Hello everyone. I have been reading these message boards and coming to this site for a year and a half now but this is my first time posting. Also its a bit long, so sorry ahead of time.
I was diagnosed with IBS (D) two years ago and so far have been managing symptoms using:
Bentyl
Align
Pepto Bismol
Heather's Tummy Fiber
Peppermint Tea
EFI diet
IBS Audio Program (Hypnosis)
I have had the colon spams almost completely under control. I still seem to get diarrhea quite a bit but nothing as bad as it used to be. I also deal with regular indigestion but I am able to put up with it.
But over the past month and a half I have started having major gas problems. Before I would occasionally have very mild gas, but now I get gas all the time and the odor is unbearable and very embarrassing.
It started off only while I was at work and I thought it was stress related. Now it happens when I am home and even eating my safest foods (Oatmeal, EFI recipe breads, english muffins) and my core soluble fiber foods too (potatoes, sourdough bread) and everything in-between (tuna fish with no mayo, grilled (no oil) chicken or turkey breast).
Often this gas is soon followed by the urge for a BM. But even after a BM the gas remains.
I am trying to figure out the culprit and how to best manage the gas. I am afraid to eat in public now because it has gotten so bad.
I think it might have something to do with my soluble fiber intake. Around Thanksgiving I started getting more strict with the EFI diet and tried eating more soluble fiber based foods and less of the trigger foods. However, I did not notice any difference in gas for a month after this. (I also started taking Heather's Tummy Tamers around this time but did not notice any help from them)
Then a couple weeks ago after the gas was getting worse, I decided to cut down on my soluble fiber supplement (Heather's brand) to see if it helped. I went from 6 teaspoons (divided into 3 doses) down to 4.5-3.5 teaspoons. But this just made my other symptoms worse.
Over the past few days I have tried increasing my SFS again and spreading it out more. I am now doing 6 teaspoons divided into 4 doses of 1.5 t each per day. The gas has gotten worse over these past few days and I assume that is because of the change in the SFS.
I am just looking for advice on what I should be doing and some clearcut information about soluble fiber and gas.
Should I be increasing or decreasing my soluble fiber? I know this is supposed to be done slowly too. And, if I should increase, and I have already increased too fast, should I now stick with what I have and wait to stabilize before increasing more or should I cut down again?
Also what is the connection between soluble fiber supplements and soluble fiber foods and gas? Will this gas be a chronic problem while taking this much soluble fiber or can I expect to eventually have the gas lessened after my body adjusts?
Lastly, are there any products I can take to help the issue? I tried Gas-x once a long time ago and it made my stomach feel worse. I have never tried Beano. And I have not noticed any help from Pepto for my gas.
I tried Heather's Fennel Tea but didn't notice any help on the gas. And as I mentioned above I tried the Tummy Tamers and they didn't seem to help either. (I am also somewhat wondering if my introduction of the Tummy Tamers a couple months ago could have contributed to the gas problem somehow)
Sorry again for the long post. Any help would be greatly appreciated. This website has already been a tremendous source of relief for me and I am hoping it can help me once again.
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New symptom - gas
