Constipation during a UC flare, solutions?

Hi HWs,

Regarding the title of post - I find it difficult to explain but others may have experienced this before.

In my current flare and in a more severe flare approx 10 yrs ago, I find that my intestine passes fluid (In bms) prior to trying to pass the solids. The solids themselves are quite hard and well formed.

The difficulty is, that though the fluid passes fine, once the solid starts to pass through the inflamed area, it starts to make me gag. The gagging is a problem (dont want to vomit meds), and also not much of the solids ends up passing.

So I’m not exactly constipated, but my UC flare difficulties really seem to relate to the difficulty of passing the solids. I think if they were not so solid I would be in a much better situation.

I’ve been trying to use a teaspoon of psyllium husk after each meal (with oat milk, followed by water), but am unclear as to how much this is helping.

- Could psyllium husk actually exacerbate the problem?

Bw, Trees

UC sufferer approx 13 yrs
No flare for approx 8 years due to azathioprine
Currently approx 6 slightly bloody bm’s per day

have you ever tried stool softeners? I also have hard stools plus sometimes it feels like my bowel doesn’t want to contract like it should. I have to be careful to not push when it’s like that as it makes it worse and I can’t expel the stool at all.

Stool softeners really help me. I don’t know for sure how long they can be taken Miralax is also good and drs day it can be used daily.

Psyllium works for me to help with constipation. Metamucil is an easy way to get it.