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1st day on Metamucil-

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/14/2010 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday I tried Metamucil capsules with psyllium husk (1 cap in the morning after breakfast and 1 after lunch). Later that day, I immediately began to have a gassy tummy, loud noises, a few more runs to the bathroom (small stools with blood-which I haven't been able to get rid of yet), and unable to peacefully sleep since my tummy was rumbling! I can't believe all these effects with just 2 capsules! Should I switch to husk seeds/powder to get more bulk and try to stop bleeding? Tumeric? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Posted 4/14/2010 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I also just tried taking psyllium husk capsules to get more bulk in my stool they are Vega brand not metamucil and. To start with I have only been taking 1 capsule per day and the instructions tell me to take it on an empty stomach so i have been taking them about 30mins before i have lunch and i havent really had any bad effects from it yet. havent really noticed much good but then i am only taking 1 per day to see if i do have any bad effects.

Maybe you could try that way?
Posted 4/14/2010 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Gosh, I don't remember any ill effects from starting Metamucil, but it was so many years ago.... I'd definitely start once capsule per day, but my advice would have been to take it with food.
My GI says it is essentially a food.

The info does say there can be increased gassiness at first (and when I'm flaring, that always hurts - !)

Whatever you try, I hope you feel better!
Posted 4/14/2010 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Just take one/day to start and take it with plenty of water, the gas is normal, same with any bloating, it's just your system adjusting to it, which is why you have to take it everyday so that your system can adjust to it...it can also take some time before you notice the benefits from it...once your system adjusts the gas/bloating should go away.
Posted 4/14/2010 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ease into it! It might subside... but I can tell you it would never be good for me to to take straight fiber...
Posted 4/14/2010 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I started with one capsule a day for a week with breakfast, then did the two for a week, one at breakfast and one at supper (I usually only eat two main meals a day).

I'm now at 6 with meals...so 12 daily.

I had some mild symptoms the first few days of discomfort, but that eased within a few days.

q
Posted 4/14/2010 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck- I have tried both capsules and fiber and both flare me plain and simple. By contrast I tolerate the fiber of cellulose well.
Posted 4/14/2010 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all who responded - great insight on how it affects different people. There are so many types of fiber out there - curious to try Citrucel with methylcellulose and see how that works on my digestive system. Anyone who's tried Citrucel with positive results? I'm just so tired of being gassy and bloaty all the time!
Posted 4/15/2010 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
bunny, it took my system 3 months to adjust then all the bloating completely gone and very minimal gas, it was a long haul but so worth it for the benefit of having less daily BM's and completly formed stools and less mucous, chances are any good fibre supplement will cause excess gas and bloating, this happens to healthy people too, it's a normal adjustment period, the longer you stick it out the sooner it'll be over.
Posted 4/15/2010 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks pb4, I'm going to stick with it as so many people encourage this. I'm planning to take only 1 a day and work my way up (on an empty stomach). I'll keep you all posted on my experience as time goes by (good or bad). Wish me luck! : )
Posted 4/15/2010 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
That's good bunny, it was my GI that told me a good 6ish yrs ago now to take fibre supplements daily and indefinitely (best advice I'd ever gotten from a GI), I started out with one (I use Prodiem which is similar to metamucil) a day and still only take one/day, I take mine just before bed, it works best for me that way since I've played around with it some to see what works best for me and one at bedtime is how I've been taking it for the most part now.  No need to increase unless you find it necessary and if you do increase, do it slowly.


Wishing you lots of luck with it!

Posted 4/15/2010 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
definitely stick it out! I took about 2-3 weeks before the gassiness and bloating was totally gone for me. I started taking it because of the horrid gas pains and urgency first thing in the morning (although the rest of the day was fine) .. I believe that introducing the fiber capsules kicked up my remission timetable ... I have tapered its usage to 3 a day (down from 12-15 a day) and up it only on those days I feel a bit "vulnerable" such as those days after I eat a rich or spicy meal - just as a precaution! It's worked for over a year now!
Posted 4/16/2010 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Seems like positive results are soon to come... do you recommend starting with Metamucil or Citrucel fiber caps? Looks like they have different ingredients... which is better???
Posted 4/16/2010 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
     I have UP and I remember back in 98 before being diagnosed that Citrucel made me ten times worse and that is when I landed in the hospital.  Everyone is different.
Posted 4/16/2010 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Metamucil wreaked havoc with me and my GI suggested Citrucel and I like it much better. Unfortunatley I've been lax and haven't taken the time to research and I have no idea what the difference is.
Posted 4/16/2010 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hey bunny, one that contains psyllium and doesn't have added sugars and junk in them, caps are best cuz they tend to have less (or none at all) additives/sugar...be sure to drink plenty of water with your fibre supplements too.
Posted 8/26/2010 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I have the same question bunny23 has; before being diagnosed I was taking the sugar-free metamucil powder and I was doing fine, but I stopped after I was diagnosed with UP and I entered into a full blown, still ongoing flare up a month and a half ago. I've had ups and downs, going from a few episodes of diarrhea to mild constipation; however, the last 2 weeks I've no diarrhea and I've just had small, very bloddy and tough stools which I think are hurting my rectum during BMs thus increasing the inflammation and bleeding.

I'm considering starting taking metamucil again, but I read that most people discouraged the sugar-free powder. What's wrong with the powder? Does anyone take it with no issues? I tried the metamucil wafers; I just ate one and they KILLED me; I had the worst 3 days of this flare up after I ate those wafers, so I'm kind of scared
Posted 8/26/2010 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmmmm.... I think a lot of folks here try to stay away from artificial sugars, and maybe the sugar-free powder has artificial sweeteners? Those can cause D in anyone, and more so in UCers.
I take the regular powder - with sugar - and my son takes the capsules (which don't have sugar.)
I take the powder out of habit.... but the capsules sure are easier to deal with.
Posted 8/26/2010 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Metamucil (psyllium husk powder) seems to cause more gas than the psyllium seed powder. We have seen very good results from the seed powder. I also agree that artificial sweetners in metamucil can cause a problem. I think the husk powder has more fiber which causes gas. Just my guess.
UCPop
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