Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

It does look like you're not getting a lot of IF, as you've already figured out. The other thing it looks to me like you're low on is fat, unless you're getting a fair amount of it at dinner. As far as how to know what foods bother you, for me it's easy - it gives me D or at least a grumbly tummy. I don't know what the equivalent of that would be for you if you're still pretty much always constipated.

I can't really talk about what you're going through from personal experience becaue I'm solidly IBS-D, but based on what I've read on this Board from people who are IBS-C, I can tell you what I believe I'd do if I were C: I'd treat IF as if it was a medicine. My base diet would be all SF. Then, I'd add just a little bit of IF (1/4 apple with peel, one nectarine, one whole wheat cracker, one slice of Zucchini Bread, 4 strawberries in a smoothie, 1/2 orange, 1 plum, 1/3 prune, 1/4 cup green beans, whatever I picked to start with). I'd eat that same little bit every day for 3 days. Then I'd add another little bit (a different little bit) and eat those two little bits every day for 3 days. Then another, then another. I'd make sure that I was getting some fat, too, even if I had to add it in the same regimented fashion. This approach would be incredibly boring and a serious pain in the neck to maintain, but it would reassure me that I was getting my IF (and fat) and increasing it gradually.

At the same time I was doing this, I'd be taking an SFS, starting at a low dose and increasing it gradually; drinking lots of fennel tea (oh, yuck) for the gas and bloating; and drinking lots and lots of fluid.

And I'd set a time limit, like, I'll do this faithfully for 2 months or 3 months or 6 months, and if I'm not doing better by then, I'll figure this isn't working.

It really seems to me that for people who are IBS-C, following Heather's diet has to be an act of faith at the beginning. You have to keep eating SF, adding in IF (and fat), and taking your SFS without really seeing improvement for a while. It was different for me: I started Heather's diet, felt better immediately, and the longer I was on the diet and the more SFS I took, the better I felt. At this point, if I follow Heather's diet, I'm stable.

I hope this helps at least a little and even more I hope you do find your groove soon.

BTW, I agree with you that eating the peels on your fruit is a good idea. Except for the banana - that peel I'd skip.

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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]

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