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question about metamucil or fiber supplement.

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/28/2009 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
i see several recommendations to take metamucil.  I am struggling with d.  Should i take it even with very watery bowels?  I thought it was a laxative.  Any help is appreciated.
Posted 6/28/2009 10:50 PM (GMT 0)

Yes, it works to bulk and to move things along.  For diarrhea, take it with half the water recommended for mixing.

Sue

Posted 6/28/2009 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
my wife got me the capsuls. Is that ok?
Posted 6/28/2009 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
I took Benefiber, it's chewable. I seem to remember it helping, so capsules should be alright.
Posted 6/28/2009 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, caps are fine, I take Prodiem tabs, I just take one/day (for the last 5 yrs and indefinitley as recommended by my GI), drink plenty of water with it though and if it causes excess gas or bloating just stick with it, it's just your system adjusting to it (took mine 3 months but has been sooooo worth it). It's totally fine to use while having water D, infact fibre supplements aid with both C and D so take it with confidence.

:)
Posted 6/29/2009 8:19 AM (GMT 0)
I take the capsules now as well. I started with one capsule with breakfast and one with supper...then upped it to two after a week. I'm now at 3 capsules with breakfast and supper.

If you eat 3 times daily, start with one daily then the next day one at two meals then the day after one at three meals...do that for a week and increase.

I did have some mild gut discomfort from them initially...no biggie, however.

Stick it out through the discomfort..however. Definitely worth it.

Don't take a high dosage starting out.

Keep us posted.
quincy
Posted 6/29/2009 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Fiber supplements help normalize the bowel, so they're beneficial either way. Taken with plenty of fluids, they help with constipation. OTOH, they help with D by bulking up the stool.
Posted 6/29/2009 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Definitely help to normalise by creating food for beneficial probiotics as well as exercise the colon helping to regain a healthy rhythmical peristalsis.

q
Posted 6/30/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
ok, you all may laugh at me but, I read on the bottle you could take 5 capsules up to 3x a day....i was taking 5 at a time, and you would not believe the pain....lol....i think i'll cut back a little.
Posted 6/30/2009 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
well...you asked a question and we made suggstions to help you avoid what you experienced.. Live and learn I guess...

now you know.....

start slow one per meal...then increase once you have no discomfort.

q

Posted 6/30/2009 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Try Wal-Mart's Equate Sugar-free Fiber therapy. It comes in huge quart+ sized jugs and costs about 2/3 less than Metamucil. An $8 jug lasts about a month. Tastes pretty good too.
Posted 6/30/2009 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
I'd never suggest to use sugar-free.....can cause diarrhea and discomfort for many. Not all choose a carb-free diet.

q
Posted 6/30/2009 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
why would suger free cause diarrhea ?

Posted 7/1/2009 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
sugar-free means artificial sugars are lurking somewhere! And many of us get the trots or stomach discomfort with the fake sugar. I know I do ... I cannot chew gum because they are either full of sugar or sugar-free - a major gas producer (at least for me).
Posted 7/14/2009 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
 

I ran out at lunch yesterday to get some Metamucil to try for some stomach discomfort I've been having lately.  I didn't want to buy the big container because I wasn't sure how it would work so I grabbed the only small one I could find.  I was half way to the register when I noticed the small container was sugar free and it contains Aspartame!! 

I've never considered myself real sensitive to sweetners until I quit drinking soda.  Saturday night I had some sugar free Kool-Aid on Saturday and within 10 minutes I was in the bathroom. 

Posted 7/14/2009 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Q and RH_Texas_Gal - I've never heard of Aspartame causing diarrhea ... gum and other "sugar free" foods (i.e. for diabetics) usually contain sorbitol or mannitol, both of which can cause diarrhea even in people who have no G.I. issues. Sugar free drinks don't have either, and contain only a few dozen milligrams of Aspartame.

That said, I'm not saying that Aspartame is good for you, just that it's unlikely (although not impossible) for it to cause diarrhea. I drink it because it's the only cheap way to get loads of fiber w/o any sugar, all other sources seem to be rather expensive in comparison.
Posted 7/14/2009 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I can handle sugar-free gum, probably because the dose is so low, and I don't chew if for long, but I absolutely cannot handle diet soda. It's always given me the trots. And I know a lot of other people on here experience the same thing!
Posted 7/15/2009 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Do not ever drink pop again, either artificially sweetened or HFCS-sweetened.  As for a fiber supplement, go to a good health food store and get a fruit fiber supplement - much more gentle and effective than psyllium.  Also, metamucil, benefiber, etc., are full of unhealthy artificial ingredients that you really don't need.
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