Flaxseed meal fiber
Common Questions and Answers about Flaxseed meal fiber
flax-seed
A couple of members have mentioned using activated charcoal for the really bad gas. Most gastro doctors tell people to use psyllium fiber, like Metamucil. I have had to use other fibers, like flaxseed meal. It's true that you need to build up slowly how much fiber you use, especially when your system is obviously sensitive already. Like sparkle40, I can't use the wheat bran either. My gastro doctor mentioned Metamucil and the like to me.
I do alright using flaxseed meal rather than the psyllium based fibers that you mentioned. I can use just a little in water, like the fiber drinks, or just sprinkle a little on my food. It's an actual food product and it has nutritional benefits, like omega 3. I buy the Bob's Red Mill that is available at Trader Joe's, because it's more affordable. It's already ground flaxseed meal.
I haven't heard of the Heather's Tummy Fibers, so I'll have to look for that.
My naturopath has me using Oregon Grape and Cascara Sagrada. I use the Oregon Grape with each meal according to the directions on the label. I use one cascara sagrada at night to prevent constipation, so I don't have to take so much MiraLax because I feel the same way about pharmaceuticals as you do. Another good thing to do is take dietary fiber everyday. I have been using flaxseed meal and inulin fiber for dietary fiber, since I'm intolerant to psyllium fiber, such as Metamucil.
I'd first consider just adding another healthy meal. Most shakes doctors know about aren't particularly healthy. You can make your own, but to play it safe I'd try using rice protein as the base -- most shakes are either dairy or soy and they are both common allergens and many people don't tolerate them well.
m sure you and your mother will see some improvement in your IBS symptoms by using flaxseed meal instead of psyllium fiber. Psyllium fiber is known to be harsh and irritating to the gut. Whereas flaxseed meal is soothing and calming to the gut. I add it directly to my food. I find that it has a pleasant nutty kind of flavor, which is great, since I do miss the taste of nuts, since I've developed nut allergies.
I've had that happen before. Fiber supplements will help. This is why most doctors continue to advise their patients to use Metamucil and Citracel, which are psyllium fiber based. I can't use psyllium fiber myself, since it aggravates my GERD. My naturopath said this is actually quite common with psyllium fiber. There is one other commercial product that people use that you may find easier to take, since it has no flavor of its own.
It does sound like IBS, and stress will certainly aggravate IBS. Have you seen a doctor for it? Usually, a GI will have a person go through some tests, like a colonoscopy, to rule out any other causes for your symptoms. Although it's most likely IBS, you really ought to see your doctor first of all.
If you find out that this is IBS, there are some things you can do that will help it. One thing that doctors almost always try is prescribing an antispasmodic drug.
Coffee helps me go, sometimes orange juice too.
I think you'll find that the reason eggs aren't bothering you the way cream cheese or butter do is because they're not actually a dairy product (milk product). Eggs aren't a milk product from cows or goats.
Keep in mind, though, that many people have difficulty eating eggs, just the same, because they are a high sulpher food.
There are some other things you can try, too. I find digestive enzymes and probiotics very helpful. I also really load up on fiber.
I started using chlorella (a type of algae and is available in tablets at health food stores) as a stool softener and it seems to be doing the job. I use flaxseed meal instead of the psyllium fiber because I also have GERD, which is aggravated by psyllium fiber, and I can add it directly to food, instead of drinking it down with water, like Metamucil. The GI said it doesn't matter which fiber is used, as long as I use a fiber, which I was doing all along anyway.
I found the new inulin fibers are easiest to take. Or, you can try flaxseed meal. Or, you can try Metamucil or Citracel. Just take the fiber. You need to try a laxative, too. It's not one or the other--it's both. Try Miralax. If you don't like it in water, try apple juice. I find that Miralax is suitable in plain water, though. Make sure you drink loads and loads of water.
Total CARBS minus fiber CARBS equals NET CARBS. Since fiber CARBS do not affect your glucose readings NET CARBS is more accurate for keeping track of intake.
How do I know how many NET CARBS are in a food? Personally, I like caloriekingdotcom for looking up foods but you can also use a paperback book of foods w/nutritional analysis or read those government analysis labels on packaged goods.
Decide on your personal goal for total daily intake of NET CARBS.
I had a similar reaction to Prilosec OTC. A friend of mine told me that it had even caused damage to her stomach and intestines when she was taking it as much as I was. Then, another friend of mine told me about the connection between GERD/IBS and food sensitivities.
After discovering what my food sensitivities are through an elimination diet, I no longer take medication for my GERD, and I have GERD pretty bad.
I added 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed to my diet for the past year. I was very discouraged when I received the results of my lipid panel results. Last year: total chol.=238, trig.=59, HDL=101, LDL=125. This year: total chol.=240, trig.=67, HDL=98, LDL=128. My bad numbers went up and my good number (HDL) went down. Why?
(I am a 60 year old female. I exercise regularly (jog and ballet), I am 5'2" and weigh 92 pounds.
When my wife was preparing for an operation, her lab work showed her liver counts to be very high, near 200. The Dr. said, many things eaten could raise these levels. They wanted to know if she had eaten cereal with flaxseed and said flaxseed could have a large effect. I mention this so you'll know if it happens to you.
What planet does your doctor live on anyway? I may not have been officially tested for IBS until I was an adult, but I know very well that I was suffering in silence with IBS for years before this! It wasn't as severe for me as for your daughter at her age, but I remember how I felt. The trouble was, I was never taken seriosly that I had belly pain. I was just labeled by my mother, who wasn't paying attention.
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