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Fiber good or bad?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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IBSGOAWAY
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 37
Posted 7/15/2009 1:50 PM (GMT -7)
In your opinion, is fiber good or bad?  Does it cause you problems?  I keep getting told eat more fiber, but on the other hand, I hear people say that fiber causes their symptoms to get worse.  Does fiber make you worse?  Have you been able to get through that?  Any and all advice is welcome.
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Keriamon
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2005
Posts : 2976
Posted 7/16/2009 10:14 AM (GMT -7)
Unfortuantely, there is no right or wrong answer to this question.  That's because some people are made better by fiber and some are made worse.  You'll never know until you try it.

Insoluable fiber from real food, like broccoli, bell peppers, etc. tend to bother most people, regardless of their type of IBS; tends to give them gas, indigestion, bloating, etc.  Raw veggies are to be avoided because they're hardest of all to digest; most people, though, can handle them if they're cooked.  Some people can tolerate al dente, while some can't eat anything unless it's cooked to the consistency of a limp noodle.

Of the fibers you get from supplements, if you have diarrhea, you will want a supplement that has more insoluable than soluable fiber; this helps builk stools.  The opposite is true if you have constipation: more soluable will help moisten your stools and make them easier to pass.  Supplements usually give everyone some gas to start with (starting with a smaller than recommended dose and working up to the recommended dose can help avoid a lot of this problem), but most people adjust and get over it in a week or two.

Personally, I have to be careful with fiber.  I can eat veggies al dente no problem.  I can't eat most fruits, though, at least not raw.  I can't take supplements, though; if I'm have C, they make it worse, and if I'm having D, they make it worse.  I also got bad D after eating blue corn chips; too much fiber per serving.  So no fiber cereal or anything like that for me. 

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IBSGOAWAY
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 37
Posted 7/16/2009 10:46 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks for your answer.  My mom made me eat a fiber bar last night (well she didn't make me, I'm a grown woman and I didn't have to but she strongly suggested it.)  All it did was make have horrendous (and I might add smelly...ew, sorry) gas all night long and it never did really make me go much.  I sort of had to induce D today with pizza, which is a horrible idea I know, but I was backed up and it always works.  I have been trying to increase fiber naturally with food, but I'm so afraid to do it.  I ate oatmeal this morning and will do the fruits and veggies thing as much as possible.  One of my big problems is smelly gas, which I know from experience doesn't really compare to the pain some people get...but it is making my work and social life horrendous.  I've tried lots of different things...beano, charco-caps, enteric peppermint.  But I never know if the relief should be immediate or if you have to give it awhile.  I hate this.  I never realized how life could be affected by stomach problems till I had them myself.  People who are not going through this cannot possibly understand what it is like.  Awful and very depressing!!  Thanks again for responding...it is so much easier to feel that other people do understand what it is like to try to live life with IBS.

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MaxieJ
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 34
Posted 7/17/2009 10:00 AM (GMT -7)
For myself, I feel fiber is a bad guy. Yes it may halt some of the constipation but it bloats me and gives excessive gas. I am not a doctor but someone with IBS must be weary of fiber. High fiber foods and the powders, I just can't recommend from my own experiences. I always watch foods high in fiber. I also believe IBS sufferers should watch multigrain cereals.

Hope this helps

Maxie J
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Mrae
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2009
Posts : 25
Posted 7/19/2009 8:16 PM (GMT -7)
If you are ibs-d you want more soluble fiber and if you are ibs-c you want more insoluble fiber.
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