197 - 10/26/09 10:17 AM
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hello all
I have so much to write and ask, but I will just begin with brief synopsis of my ibs and some questions.
IBS started for me at age 21 (when I quit drinking alcohol -perhaps my stress reliever, lol) I have spent the better of 23 years trying to figure out what gives reliefe of IBS! I am currenly going thru the recommendations on this site about soluable, insoluable fiber and reactions of combining things. I believe I may be experiencing food allergies along with IBS making it more difficult to learn how to care for myself
for example, in all my many years of reading, fennel is highly recommended as a stomach reliever. Yet, when I use it in a tea or a soup, I blow up with horrible gas. I see that this site also offers fennel as a help. Can anyone tell me why I may be reacting to it or what else to try?
Thank you in advance. this forum has been recommended by a friend who thinks the world of it!
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Hmm- I'm not sure what the deal is with fennel, but I don't drink the tea either since there are warnings on it about using it with the birth control pill. I like peppermint tea so you might want to try that. You may also find that the diet helps you so much you don't need it (wishful thinking maybe!).
Welcome to the board and good luck getting started. Feel free to ask more questions!
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I am training for a Sprint Triathlon- Check out my Blog!
http://redsoxcap.blogspot.com/
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What is the interaction between fennel and bc pills? I wasn't aware of that.
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IBS-C Sufferer since I was 18 and a FMS sufferer also!! Not feeling well enough to shop...Visit my online website!! www.youravon.com/bwethman
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I ordered the Fennel tea and it did not do a thing for my bloating. The only thing that helps the bloating/gas for me is movement.
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where did you hear that?! I drink a strong coffe pot full of fennel tea everyday and I take birth control! I don't know how I could chose one over the other! what are the warnings??
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Maybe I am crazy but i thought it said on the tea box that it could lower the effectiveness of BC (which isn't really a safety concern, just use a back up I guess). I can't find a lot on it online so...now I'm second guessing myself.
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I am training for a Sprint Triathlon- Check out my Blog!
http://redsoxcap.blogspot.com/
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I googled it yesterday, and it just says that it can lower the effectiveness of birth control pills if you drink ALOT of it...allow you to get pregnant.....so buyer beware  There were a few other warnings about it to, to do with health. Peppermint tea is absolutely safe and we can drink as much as we'd like I prefer the flavor of the peppermint better, but do have an occasional fennel when belly is gassy.
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IBS-C Sufferer since I was 18 and a FMS sufferer also!! Not feeling well enough to shop...Visit my online website!! www.youravon.com/bwethman
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every day I drink that much,I order 3 bags of fennel about every 2 weeks..how is it bad for your health..and do u think I drink too much to do any damage?
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webmed says this:
"Some women use fennel for increasing the flow of breast milk, promoting menstruation, easing the birthing process, and increasing sex drive."
and this:
Birth control pills (Contraceptive drugs) interacts with FENNEL
Some birth control pills contain estrogen. Fennel might have some of the same effects as estrogen. But fennel isn't as strong as the estrogen in birth control pills. Taking fennel along with birth control pills might decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. If you take birth control pills along with fennel, use an additional form of birth control such as a condom.
Some birth control pills include ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (Triphasil), ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (Ortho-Novum 1/35, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7), and others.
Aperson--I couldn't find info on exactly how much, but seeing as you are taking SO much fennel, I'd use backup for sure! Or, talk to your doc about a bc pill that wouldn't interfere..
This is crazy! I never realized this!
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IBS-A
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my backup method is that he always pulls out..sorry if this is offensive to anyone,don't know how else to say it. I also don't have sex except one to 3 times a week,again sorry.
well sometimes I do start my period a week early,the pills before my green pills,green pills make me start..sometimes I spot a few days to a week before my period then my real period starts..I will be having my yearly woman exam nov. 12..I will ask about this..
I make my fennel as soon as I wake up in the morning,and thast when I take my pill and drink my tea!! perhaps I should change taking my pill at 11pm when I get off work,and go to bed by 11:30 or 12..I stop drinking fennel at by at least 4 everday..I work at 5pm..so I wonder how that will affect things..if it will be better for my ibs too or interupt my sleep or throw all my ibs off?
It would be great if some good studies were done on this like how much fennel is too much,or wat brands of bc pills it most likely effected and such.
Edited by aperson (10/28/09 08:56 AM)
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Yeah, this is a new thing to me as well. I went through a lot of fennel tea a few years ago and am glad we always used a backup-condoms. As for your backups, I don't want to lecture you or anything, but pulling out is not a form of birth control. I heard a statistic the other day that said even when a guy pulls out, there are at least a few million sperm that have already found their way inside of you. You could easily get pregnant with those statistics! also, 1-3x a week is plenty--it doesnt matter how often, you're def. able to get pregnant...so unless you're OK with it, I really recommend you talk to your doc quickly about this.
I wish there was more research too, but maybe people will chime in and give their opinions or more information
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IBS-A
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well everything must work fine for me as I've been doing this over 2 years now..perhaps heather would look into this or look into places that would do studies on this?
wat did u think about me chaning the time I take my bc pill? i wonder if it will have any effect on the fennel not interfering or how it would affect my ibs?
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I can't find the site I was on yesterday about the fennel seed tea  I do remember reading you shouldn't drink it early in pregnancy due to the estrogen effects and it can cause an allergic reaction in some people (rashes). Diabetics also have to be careful. If your really concerned a call to your pharmacist would be helpful. CVS is always answering my drug questions :0) They are great!! I'm still going to drink it in moderation...if any problems pop up I'll cut out the fennel.
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IBS-C Sufferer since I was 18 and a FMS sufferer also!! Not feeling well enough to shop...Visit my online website!! www.youravon.com/bwethman
Edited by BarbieNJ (10/28/09 09:30 AM)
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Yeah, I probably would at least try changing times. I have no idea if that would do the trick or how long the effects from fennel last, but it would be worth a try to move times.
Being on the bc pill is probably why you haven't gotten pregnant, but it's your life and your choices. I am just trying to help, seeing as you are still unable to live a normal life due to your IBS symptoms. I certainly didn't meant to tell you what to do, it just seems like you couldn't deal with a pregnancy at the moment.
How are you doing, btw, about avoiding trigger foods? have you been feeling any better?
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IBS-A
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heck no I couldn't,I barley make enough money to pay for my own stuff. I'm bloated an umcomfortable 24/7.I even have to plan when I take showers to avoid conflict with bathroom issues. I live with my parents..I can't leave the house,run to the bathroom all day or feel bad so I sit at my computer all day until I go to work..well I'm trying harder to avoid triggers...haven't stopped my old habits..but have been eating less triggers. I will take all the fennel concers and ask about changing times I take the pill with my doctor next month..but as the doctors in this town are known for being retarded,She may not know anything.
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I also forgot to mention that it can interfere with 'Cipro" antibiotic. I take that one from time to time, so I need to remember that in the future. Let's not forget Fennel can help ALOT of different symptoms...just have to be careful with interactions, just like any supplement
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IBS-C Sufferer since I was 18 and a FMS sufferer also!! Not feeling well enough to shop...Visit my online website!! www.youravon.com/bwethman
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and would really like the reference WebMD gives for this. In all of the medical and herbal information on fennel I have never seen any reference to an interference with any method of birth control.
Fennel is considered GRAS by the FDA, which means it's under no restrictions for use in the general population.
I've seen information that fennel can have phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), and foods that have this (like soy) can help reduce the risk of reproductive cancers that are associated with high estrogen levels. This is because the phytoestrogens lock onto estrogen receptors in the body and human estrogen can't then lock onto the same receptors, so the human estrogen is then flushed from the body. There is still a LOT of research to be done in this area.
The estrogenic effect is why there is a caution on the Fennel Tummy Tea to "tell your doctor if you're pregnant or nursing". It isn't that there is evidence that fennel isn't safe when you're pregnant or nursing, it's that there is a gray area about this because it is unstudied and I don't want to be the person to make that decision for someone else's health concerns
But, none of this means that fennel would interfere with birth control pills, any more than soy foods would.
I would ask your ob/gyn and your pharmacist, and also call the toll free number listed on the drug insert that comes with the pills. That will take you right to the drug manufacturer and if anyone should know about interactions, they should.
Please let me know what you find out.
Best,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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LOL.
Seriously I would be very surprised if fennel actually decreased BC efficacy. I would think of it like papaya- if you eat tons of it you can abort a baby by in effect tenderizing it. Women who handle hops a lot can decrease fertlility.
These things only happen when way too much is used. So I haven't had problems with fennel and will continue to use it even though I still really don't want kids- even at my age!
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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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