Phenomenal Relief with Metamucil!

I know that PB4 uses Prodiem which is supposed be Metamucil like and has good luck with it.

I do drink plenty of fluids...water included...I agree with you that it is the best advice my GI has every given...and one thing that has truly worked!!! I will also stay on it daily and indeffinitley as there are no side effects no long term effects at all...

Psyllium powder (the best tasting one I've found so far is Metamucil) and prednisone are the only two things that have *really* helped my CD symptoms. Unfortunately, psyllium powder helped more in the very beginning than it does now, but it still helps enough that I really suffer the following day if I forgot to take it the day before. I've taken it every day for just over six years now.

One *huge* benefit I've gotten from it is a reduction in the severity of cramping episodes. Yeah, I still get cramps every day, but not the toe-curling ones I used to get before I started taking psyllium every day.

As a general rule (and please talk to your doctor about it, don't take my advice) soluble fibers like psyllium, cellulose, and a few others I can't remember right now, are a great benefit to those of us with GI disorders. On the other hand, INsoluble fibers, like whole wheat and their ilk, are a terrible no-no.

Try this.... put three tablespoons full of metamucil in about eight to ten ounces of water. Stir it well, then let it sit for about ten minutes. It will turn into a *very* thick gel. Even though it's thick, it's still very movable. That's kinda the way it stays as it moves through your system. Thick, but soft and pliable. Not to put too fine of a point on it, but it generally comes out the same way. It really moderates diarrhea, yet helps to keep things moving to prevent constipation. Don't be concerned if you end up getting a lot of floating stools. While "floaters" can sometimes mean that you aren't absorbing fats correctly (which can be a symptom of some pretty serious things), floaters are common among those who take a daily soluble fiber supplement. It's always best to talk to your doctor whenever your symptoms change, though, so just to be on the safe side, talk to your doc if/when you get floaters from taking soluble fiber, if for no other reason than to just keep him/her in the loop.

In my experience/opinion, the mixable powders are far, far, FAR more effective than the capsules. Even though psyllium powder *likes* water, it needs to be encouraged to absorb it, and you *do* want it to absorb as much water as it can, so it needs to be mixed up in a glass with water. If it passes through your system as a dry powder, it can give you the opposite effect of what you want. Often, the mixing action of your GI tract just doesn't do a good enough job of mixing the dry psyllium powder you get from swallowing a capsule with the needed water.

I take pill form of fibre supplements, that way I'm not getting any added sugars/artificial sweetners or any un-necessary fillers and such, so no risk taking the pills of having any of the above exacerbate my IBD or IBS symptoms...this is just what works best for me.

:)

Yes, fibre helps sweep the bowels of bacteria but bacteria (typically good and bad) is always present in the GI tract...taking a good probiotic ensures that the gut flora is balanced...fibre can cause excessive gas/bloating initially but this is normal (happens to healthy people too) and once your system adjusts then it will disappear (it took my system 3 months to adjust but was completely worth it)...I've been taking fibre supplements for the last 5 yrs daily with no ill effects, just continued benefits.


:)

It varies from person to person, you may get excess bloating and gas but stick with it daily, that is a normal symptom, it's just your system adjusting (took me 3 months, I use Prodiem, similar to metamucil).

Start with a small amount and increase slowly and only if necessary (and wait until your system has adjusted to the inital amount first....drink lots of water with it too.

Metamucil is the best thing to keep things regular for me. Now though with an ileostomy I don't need it.

I was flaring severely when my GI suggested I start taking it, daily and indefinitely...along with the naturals that I take it has most definitely been helping me.

:)

Adding fiber can bulk stool. My experience has generally been good, but I learned to add fiber slowly. I take 1.5 tsp of psyllium every day now, but that is mostly to deal with slow bowels, not multiple bms or diarrhea.

I am so glad you have found some relief with the Metamucil. I tried it quite a few years ago on the advice of my GI. It caused me to go into a severe flare. Doc said it's about 50/50 when it us Crohnies.

Tanya

Hi & welcome to the forum. I did a quick google search & came up with nothing too!! I am wondering if it's still available too. Here is what I suggest, go to your pharmacy & talk to the pharmacist not a pharmacy tech. They may know if it's been discontinued or not. You may ask if there is something comparable available now that you haven't tried.

Good luck in your search. It can be a little trying because there are so many things out there now. You don't want to get in the practice of using laxatives long term because you will run the risk of becoming dependant on them.

Found it quite easily....

https://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/cps-_monographs/cps-_(general_monographs-_p)/prodiem.html