I'm new and a little overwhelmed...
#56934 - 04/01/04 03:06 PM
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jjr
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 40
Loc: Roanoke, TX
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hi everyone, i'm jenni. i just found this website yesterday and went and got the book last night. i wanted to share my "story" to see if anyone else is like me. i'll try to make it short...
my whole life i've pretty much suffered from constipation (i'm now 28). when i was a little girl there were many nights my mom or dad would sit up with me for hours while i cried and tried to go to the bathroom. my mom made me drink prune juice (YUCK) and used sopositories (don't know how to spell it?) on me a lot. i never saw the doctor because i don't think my parents or i realized it was a problem.
well, about 7 years ago i realized something was wrong with me...i was bloated all the time, gassy, constipated, dry mouth and got nauseated a lot...especially in the car?! so i went to a gastroenterologist and he did an endoscopy and didn't find anything wrong with me. well...since then i've had another endoscopy, a reflux test, a hyda-scan (gall bladder test), sonograms, been sent to a rhemitoid arthritis doctor and most recently had a colonoscopy. i've had numerous doctors because i kept switching cause none of them were telling me what i wanted to hear...that there was something specific wrong with me, something they could surgically remove and i'd be fine. so anyway, this last doctor told me i have ibs and put me on zelnorm. it helps some, but not enough and i am just so tired of feeling like crap! so, yesterday i stumbled upon this website and have been stuck to it ever since...i'm at work so i guess i should be working, but i want to obsorb as much info as i can. i'm overwhelmed though because i feel there's so much info i have to know. and like someone else mentioned, all the white flour seems to be going against what all the other diets are all about. i don't care though, i'm going to try it. i just hope it works for me cause i'm just so sick of this.
the stuff i read about ibs mentions some of the symptoms i have, but not all of them. does anyone else get dry mouth or headaches? when i feel constipated and bloated i have those symptoms too. i also feel nauseated at times.
i'm just still so skeptical to say "i have ibs" and feel comfortable that that's really it. are any of you like that?
anyway, i'll quit rambling now. i'm really thankful that this is here so i can ask these questions.
thanks for your time 
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Hi there and welcome. Your story sounds familiar and sounds like many I've heard about on this website. I have had problems with Diarrhea since I was about 18 (I'm 30 now). I have found so much help in this website and have learned so much it's hard to describe. All I can tell you right now is to educate yourself as much as you can with Heather's books and this website and maybe you can start trying a few different things that will make a difference in your life. Since most of my symptoms are IBS-D I can't help you much with the "C" but I do know the fiber Heather sells has helped many people with both C and D. Just try to re-evaluate the things you are doing and maybe something new you learn here will make you feel a bit better. Hopefully others with IBS-C can offer you some more support.
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I also went from doctor to doctor, had every test, repeated them over and over, even had surgeries just to try to get rid of this problem. I wouln't believe it was "only" (hah!) IBS. Something that hurt this much had to be something else, and they were just missing it so maybe another doctor could find it. I didn't want to believe I had something that was "invisible" or "incurable" and couldn't be fixed with a pill or surgery. It wasn't until I found this site, read the book and heard all the other people's stories that I finally accepted that this is what I had but finally there was a place to find some hope, cause I sure wasn't getting any hope from doctors or non-IBS friends. You'll find lots of helpful suggestions here !  And lots of us deal with headaches. I sometimes feel nauseated right after eating breakfast for a short while & sometimes it lasts longer and then is gone for months. I read somewhere a whole list of other non digestive symptoms that a large majority of IBS people get as well, now if I can only remember where I saw it, and nausea, headaches & anxiety were in there.
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Welcome Jenni!!
Don't worry, I know there's alot of info, but you don't need to learn it all at once! Take it one day at a time, try the next right thing, and before you know it, you'll be feeling better.
BTW, some of us here have something called fibromyalgia. Many people with it also have IBS and vice versa. Dry mouth and headaches can be associated with it. If you do a google search you'll learn more, but why not hold off on that and just work on your IBS first.
Just a thought.
Welcome to this caring and supportive community!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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WELCOME!
#56948 - 04/01/04 03:53 PM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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I'm glad you found the site.
I'll tell ya, I get headaches, too, Jenni. I have other medical things going on, so I'm not sure what's a symptom of what.... Nevertheless, I do get them. Dry mouth is something I don't get often-- only on sinus meds at allergy season! 
I know that this diet seems to say thing that the other ones don't, but you'll see... This one actually works! What do we all have to lose? The way we were eating wasn't working, right!?
Best of luck. Don't hesitate to ask questions. That's why we're here! Hope you find as much relief as many of us have...
*jen
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Hi Jenni!
I'm IBS-C most of the time and I suffer with dry mouth frequently and have for years. I think it's related to the IBS and it doesn't matter how much water I drink. I'm still in denial about the IBS, but that's because I've never been tested to rule anything out.
I felt overwhelmed at first, too, but with a little time and practice it really does get easier. Welcome to the boards,
Terri
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Welcome Jenni!
#56990 - 04/01/04 06:37 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Welcome to the boards!
Yes, your symptoms all sound familiar, Girlfriend. It does indeed sound like you have IBS.
I am a D, so I can't help you too much with your C. But I can help you with other things.
For instance, you need to relax. You're now in good hands. This is an excellent place to find answers to all your questions. Everyone here is VERY helpful and surprisingly knowledgeable. It must come from all the experience and pain and suffering!
White flour has worked fine for me for a very long time. I'm lucky, though, because I use whole wheat flour -- it's not a trigger for me, unlike most people. Everyone is different, and some people can tolerate things that others cannot. It's pretty much a matter of trial-and-error. However, there are a lot of triggers that are common to most, such as fats, red meat, dairy, and coffee (decaf as well). You'll find all this in Heather's book.
You should get yourself on a soluble fiber supplement, if you have not already. I'm sure your doc already told you that, right? Heather's acacia is the best stuff (although not everyone is on it). Check the links in here for info on fiber. Start low on the dosage and work your way up.
Get lots of exercise and drink plenty of water. And keep coming in the boards for great info. Check the recipe board for fabulous AND FUN new recipes to try. And it IS fun!
And of course come to the Living Room board to just "natter" and "schmooze" with us about NON-IBS matters. Just fun and silly stuff.
Don't hesitate to ask any questions -- we've heard EVERYTHING by now. If it's a question that bothers you, it's not trivial; it's important, and we want to help if we can.
There's nothing wrong with telling anyone "I have IBS." The sooner I got real about it myself, the sooner I got better. You will too.
Again, welcome! You did the right thing coming here.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Jeni,
welcoem to the site this is a great place to get support,advice,ask questions, vent,cry u name it, we are here and we help each other out.
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if God brought you to it. He will bring you through it.
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I too am new to this site and the realization that I have
IBS. Have suffered on & off for over 30 years. Just chalked it up to stress, life & lactose intollerance. This site is a life saver. My stress level has gone down now that I know what and HOW to eat. Have tried several of the recipes and my husband enjoys them too. I don't miss the red meat, coffee still entices me but I avoid it. Since I found soy cheese I am a happy camper. When you find out help is here I too find myself addicted to this site. Reading all I can about it. Thanks to all who have contributed recipes and words of encouragement to those suffering. I thought I was in bad shape, but fortunately for me I can work, go out without too much trouble and the information I have gained from here even makes it easier.
Sorry I rambled. Have to get back to work!
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hi - i was really overwhelmes too at first - and must confess i am still overwhelmed on this site!  there is tons of information here and there never seems to be enough time in the day to read it all! i had a very similar experience as you growing up and have been c since i can remember. i just happened on this site a couple of weeks ago and was so happy to see so may others like me! 
i was afraid of all the white flour and bananas and rice - everything i had been avoiding for years...i've been on the diet and taking acacia for a couple of weeks now and things have gotten better but not great yet...i think i'm doing the diet wrong 
welcome! i'm just trying to log on when i can and read what i can and post when i can! i do find though that i can spend hours here and well, i do have to work so...
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HI! I'm also new to this site as of yesterday. I sent for the IBS cookbook and am trying to followe the guidelines I have seen on the site. I have gotten nauseaus quite a bit with this condition and get headaches sometimes also, especially when I can't go to the bathroom. I have been going from one extreme to the other and I know it can drive you crazy. My doctor diagnosed me with IBS, spastic colon, hiatal hernia and gerd. He gave me mediation for the hiatal hernia and gerd but just told me to take benefiber to regulate myself. I found this website and have been reading everything I can find. Am just learning how to even post a message. Hang in there. I know there are a lot of people who can help you through this on this site.
Pat
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I became a vegetarian in 1996 and went almost vegan in 1997 because I wanted to be healthy and knew a lot of junk that meat and dairy nowadays can do to everyone's health. I found out later that I was originally lactose intolerant anyway so that move was good for me. BUT, the last two and a half years it seems I've had problems with irregularity. It got worse when I went on a trip to Tibet where we had to take high-altitude sickness pills, which caused constipation. So during that trip to counteract it, I took natural laxatives. I think that caused a dependence on not necessarily laxatives, but herbs that helped with irregularity--particularly Aloe vera capsules. I heard that you could get dependent on them, and then that they were okay. But to be safe, I stopped, but I substituted them for other things such as YerbaPrima Colon Care and colon cleanses. I think I'm obsessed with not being bloated and "gas-ey" all the time. I want relief!! I feel fat though I'm 130 pounds. Sometimes I'm in pain, but not frequently. I've always been a healthy eater even as a young child. I love cereal and just recently decided to try cutting back on wheat-based cereals and go towards oat-based cereals.
I'm actually needing advice to help me figure out what to do. I'm totally against pharmaceuticals to help with sickness. I've been on Ortho Tri-cyclen for two years and the bloating was supposed to go away after a while, but that might be a contributing factor as to why it hasn't. I'm just so unsure. I want to be regular without drastic "help" from major herbal medications if you know what I mean.
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Jodi, welcome!!
there's lots of vegetarian folks here. do some searches and you'll find past threads. and they'll be welcoming you before the day is out probably.
You could also start your thread as a new post to make sure they see it.
Welcome to the best place on earth!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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i want to thank all of you for the wonderful welcome!! i look so forward to talking more with you and learning all i can from you and this site. i also thank you so much for the advice and encouragement. i'm so happy i found this site and other people going through what i am. i will definitely have lots of questions along the way, and hopefully over time i'll be able to help newcomers like myself.
like suggested, i am going to take this one day at a time...learning and incorporating what i can as the days go by.
thanks again!!
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thanks for the info bevrs. you asked if my doctor recommended a soluble fiber supplement and the answer is no. he simply prescribed zelnorm...and i personally don't want to be stuck taking a medication the rest of my life, that's actually how i found this site, cause i was looking for other treatments. i'm hoping that i can eventually stop taking zelnorm and simply control my symptoms through this diet, but for now i'll stick with trying both. zelnorm is only supposed to be a short-term treatment anyway.
i have an appointment with my gastro next friday so i'm going to talk to him about all this new info i've learned. i hope he doesn't put it down...think it's crazy talk. oh well, i don't really care.
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Hi! Welcome to the boards. I am a strict vegetarian myself, though not vegan. But I hate eggs and milk and now don't eat cheese because it makes sick. But I do eat honey.
First off, have you gone to a specialist and been tested? There are lots of diseases, such as Celiac Sprue (wheat allergies) that have similar symptoms and these can be ruled out with a blood test. There are also other more serious diseases that you would want to rule out.
After that, if you don't want to use medicine (which has really made a difference in my life, but I understand why you want to avoid it) I would buy Heather's book and focus on following her diet carefully. You can totally do this as a vegetarian. I make recipes off the board all the time subbing in soy meat for normal meat.
If you have any other questions let me know... I'm happy to help. And I understand what you mean about feeling fat all the time. A friend of mine and I joked once about looking pregnant when we are having an attack, even though neither of us are big people either. It's a pain.
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same person!!!
#57243 - 04/02/04 10:53 AM
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Dalia
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 79
Loc: London / Tel Aviv / New York
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Hey and welcome
it was amazing to read about your symptoms...amazing. its like we have lived the same problems!! Nausea, bloatedness and c are my biggest problems! Nausea was the symptom that first alerted me to something being wrong!!!
I want to reassure you that I have learnt to manage my ibs through diet and diet only. As far as heathers die, I follow it except that I substitute wholegrains where white grains are specified. For me, if I were to eat white flours, I would get more c!! But as far as red meat, eggs, milk, caffeine etc....heather hits the nail on the head!
If you want any help, I am here....
Good luck!! XXXXXXXXXX
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Feel the fear, and do it anyway
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Hi Jenni,
My name is Melissa and I am new to this web site – I found it about a week and a half ago. I know exactly what you mean, I am at work too, and I am checking this site all the time. I ordered the Big Kahuna package so I could get started reading Heather's books, drinking the teas and taking the fiber. Finding this site feels like a blessing.
For the past year, I have experienced a lot of pain, nausea, bloatiness, i.e – IBS-C. I never used to have this problem before, and it is so frustrating sometimes I cry. I have been to the doctors – and they all tell me the same thing (and also give me wrong suggestions!! Taking Metamucil made my stomach blow up), and eating raw vegetables didn't help either.
As a part time second job, I am a fitness instructor and have a very healthy eating lifestyle. I was doing all the things wrong – like eating salads every day, apples, yogurt… little did I know it was making my symptoms worse. This past week and a half, I have tried Heather's diet… I started eating only soluble fiber for two days, gave up coffee (YIKES, that was a tough one), and dairy completely…and after those two days, I started slowly adding other things in. I am amazed at the results – I have been feeling good for the past five days… my belly almost feels back to normal. I feel like this is a miracle. I can't wait to get Heather's book and learn even more. I was scared to do this because I have been living on whole wheat, veggies, food that is really good for you – and I didn't want to give it up. Honestly though, the way I feel is worth it. I haven't gained any weight (in fact, I think I may have lost a pound)… and I just feel better (I think cutting out dairy is key, even if you aren't lactose). I now blend my fruits into soy smoothies, and have fell in love with a new snack – vanilla soy milk and rice chex cereal. I have been peeling and heating up my apples – and my husband even likes that treat now. It's only been a week and a half. I am slowly eating veggies again – I just puree them into sauces, or cook and eat them with a big roll. I started taking Citrucel and it works a lot better for me than MetaMucil.
Give the diet a shot – and see how it works for you. I think the white flour is okay, as long as you are still getting your nutrients from other places. I am a health food nut, and I'm adjusting.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed recipes, and stories - reading everything this past week has been so uplifting for me.
Best wishes!
Melissa
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Melissa, GREAT to hear you're doing so well. That's fantastic!! You go, girl!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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I'm new to this site also. I found it about a couple of weeks ago, when I was desperately searching for information on IBS-C and taking antidepressants to help with it. I bought both books and have found them very helpful as well as this site. Last summer I had an ulcer and I think everything went down hill from there after treatment (2 weeks of heavy duty antibiotics). I had very painful spasms, gas, bloating, and constipation. I couldn't eat any hard veggies. My doc put me on Elavil to help with the spasms and told me to take metamucil. Elavil was a great help, but I gained 10 months in 3-4 months, would sleep 10/day and had nighmares some times. I went to see another doc. about 3 weeks ago, she put me on lexapro. I'm suppose to try it for a month. The first week on this med was very frightening, my mind was racing a mile a second, plus heart palpitations (blood pressure up), couldn't sleep at all. But now I with three weeks on this med, I feel a lot better. I'm actually going to the bathroom more and able to sleep now, no spasms. I can actually eat almost anything. But I'm still going to try the diet, because I don't want to be on meds all my life. Plus I'm worried about other side affects that this med causes (besides the sexual side affects). Anyways, just wanted to tell my story and to tell you to hang in there. This site has a lot of helpful information and friendly people.
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Chela, welcome and thanks for a great post.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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so you substitute whole grains for the white / refined ones that heather suggests. i wonder if that would be a good idea for me - i am the same as what was described, bloating, naseau, c and more c!
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Whole Grains?
#57398 - 04/02/04 04:47 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Generally, most people with IBS cannot tolerate whole wheat. Everyone is different, though, and luckily a few of us are fine with it. I'm grateful I am one of them.
I have nausea, bloating, gas, etc., but no C; I'm a D.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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yes I substitute with wholewheat flour, have wholewheat pasta, brown rice, wholewheat cous cous. HOWEVER wheat is the one grain I watch I don't overdose on, or I do get gasy....I eat no more then three slices of bread in a day, if I have bread I am only allowed a little pasta / wheat crackers...anything wheaty. I try much more to eat whole oats and rice which are not as gasy! Make sure to drink a lot of water about one hour after eating the food (between meals) and it will make sure the wholegrains are washed down!
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Feel the fear, and do it anyway
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welcome to the boards reat place to get advice and help. hang in there
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if God brought you to it. He will bring you through it.
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welcome to the boards. we hope u enjoy it here great support groups here and good place to come and chat,vent,ask questions u name it.
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if God brought you to it. He will bring you through it.
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Whole grains are often an IBS trigger. They need to be treated carefully. They are insoluble fiber and can cause attacks. Here - read this link that explains that white breads, etc. (soluble fiber) doesn't cause constipation. web page
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Welcome! For nausea, try ginger or peppermint tea. Ginger especially is helpful. Cut a slice of gingerroot the size of a quarter and put it in a mug of hot water. Enjoy! Also, sprinkle ground ginger in everything you like. Every little bit helps.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Ana, remember we're here for you if you have questions. Chances are, someone has wondered about the same things you are. Be patient with the acacia. It can take up to 2 weeks to ease constipation. Here's a link about soluble fiber (white breads, etc.) to help. web page
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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white breads and pastas and potatoes and such are soluble fiber. They'll help with both constipation and diarrhea. The catch is that you also need insoluble fiber (the bran portion of whole grains, greens, most fruits and veggies), which is a trigger, but must be eaten carefully instead of just avoided. If you're always IBS constipation, you'll likely need more insoluble fiber than someone with diarrhea. You still have to tread carefully, and incorporate these foods with soluble fibers like the white breads, rice, pastas, etc. Too much insoluble fiber, especially without that soluble fiber basis, can actually worsen constipation if you have IBS. So play around a bit to find the balance that works best for you. If you look through the diet section of the site, you'll find tons of detailed info about soluble vs. insoluble foods, why one is safe and the other is a trigger (but again, you still have to eat it), a diet faq that addresses this exact topic and more...
- 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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Dalia has a really great tolerance for whole wheat. I do too, actually - even bran flakes cereal is just fine for me. But we're kind of the exceptions here - whole wheat is probably the single most difficult whole grain for most IBS folks. Brown rice, oatmeal, barley, quinoa, and polenta are usually much more tolerable...though still not for everyone.
Most IBS folks can always add in some type of whole grains, in some type of quantity, if they have a good soluble fiber basis. But I've learned from the boards that there are exceptions even here...some people just cannot take any whole grains, no matter how carefully they eat them, because they trigger Gi spasms and cause either diarrhea or constipation for them.
Everyone has to find their own balance here. And I suspect that the more you are able to carefully, slowly incorporate whole grains, the greater your tolerance will become. It's also always easier to try to increase whole grains in your diet when you're rock solid stable, not under stress, not dealing with any other triggers, etc.
- 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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so we can see if you look like twins too!
Email to me at heather@helpforibs.com and I'll post them. I've been really behind on posting people's pics lately, but I'm determined to catch up this weekend!
- 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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Patricia, sure enough here's one of your posts! I remember reading it because my dad had a hiatal hernia too. I haven't been feeling too well so i guess i just forgot to answer you.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Thank you for this clarification Heather. I guess for someone who is ibs-c (or i might be ibs-a; i have c for up to 6 days then usually have d when something i eat triggers an attack. maybe that's a - not sure!) being stable would mean having regular movements daily rather than the violent spasms every few days (or more) with no movement in between!
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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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Re: Whole Grains?
#57762 - 04/04/04 12:26 PM
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Dalia
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 79
Loc: London / Tel Aviv / New York
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Balance is indeed the key. and playing aruond, which can involve both nasty and nice surprises about things you 'thought' you could tolerate and vice versa.
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Feel the fear, and do it anyway
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Oh my gosh...I haven't been on this site in a while, but i've recently been having dry mouth so i did a search on it and came across the thread of posts that i started back in april. anyway, i came across the one that you, Dalia, wrote and felt so bad for not responding. i just never read it for some reason. i guess you wrote it after i read the ones that were posted right away. anyway, it's probably not a big deal to you but i wanted to apologize.
and i have to say...i was doing really good on my "diet" but lately i've been slacking and to be honest, i feel like crap!! it's just proof to me that it really works. i need to get back on track!! feeling good is worth it, i'm just being a slacker.
anyway, that's all i had to say. hope everyone's having a good day.
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