I don't want to insult people, but it simply doesn't make sense to not be able to tolerate a SAFE soluble fiber supplement, like acacia or fibercon or benefiber, because you eat food with fiber, don't you? If you couldn't tolerate fiber in food then not tolerating a SFS would make sense. But I think people take too much SFS at one time at the beginning and it probably equals 10 bowls of cheerios to their gut and then of course it would cause problems. I just cannot accept that a SFS, when taken wisely , would be any different than eating a sweet potato or other SF source.
I don't agree that feeling this way is akin to a person's disbelief in IBS by saying it is all in our heads. We know how much our 'gut brain' has to do with our symptoms. If something seems like it will be problematic we can get symptoms from it due to the stress alone. After 5 years on this board I have proven my purpose is to help others, not demean them.
-------------------- 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!