IBS and beyond
Thank you very, VERY much to everyone who responded to my last post--I appreciate your comments and thoughts more than you can imagine.
A few more links for you guys, because I meant to include some of them in the original post, and because I've found some other sites that are helpful. I promise this will be the last time I bring this up here!
The IBS Livejournal Community
A community that pulls NO punches--people come here to vent, ask questions, and get advice. I don't recommend it to the average person, but for IBS sufferers, it's refreshing to be able to talk about the condition in a place where everyone understands.
About IBS
A site from the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. I wish this foundation was more widely-recognized, because they seem to be a perfect go-to for information. They're a good jumping-off point for learning more.
Acacia Fiber
Part of my daily regimen, soluble fiber powder. This is kind of like eating a bunch of bread...without calories, carbs, or starches. It kinda pads everything else out. Please note that this is a DIFFERENT kind of fiber than most people are used to hearing about: it's not the kind of fiber found in beans, vegetables, and whole grains. This is gentle plant fiber than smooths things out, rather than roughs them up.
Align Probiotics
The other part of my daily regimen. It takes a little while to start working, but I've REALLY balanced out since I began taking this stuff in the summer. Your mileage may vary--not everyone responds the same to probiotics, and there are a billion different kinds out there. This one was recommended by my GI doctor, and it costs about $1 a day. (I also tried Florastor earlier this year, with similarly decent results, but that stuff was crazy expensive.)
I'm also happy to chat about this and answer questions privately, if anyone wants to talk more! You guys know where to find me, I think. :)
A few more links for you guys, because I meant to include some of them in the original post, and because I've found some other sites that are helpful. I promise this will be the last time I bring this up here!
The IBS Livejournal Community
A community that pulls NO punches--people come here to vent, ask questions, and get advice. I don't recommend it to the average person, but for IBS sufferers, it's refreshing to be able to talk about the condition in a place where everyone understands.
About IBS
A site from the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. I wish this foundation was more widely-recognized, because they seem to be a perfect go-to for information. They're a good jumping-off point for learning more.
Acacia Fiber
Part of my daily regimen, soluble fiber powder. This is kind of like eating a bunch of bread...without calories, carbs, or starches. It kinda pads everything else out. Please note that this is a DIFFERENT kind of fiber than most people are used to hearing about: it's not the kind of fiber found in beans, vegetables, and whole grains. This is gentle plant fiber than smooths things out, rather than roughs them up.
Align Probiotics
The other part of my daily regimen. It takes a little while to start working, but I've REALLY balanced out since I began taking this stuff in the summer. Your mileage may vary--not everyone responds the same to probiotics, and there are a billion different kinds out there. This one was recommended by my GI doctor, and it costs about $1 a day. (I also tried Florastor earlier this year, with similarly decent results, but that stuff was crazy expensive.)
I'm also happy to chat about this and answer questions privately, if anyone wants to talk more! You guys know where to find me, I think. :)