HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Fiber Pills

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
1 2
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/25/2009 6:14 PM (GMT 0)

I found this thread on fiber pills which are constantly being recommended here.  I got some Metamucil pills (says they have psyllium husks).  I took one in the morning yesterday and today after breakfast.  Hoping to "even" out my BM's as they go from soft to hard and back again - no real problem in either direction.  Now I have some left-sided "discomfort" and wondering if it is from the pill. 

All I remember is when first diagnosed and flaring bad - my NP recommended NO fiber - bland, soft diet with no raw food.  Now I have no more blood or mucous but just up and down consistency in my stool.  Since I have IBS, I assume what I eat is doing it.  I stay away from raw and spicy still. 

Any suggestions!  How long does it take to "adjust" to the pills?

ElaineNY

Posted 11/25/2009 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it's common to feel that....stay with the one capsule twice a day until that feeling subsides...then you could increase to two eventually.

I stayed with one capsule twice daily for about a week...then increased.

Yes, your doc suggested no fibre, but I think fibre has a wide array of options. Fruit fibre compared to psyllium create different symptoms.

Keep us posted as to how you're doing.

q
Posted 11/25/2009 6:45 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks - just taking one a day until after Thanksgiving and I am home for a few days.  TESTing period!  LOL

ElaineNY

Posted 11/25/2009 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
It took my system 3 months to adjust (it gave me excessive gas and bloating) I had alot of gas and bloating as it was so you can imagine how much worse it became, but it's normal for that to happen (even happens to healthy people) and it was definitely worth it, especially since it cut down some of my daily BM's, gave me nice formed stools, and took all my bloating away (that I had initially before taking fibre pills) and limited my gas as well too.

Be sure you drink a full glass of water with your fibre pill, you don't want it getting stuck in your esophagus and expanding in it.

:)
Posted 11/25/2009 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
I am still on Metamucil (2 in the morning and 1 at night) and have digressed pretty badly as of late.  Right when I started taking fiber pills I noticed a rapid decrease in bowel movements that lasted about 3 weeks.  However, now I am back to going many times a day, along with more and more blood.  I don't know what to do right now.  Increase fiber pills?
Posted 11/26/2009 8:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi sani..are you on any other meds?

I would at least suggest you try 2 and 2.

Are you taking probitics as well?

q
Posted 11/26/2009 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
     I have not tried the psyllium husk powder.  I can relate what happened to me back in 98 when I first exhibitied symptoms.  I was on the Atkins diet (bad choice, I know).  They tell you when you pee out ketones that the body was eating the fat.  All I needed to do was lose about ten pounds.  Well, I lost the ten pounds and everything else along with it.  My bowels got very loose, when I passed gas out came a string of nasty looking stuff.  To firm things up, I took two fibercon.  A week later I was hospitalized with UC...hooked up to IV's, the whole nine yards.  Seems like the fibercon just aggravated my condition.

     Lesson learned, at least in my case, no fiber while flaring.  Doc said he has doubts that the Atkins Diet threw me into this condition, but I can't help but think it sure had something to do with it.  Lots of red meat on that diet and till today I have had to drastically cut down on that red meat.

Posted 11/26/2009 1:39 PM (GMT 0)

Today I hate fiber pills.  I only took one a day for three days and this morning - hard stool - hard to go, etc.  I know I don't drink enough water to take fiber so better I find some foods with higher fiber I think!

ElaineNY

Posted 11/26/2009 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Elaine, did you take imodium during the 3 days?

I would say to NOT stop them, adjust your eating in conjunction WITH them.

Try not to throw the baby out with the bath water..lol...adjustment periods are most difficult to figure out what can work.

I'd say it's easier to have more water....plus the fibre caps. As well, take them with food.


q
Posted 11/26/2009 11:15 PM (GMT 0)

Not smart to try them when I had to go away 100 miles for Thanksgiving as I did not know what to expect.  We had to stop on the way - never had to do that taking Imodium.  Think, since the doctors all agree it is ok for me to take Imodium I will go back to using that when going out.  I will talk to my new primary care doctor on the 11th about fiber.  I think EATING more food with fiber is my best course of action.  I rarely eat anything with fiber now - no cereal, no bread - nothing with fiber to speak of.

ElaineNY

Posted 11/27/2009 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Cut your fibre pills down, that's better than quitting them all together...besides eating fibreous foods can cause the same symptoms, that's what fibre does until your system adjusts to them...now that my system adjusted I can eat all fibreous foods with no extra gas or any bloating.

:)
Posted 11/27/2009 12:26 AM (GMT 0)

I only took one pill a day for three days.  I did not have any gas or bloating (although I can't tell at my size when I am bloated LOL).  I just did not like the hard stool this morning and unpredictable BM's for three days.  They were fine otherwise.  Yes, I know the fiber in food will make me gassey if I overdo but I think I can handle that better and I NEED the green veggies and wheat, I think!  Maybe I will try the capsules again later.  One thing I do not drink enough water (or any fluid) - hate it and that is a problem too! By the way, I am trying to follow the IBS diet the specialist gave me except for my coffee in the morning.  I tolerate most diary and anything bland well!

I have had a great about three weeks - no diarrhea - 2 or 3 BM's morning only - formed, no blood, no mucous, etc.  Little left side discomfort and when I did I used the Cortifoam before bed.  I just don't want to rock the boat even if I live on white bread and peanut butter the rest of my life!  I will, however, talk to my new primary care doctor the 11th. 

ElaineNY

Posted 11/27/2009 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
what has worked better for you psyllium husk powder, or psyllium seed powder?

what dosages are you taking are how often

My issue has been i'm taking so many medications and supplements that I don't want the psyllium to affect those medications, because it does...

Ideally I'd like to do two heaping tspoons daily one mid morning, one late afternoon. Right now because of med schedule am getting only one morning dose in...

ellen
Posted 11/27/2009 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I am not on any medication right now.  I do use the Cortifoam when I feel rectum irritation - once a week or so. 

I will wait on fiber until I talk to my doctor on the 11th.  I am starting to eat a very small amount of food with fiber - like one piece of wheat bread a day instead of the white I eat.  Don't want to mess with a good thing as I feel pretty good except for nausea and sweating early mornings.  That is all!

ElaineNY

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12