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I've been told to take Benefiber to up my fiber intake. If I take 1T with my breakfast then the whole day I have so much gas, it isn't funny. Accidophilous does it to me as well.
Anyone else have this problem? If so what do you take instead? I need the extra fiber for IBS, but am at a loss as to what else would work for me.
Thanks for all your input. This is a great group!
B. Good :)
Oh - I have not have that problem. Maybe your doctor can recommend something else for you to try - or something for the gas?
Thanks. I may ask my doctor for his help. I really hate to take more meds though. I tried Gas-X and works when I remember I have it to take.
Mostly now I'm bothered by the feeling that I am not finished 'going' when I'm done. Most annoying. The gas makes it very uncomfortable and sore back there. What to do?
I guess I go back to see the doc. Hope you are doing okay.
B. Good
I know I would have that problem. I can have minimal amounts of fiber but the minute I have too much- which really isn't too much- I get really bloated and gasey. No fun!
My doctor gave me a prescription for miralax to help me stay regular. Less expensive.
I've been taking the probiotic Align and I haven't noticed it causing that issue. But I did notice I have to take it separately from when I eat Activia. Craziness.
Maybe I should ask for some Miralax. Maybe that would help me. Good suggestion. Thanks for your input. It's just so hard to know how much, too much fiber is, because some days it's fine and the next day it's either too much or not enough. Very confusing.
Keep as well as you can.
Bev :)
My GI doc told me no benifiber but I can use miralax as often as 3-4 times a day. It does not make me gassy. But when i eat foods (anything not liquid) that slow my system down I get gassy.
i guess it all depends on how your system works.
Nancy
Dear Heart, I feel your pain, gas is just your stomach saying it's building up gases because you gave it something it can't digest. I have the same problem with benefiber. I use three things to digest and cause my colon to work more normal. First I take Source Naturals " Essential Enzymes" everytime I eat. If I eat any meat I use something called Betaine HCL w/ pepsin, I usually take 1/2 tablet because I don't eat much meat. Then for a laxative, I mix hot water with something called " Calm" made by Peter Gillham to make a raspberr/lemon flavored tea like drink. It keeps me regular. I don't eat anything with skins, absolutly no salads anymore or veggies. I have the GP diet strict, rice,potatoes, ground meats, some crackers, some gluten free bread, some fruits like peaches,pears, applesauce, no nuts or seeds even in jams or breads, this helps me to be regular. I know there is no fiber in diet except the bread but when the stomach hates it, I work around it. I hope this helps you a little bit. Each one of us is different and our digestion is different. Let us know if this helps you. I bought everything cheap at a health food store called " Whole Foods" you probably have a store like it nearby where they sell organic and health food. Warmest Wishes Gina
Hi dear!
Sounds like you have a doctor that is as helpful as mine. :0/
What your doctor should have told you is this:
Fiber is one of the three types of molecular sugars: There are monosaccharides (honey, super-ripe fruit), disaccharides (table sugar), and tri/polysaccharides (potatoes, veggies). So, because fiber is a type of sugar, it ferments when it sits in your gut, and fermenting food releases gas. (Think corn whiskey.)
It also makes you retain water because your body tries to create a water barrier against all the toxins produced from the fermentation.
Then there's undigested protein - it rots. That's why the Betaine helps, because it's hydrochloric acid, like what you have in your stomach, but it's made from beets. The Betaine helps break down the protein so you don't have the big gas problem/toxins from the proteins that are taking a long time to digest.
Personally, I have other issues besides gp, so I can't eat much of anything. I juice veggies every day to get my enzymes and nutrients without the damaging fiber from the veggies. And don't forget, every time we drink something we swallow air, so it's no wonder we bloat like crazy. Using a straw decreases the amount of air we swallow when we drink.
Cath
Gina :)
Thanks for your wonderful suggestions. I am on a totally gluten free diet, but no bread, because bread has yeast in it and I'm supposed to stay away from yeast producing foods. I don't eat fruit because the natural sugar produces yeast. Good thing I can eat most vegies with not much problem. I live mostly on a vegetarian diet, and only eat meat or fish once in a while.
I'll look for Essenial Enzymes. Might work better than the enzymes I'm taking now. I'll also look for Betaine HCL with pepsin, and ask if they have the Calm stuff as well. They sound like all good things to take. The Benefiber has to go . . .
Keep well!
B. Good :)
Cathy :)
Thanks for all that helpful information. I had no idea that fiber was so complex. I'll have to get me some Betaine I guess.
My family doc can only tell me so much, and I've seen two different specialists who tell me to do what works for me and get on with life. No suggestions, other than take another pill, which they know I won't do. Thanks to this group and a lot of reading, I'm learning how to handle this on my own. One day I'll get it right.
Thanks again.
B. Good :)
OK. My doctor told me no straws because they increase the amount of air you take in--because you are sucking, instead of swallowing. My dentist would love me to use straws. Tartar buildup is a problem with no chewing, and I have an obscene relationship with my electric toothbrush and water pick.
Could you please clarify on the straw issue?
There is a chance the GI could have been wrong. Not that any of my doctors have ever made errors, but I am willing to consider this.
I as told no straws as well because the sucking can cause gas build-up. I've read this on several sites as well. I don't want more gas . . . I want no gas, but I know if I didn't have any gas, I'd explode!
Keep well all!
B. Good :)
Wow - I'm surprised about the straw issue! I read about the straws in my research by a GI, but I can't put my finger on where... I get the logic on both sides though, that if you're sucking, intake would be more intense, but it's through a sealed tube with liquid at the other end.
Let's google it and see if we can find out more.
cath
oh, and btw - when I do occasionally need something to help my system along, I use Miralax. That only happens about once every 3 or 4 months, though.
I bake with almond flour, and that keeps things as they ought to be. I live in Georgia where they have Ingles stores, and I get fresh almond butter every week. I use it to bake bread, I make my own crackers and put almond butter on it, etc.
I also drink many of my meals for reasons non-gp related. I use Healthy 'n Fit egg protein powder, available at Vitamin Shoppe. For milk, I drink coconut milk by So Delicious.
cath
Cath :)
I too make my own crackers, although I haven't found too many recipes I like yet. Gluten free recipes don't work up near as nice as regular flour recipes do. Mostly I make flax crackers in my dehydrator, and they are pretty good. I will have to check into Miralax. It sounds like a good product and you folks keep telling me about it. Do you have any good recipes you can share?
I eat most of my meals, but have scaled them back to a great extent. The more I eat, the more trouble I have. I do drink tons of water and herbal tea every day to keep things moving. It works for the most part.
Thanks for adding to the discussion. I'm finally getting some information from you all that can help me. Doctors can be so useless . . .
B. Good :)
Hi all,
I was also told by my doctor not to use a straw, for the air issue.
I find the Miralax works but some times i have to take a little more than usual but if it works yay..
I'll have to get me some of that MIralax. Is it under prescription or can you buy it over the counter? I'm not sure we even have it in Canada. Guess I should look it up and find out. It sounds like what I need without the gas.
Keep on keeping well!
B. Good :)
Have you heard the good news there is a new bread that is totally gluten free by UDI's bakery in most regular grocery stores, some stores have it frozen others have it fresh. all kinds of stuff, sprouted grains, kind of don't understand it but I can eat this bread.! Only thing is it's expensive, I don't know if you are allergic to wheat, but if so they also have spelt ( another type of grain, quinoa, etc) in breads all of them delicious, Just found it myself, it acts like bread and tastes so good for us gluten free people. Quinoa makes great cookies, with stevia. Found that in health food store. Gina
Gina :)
Where do you hail from? I've never heard of this new bread, but it sounds great. I don't eat much bread because of the yeast in it, but I do eat it from time-to-time. I am allergic to wheat, so I have to be very careful about what's in anything I eat.
Haven't used quinoa for cookies, but have used it for breakfast and in salads. Delicious. I'll have to look for cookie recipes, unless you have some you want to swap. I used stevia though sometimes. I don't find in some things it works very well though, but then again I don't eat much in the way of any kind of sugar or sugar substitutes right now.
Wouldn't it be great to start a recipe swap in here?
Thanks for your great suggestions. Keep on keeping well!
B. Good :)
We made the traditional Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe last night, but with almond flour and Truvia to sweeten. We didn't use any brown sugar, and did use regular semi-sweet chocolate chips. (I can't have ANY sugar, but my hubby and son can.)
They were delish!!
We just made up the batter and sweetened it to-taste with packets of Truvia (prior to adding the chips).
YUM-O!
Cath :)
That does sound yummy. Did you use regular chocolate chips or carob chips. Just wondering. I have to stay away from regular chips because of the sugar. Sometimes even those have four in them. I use almond flour all the time, and rice flour all that kind of stuff. I don't find baked goods that tasty on a gluten free/sugar free diet, but I suppose I could live without all that. I like feeling healthy more than I like my baked goods.
Keep well! Thanks for telling me about your cookies.
B. Good :)
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