Benefiber
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Benefiber
I am new to this board having just been diagnosed with MC. Working with a nutritionist rather than the medication route and have been feeling so discouraged but still plugging along. She has me taking Benefiber at least 4 or 5 tsp per day for the last 3 weeks but not sure if this is for me. Trying the Gluten Free diet as well as dairy free. Wondering if anyone has feed back regarding the Benefiber. Just don't know what to eat!
Mitizi
I'm glad you found our cyber family and I know you will be as well.No, I never tried it and I'm betting that Tex will just say "NO."
GF is the way to be. I am GF, Casein Free and Soy Free. I really don't know what to eat..........There is soy in almost everything.
After you have read here a while go to www.enterolab.com
Quite a few of us have had the tests there and recommend them if you can afford them.
I decided not to take the meds my GI prescribed which were Lialda or Entocort but go GF instead. It worked very well for a while. I have since tested for soy.........
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
Hi Mitzi,
Welcome to our internet family. We consider ourselves to be a family, because no one truly understands MC unless they actually have it. When we say that we understand how you feel, we really mean it, because we've been there, done that.
It's obvious by what you wrote, that you have some grave doubts about the benefits of fiber in your diet, and your suspicions are right on the money. I'm sure that your nutritionist feels that she is making a good recommendation concerning the Benefiber, but unfortunately she is making the same mistake that many GI docs do. She apparently feels that what works for IBS will work for MC. It will not. Fiber will irritate your already-inflammed intestinal tract, and prevent it from healing, even if you are doing everything right with the GF diet, otherwise.
Though the symptoms of MC are not as severe as with ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease, it is a true Inflammatory Bowel Disease, (IBD), just as they are, (not just a "spastic colon"), and any significant amount of fiber in the diet tends to cause problems for virtually all of us, until we achieve remission. Once we achieve remission, and our gut has had sufficient time to heal, most of us can begin to add some fiber back into the diet, so long as we are careful not to overdo it, especially early on. We also have to be careful about the fiber in fruits and vegetables - lettuce is the absolute worst, for many of us, and will almost guarantee a severe reaction. Most of us can tolerate well-cooked vegetables, such as squash, potatoes, etc., (without the peel, in order to cut out that often-irritating source of fiber).
Otherwise, if you prefer to go the non-med route, you are on the right track, with your elimination of gluten and dairy from your diet. If that diet, (along with minimizing fiber intake), doesn't bring some improvement within a few weeks, you may need to try eliminating some other items from your diet. For example, about half of those who are gluten sensitive, are also sensitive to soy, and a few of us have numerous food intolerances. As Joan mentioned, she is at the point where she is eliminating soy from her diet, to try to determine if that is the remaining piece of the puzzle that is preventing her from getting her life back.
Please keep us informed on your progress, and feel free to ask anything. We learn what works and what doesn't work, by learning from each other, so we always appreciate feedback.
Again, welcome to the board.
Tex (Wayne)
Welcome to our internet family. We consider ourselves to be a family, because no one truly understands MC unless they actually have it. When we say that we understand how you feel, we really mean it, because we've been there, done that.
It's obvious by what you wrote, that you have some grave doubts about the benefits of fiber in your diet, and your suspicions are right on the money. I'm sure that your nutritionist feels that she is making a good recommendation concerning the Benefiber, but unfortunately she is making the same mistake that many GI docs do. She apparently feels that what works for IBS will work for MC. It will not. Fiber will irritate your already-inflammed intestinal tract, and prevent it from healing, even if you are doing everything right with the GF diet, otherwise.
Though the symptoms of MC are not as severe as with ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease, it is a true Inflammatory Bowel Disease, (IBD), just as they are, (not just a "spastic colon"), and any significant amount of fiber in the diet tends to cause problems for virtually all of us, until we achieve remission. Once we achieve remission, and our gut has had sufficient time to heal, most of us can begin to add some fiber back into the diet, so long as we are careful not to overdo it, especially early on. We also have to be careful about the fiber in fruits and vegetables - lettuce is the absolute worst, for many of us, and will almost guarantee a severe reaction. Most of us can tolerate well-cooked vegetables, such as squash, potatoes, etc., (without the peel, in order to cut out that often-irritating source of fiber).
Otherwise, if you prefer to go the non-med route, you are on the right track, with your elimination of gluten and dairy from your diet. If that diet, (along with minimizing fiber intake), doesn't bring some improvement within a few weeks, you may need to try eliminating some other items from your diet. For example, about half of those who are gluten sensitive, are also sensitive to soy, and a few of us have numerous food intolerances. As Joan mentioned, she is at the point where she is eliminating soy from her diet, to try to determine if that is the remaining piece of the puzzle that is preventing her from getting her life back.
Please keep us informed on your progress, and feel free to ask anything. We learn what works and what doesn't work, by learning from each other, so we always appreciate feedback.
Again, welcome to the board.
Tex (Wayne)
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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RUBYREDDOG
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:45 pm
- Location: Glendale, Ca.
Mitzi, Welcome to the best web site for MC sufferers. I'm new here as well. You will not find a better source for getting your life back then right here (Better than most GI doc's) Check out the current posts, I know there are a lot of them, but you will find most, if not all of your concerns here.
I can attest to the elimination of soluble dietary fiber from your diet as a positive move. The IBS diet stresses elimination of unsalable fiber and the increased intake of soluble fiber. I was misdiagnosed with IBS and was taking TAMMYS TUMMY FIBER POWDER along with her fennel oil pills for gas and bloating. After my Enterolab results, I went GF and DF and achieved o.k. results but still had some major D at times. Then I read a post by Tex about the elimination of ALL TYPES of fiber. 3 days later I had a major improvement.(I also eliminated my daily banana, also high in fiber.)
I know I still have a long way to go to achieve remission. Its frustrating because it takes sooooo long. Some here have taken 1-2 years or more.
As in Joans case I just received my second round of enterolab results. I'm sensitive to Soy, Eggs and Yeast. Another major dietary change. Eliminating these, will hopefully bring more positive results.
We all have different responsises to dietary factors. Good luck on your journey.
Hotrod
I can attest to the elimination of soluble dietary fiber from your diet as a positive move. The IBS diet stresses elimination of unsalable fiber and the increased intake of soluble fiber. I was misdiagnosed with IBS and was taking TAMMYS TUMMY FIBER POWDER along with her fennel oil pills for gas and bloating. After my Enterolab results, I went GF and DF and achieved o.k. results but still had some major D at times. Then I read a post by Tex about the elimination of ALL TYPES of fiber. 3 days later I had a major improvement.(I also eliminated my daily banana, also high in fiber.)
I know I still have a long way to go to achieve remission. Its frustrating because it takes sooooo long. Some here have taken 1-2 years or more.
As in Joans case I just received my second round of enterolab results. I'm sensitive to Soy, Eggs and Yeast. Another major dietary change. Eliminating these, will hopefully bring more positive results.
We all have different responsises to dietary factors. Good luck on your journey.
Hotrod
NOT banana, too?