Acacia question..(Sorry if it's too gross)
#37455 - 01/14/04 02:15 PM
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Well I have been taking the Acacia for about a week...first few days 1 teaspoon in AM and noticed just a mild cramping. I increased to a little more than a teaspoon yesterday. Then gas set in which I thought was maybe something in my diet sionce I am actually eating now as opposed to before when i literally ate nothing for days sometimes. However there is nothing in my diet to cause this gas that I can think of and it is getting to be painful as well as smelly!!! Could it be the acacia??? I took no fiber supplements before. I'm starting to worry that something is wrong.... I just remembered I also added acidophillus too....
Edited by AngelKitty (01/14/04 02:20 PM)
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Hi there, I don't think the Acacia should be causing such smelly gas. I think the major side effect at first is bloating. Maybe cut back the Acacia for a while and see if that helps. Try some peppermint or fennel tea and lots of it for the gas. I know that gas is soooo annoying and it happens to me too. The acacia has been such a blessing for my stomach and I feel better all the time.
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I can't stand fennel..and I ma taking peppermint caps and tea already...does gas x really do anything????
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Acacia or Food?
#37459 - 01/14/04 02:26 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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No, it's not too gross -- we've all been there.
I had the same problem with the acacia when I (unintentionally) increased my dosage. Also, I practically took no supplements before the acacia, because I was only taking 1g. of Citrucel, which is virtually nothing. However, 1t of the acacia is a very low dosage -- I started out at 2t/day. Are you MEASURING the amount using a MEASURING teaspoon as opposed to a SERVING teaspoon? There's a big difference. That's the mistake I made -- Heather caught me! When I finally measured the amount by pouring from the serving teaspoon into a measuring spoon, I discovered I was actually taking in 1/2 TABLESPOON! It was too much of an increase too soon. Also, the gas decreased substantially once I began taking Heather's fennel and peppermint teas.
But wait! -- You sometimes "ate nothing for days"?? What's up with that? What's in your new diet? You said nothing that should cause the gas? Are you sure?
Don't give up on the fiber; it took me awhile to get used to it, and then of course having to get used to the increase so soon -- it was a big change, and my body just took awhile to get used to it. You might cut back a little, give your body a little more time to get accustomed to it.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Yes, Gas-X helps -- but are you giving the fennel a fair chance? Heather's fennel is FAR superior to anything in the stores. The taste is SOOO much milder -- and her peppermint is so fresh and pungent that it overpowers the fennel. I was exactly like you -- I hate the taste, and none of the teas were acceptable -- YUK. But my gas was so bad -- my hubby asked me to try ANYTHING. Heather came to the rescue -- AGAIN.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Gas X used to do wonders for me...really helped a lot. I was taking so many of them and then stopped because I didn't know if it was bad for me. That's what I'd like to know...is is okay to take a lot of Gas X?
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Gas-X
#37466 - 01/14/04 02:44 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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I'm sorry, I can't answer that one for you. I never took them on a long-term basis. You might contact the company and ask them.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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The main ingredient in Gas-X is simethicone...I had to ask my biochemist hubby what that was - it's DETERGENT. I'm not kidding. You're pretty much paying for a kind of soap - it makes the bigger gas bubbles smaller so that they pass easier.
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I agree, I had the same problem. I had to take a break from it and maybe I will try again. I did not feel I could make it through having worse symptoms then before. Right now I am on Fibercon and seems to be good for me. I think the fennel does help a lot with the gas too. I personally did not find gas-x to be helpful. It seemed to purge my system of all gas which was not to pleasant.  I guess different things work for different people. I heard Bromelain works for aiding in digestion but I notice only a slight difference with it.
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ah ha.. well i have been using a serving teaspoon, not a measuring one.. will fix that tomorrow morning. AS for the food... befor i happpened on this web site I was terrified to eat becaue what i tohught were helathy foods were killing me...then i got the book and started eating the way it suggested. The only new addition to my diet has been some grilled chicken that i avoided in the beginning of the diet. Mostly I eat bread recipes from heather's book, rice, potatoes, applesuace, bananas, I havent even added any veggies yet..unles you count potatoes and sweet potatoes. The breads shouldnt cause gas should they??? Maybe it is too much of the acacia too soon since i wasnt measuring properly. I am doing peppermint caps and tea...please dont tell me fennel is great for gas...if it is i will try it but yucko!!!!
PS....thannks for the help and info
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Well since you put it that way i guess i have nothing to lose so i will order some... I havent ordered heathers peppermint tea because it's not in bags..right? (sounds hard to make, i just use two bags per cup of the store bought stuff)... but i will try and also cut back on the acacia a bit.
thanks again
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Beano to the rescue!!!! For me, Gas X did nothing. Stopping eating gas producing vegetable did nothing.
I researched Beano and it is the following digestive enzyme. I've come to take it with my other digestive enzyme pill with every meal...no more gas, period, ever!!! There is another product called Bean-zyme that is the same thing. I don't know why they call it this funny name....it implies it's for eating beans only, and it ISN'T!!!!
ALPHA GALACTOSIDASE ENZYME
Description:
Helps prevent flatulence and/or bloat from a variety of grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, and vegetables containing the sugars raffinose, stachyose and/or verbascose. This includes all or most legumes and all or most cruciferous vegetable---also oats, wheat, beans.
Kandee
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AngelKitty
#37491 - 01/14/04 04:40 PM
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Debby
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 460
Loc: Cleveland, Ohio
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I also have Heather's Peppermint Tea. Some people have the metal tea ball that you reuse to brew loose tea. I ended up using a coffee filter filled with 1 TB of loose tea tied off with a twist tie on top and I just float that to brew it. I actually use a big travel mug that will hold a lot of tea so I don't have to keep boiling water if I want more than one cup. I think you will find Heather's teas to be so much cheaper than buying tea in the grocery store.
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Hey Kandee,
How many of the Beano do you take each time? Also, if I forget to take WITH the food, does it do the same AFTER the food? I sometimes forget until it's too late?  
Steph
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Interesting question. Please try NOT to forget to take them....get in the habit of them being taken with your first bite of food.
For me, the amount all depends. I think the bottle says between 2-3. When I'm home and I have a small meal that would be considered non-gas producing I only take one. A bigger meal at home or out 2-3, depending on AMOUNT I'm going to eat.
Yep, I've forgotten to take at the beginning of the meal at times, not often, and have taken after, in which case if you forget don't wait, not even so much as an hr. or else forget it, they don't seem to work. Remember I take a regular digestive enzyme with the meal as well.
Kandee 
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Check the yoga section of the board (from the left navigation link) for poses and sequences for IBS symptoms, and also the yoga message board itself.
- H
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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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OK, when I first started the acacia, I think I was taking a little too much and Oboy was I stinkey!! I reduced the amount a little and that helped. I have been on acacia now about 5-6 weeks and ALL the gas and Stinkiness has gone away! So stick with it and gradually increase the amount you are taking.
In fact, I have had such good luck with it I have been able to greatly reduce the Miralax I have had to take for more than 3 years! I am hoping to completely stop the miralax in the next couple of weeks.
As far as general gas and bloating: I take 2 probiotics (acidifulus and bifidus) in the am, 2 digestive enzymes with dinner and Beano when I need a little extra and this has really helped me! The probiotics do take some time to work, up to 6 months. I also believe Heathers Acacia has a prebiotic in it which will help with gas and bloating as well once your body gets over the first shock of the extra fiber!
I can't tell you how much exercise helps me as well-keeps everything moving and prevents the gas from building up!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Yaay Michele!
#37565 - 01/15/04 08:15 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Good for you, Girlfriend!
This is all good stuff in here -- and in fact answers several questions I had. I too am on the acacia, probiotic, digestive enzymes and Beano, so it's good to know how much you're taking of each and how long before you've had improvement.
Thanks, Michele. Keep up the good work. 
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I've seen a few of you mention digestive enzymes. I take Beano frequently, but what is this other enzyme you guys are referring to? Am I missing something? 
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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I got my stuff at the health food store. It's called "Super Digestaway," manufactured by Nutraceutical Corp. for Solary, Inc. It's "a high potency formula containing enzymes essential to digestion and assimilation of proteins, fats and carbohydrates." They contain pancreatin, ox bile extract (yum), papain, pepppermint, ginger, papaya, pepsin, betaine HCl, bromelain and aloe vera gel, in the form of gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate, silica, cellulose and maltodextrin. I take one during each meal.
I've noticed, though, that when the food I'm eating produces a lot of gas, Beano always comes to my rescue.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Your normal to say..but what is normal anyways..the acacia takes more than a week for your body to adjust. Since you were not eating a balanced diet before, your body is adjusting to that also. It's like a baby, when you introduce new foods and they pass gas or have b/m that are smelly. Introduce your body slowly to foods you haven't tried for a while and this will also determine what foods cause the ibs flare up. Avoid the ones that gas and or cause the symptoms. Once the Acacia gets adjusted with your body, try those foods again. Try beano also or a digestzyme.
After two weeks on the acacia you should improve, it's just like any other fiber supplement. If you have Diahhrea you should a improvement within 3 to 5 days. If you have constipation within 1 week you should see a improvement by week two if no improvement then see your Doc. or try a new supplement. I'm getting back to eating as well and sometimes get smelly gass. I dont use a fiber supplement yet. I doing ok with the diet and tea regimen. Good luck hope you get some relief soon.
Sherri
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I swear by Gas-X, or Phazyme or RiteAid Gas Relief. They're all the same thing, simethicone, and it really helps me.
Laura
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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how could you go without eating anything for DAYS? you are starving yourself! MAN or women cannot live on supllements alone. unhealthy!
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Sorry, can't remember the name of the enzyme I take, its home I'm at work! Any health food store should be able to reccommend one for you. It is different than beano and gas-x. Some people believe some IBS problems are caused when our bellies don't break down enough of the food and thats what the digestive enzymes help to do.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I've sinced purchased a tea ball, (I'd heard they didn't work well, but have had no problems with it), but I did try your coffee-filter/twist tie idea - my husband was calling it MacGuyver tea (sp?) (after the TV show), since it was a "jerry-rigged" tea-bag. LOL It worked fine, though, so thanks for the idea. 
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I take Papaya enzymes after every meal. It has been a life saver! It was since taking these that I stopped having my full fledged attacks. They are chewables that I can carry around with me -- and are so easy to take... They have really made a HUGE difference.
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