Pb4:
Your GI has a great resume but to think that one should follow what he says as the better/best thing to do is wrong. I would question him. Within my field there are leading researchers who learn new things every day; they change their positions on matters and what is in their resume means less than one would think. We hire top scientists and engineers, highly regarded within their field, and sometimes find they have spent so much time studying deep into specific research topics that they are inept at more basic knowledge which is used in a more practical sense. What I’m trying to say is your GI is so advanced in many research activities that asking him about whether or not taking fiber will benefit one like myself (who, after all, has my own personal experience to draw from—data he doesn’t have) is similar to asking an astronaut details about how foam on the Space Shuttle is best applied. He has a better starting point than the average engineer but is nowhere close to having more knowledge on the topic than those working that specific area. People only have so much time in their day and my personal experience with fiber; how it has affected me during different times of remission and flare since 1986, experience I have using different types of fiber taken at different times during the day, plus my knowledge of my own UC, etc. would take precedence over the advice your GI has given you wrt taking fiber. Therefore I would believe he would learn something from me in studying my case and should not make a blanket statement that all folks with Crohns/Colitis are best to take fiber regardless of their circumstance. I believe it best for you to heed his advice since he knows your case and you have found it works best for you. Others should take listen to the GI handling their case and question the decisions they don’t agree with as well.
I took the mix-with-water (no additives) stuff and took it varied. When I say "I took it with food" I meant it bulks your food-turned-stool up no matter when you take it. I just avoided taking it close to meds. And in past flares, while at work, I took pills in between meals...same result. So that wasn't the problem.
I’m not sure what lesson you provided me. I know about UC (although I admit I have much to learn) and how it affects the colon. I have also seen enough of my own colonoscopy shots (pictures) to know that my colon may sometimes be full of ulcers and sometimes scattered. The ulcerated areas in my colon last month were large and consumed most of the surface area of my colon versus some of my past moderate flares colonoscopy shots which showed less surface area so severely affected. They vary with depth (this time I’m 60 cm deep inside the colon). The inflammation can be more severe causing some dilation (not to the toxic mega colon stage but some swelling for lack of a better description) or they may be less severe or moderate. Mild ones show inflammation but not as much bleeding surface area. I’m only saying severity changes so, yes, bloating pain, bleeding, and cramps come with the territory but the severity changes. There is pain and there is severe pain.
I’ve used fiber daily during remission and still went into flare. It does make for nice bowel movements but didn’t prevent the flare next flare that came. My flares come with a severe illness combined with severe stress. Mono, flu, food poisoning all proceeded past flares.
My perception is that you seem to not want to accept that I am better off to take fiber according to how bad I am flaring as though this information somehow insults your expert GI's advice he's given you to always take it. I eliminated fiber with this flare and I was better off than in the past when I used fiber in this state of flare.
I just say patients should discuss it with their own GI and listen to the symptoms of their body…learn to read what your body is telling you…it is you, not someone else is here.