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Starting Ground Psyllium Seed, Advice Needed

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/21/2013 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
After dealing with diarrhea for 2 months, I'm at the point where I hate life. The flare has been by far the worst but I'm doing my best to be a trooper and not let this thing win.

With that being said I ordered organic psyllium seed powder and wanted to know what I should do in terms of dosing. Obviously i want to start at a moderate/low dose and see how things go. Any advice on how to take it/when to take it would be greatly appreciated.

I want my life back and I am going to fight to make it happen.
Posted 3/21/2013 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Im recently dedicated to it at least 2x per day. Its gross but you get used to it. I think it can be a reasonably decent force combined with "proper" diet, meds, etc...

Im taking about 1.5 heaping tablespoons in a glass of water. Too thick and its intolerable to swallow. The more I take it the lesser of a chore it becomes. Tastes like sawdust or something.

Probably start out with less but stay regular. It apparently fosters good bacteria through fermentation, a slow process (apparently) that takes time to work. You will notice the craps it produces.

At this point Im not sure how much is superficial with my D (it just bulks up otherwise runny stool), or how much is actual improvement. In general, if you crap out pure psyllium seed, it makes noticeable stool that floats. But when "combined" with food, it can sink.. Or at least sometimes the stool sinks. Which says to me it (the stool) consists of more of my food than the psyllium, proportionally... Just dont know honestly, yet, but Im hoping it is helping.
Posted 3/21/2013 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
just go slow. that stuff makes my butt a fountain so i can't take it. if you notice you go a lot more, it's definitely the psyllium.
Posted 3/21/2013 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Bg- youre saying after drinking it you expell diarreah? Not more or less "solids"?
Posted 3/21/2013 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
just go slow - it's not a race, just a leisurely stroll -

i would start out with 1 teaspoon x 1/day for a few days - if no issues, giddy up !

i put mine in a shaker, shake the s**t out of it for a few seconds, and gulp it down - it's not as bad as the husk as far as gelling up, but it will start getting thick if you dally too long - you do not want to be drinking a brick -

it's probably not gonna be magic for you, but it should help to make the runnies thickeryer and slower -

have fun !

 

Posted 3/21/2013 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
freddy, my frequency goes up as in... if i'm already going 4 x a day, it will double it to 8x a day. i'd prefer to go less...
Posted 3/21/2013 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
But isnt it nice to crap out something resembling a solid? 4X a day? Sheesh you lightweight. ;)
Posted 3/21/2013 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Can I mix it with juice or Gatorade or something?
Posted 3/21/2013 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Mix it with whatever you want. I mix mine with l-glutamine powder and my VSL3DS which adds a little mild sweet flavor to make e "bark" taste a bit more tolerable.
Posted 3/22/2013 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Since it (in my basically ignorant estimation) sort of "bypasses" digestion and lingers in the colon, i would think mixing in other ingredients may have potential for significance... For better or worse, depending?
Posted 3/22/2013 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Psyllium makes my poop looser, not more solid. If it helped, I'd have no problem taking it.
Posted 3/22/2013 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
I take 2 Tbs of psyllium seed powder along with 2 Tbs of Chia Seed Powder and 2 Tbs of L-Glutamine in about 16 ounces of water at bedtime. It really, really helps bulk up my stool and reduce my frequency of poops.

Over a few months, I've noticed a significant overall improvement in stool quality, urgency, and frequency. Along with diet modification, this made the biggest difference in managing my symptoms.
Posted 3/22/2013 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
i'll preface this by saying sorry if this grosses anyone out but given the stuff we talk about, i doubt it will.

so i did 1 teaspoon of the stuff with vsl#3 and some gatorade.

this morning i noticed a change in my movements slightly. normally it's just watery diarrhea that settles on the bottom of the toilet. today i had some of that but also some "floaters" that seemed to bind a bit. since the only real change was adding the ground psyllium seed i don't know what to make of it. i did have slight gas discomfort, but usually have that anyways...
Posted 3/22/2013 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
that's what it do -
Posted 3/22/2013 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter thinks the best way to take the psyllium seed powder is to mix it with applesauce, vsl#3 and cinnamon. You have to eat it fairly quickly before it thickens up too much, but this does hide the earthy taste and works for the consistency issues in drinks. I think starting slow and building up to 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons twice a day is the consensus dosage. It may cause some gas initially, but I think that is from the probiotics re-populating. The psyllium seed powder seems to work well with probiotics and also as sort of a mucilaginous (soft/smooth) filler to help heal the colon. I think psyllium husk is mostly for bulking up the stool and that the psyllium seed helps to heal. We believe that psyllium seed powder has done a lot to help control my daughters UC.

Best to all,
UCPop
Posted 3/22/2013 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
I grab 4 pills several times a day when hydrating with large glass of water or drink. Too much husk is a problem but I have yet to experience too much seed. By doing this and avoiding workout powder junk, sticking to whole foods I am nearly at perfect poop.
Posted 3/23/2013 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
tried two teaspoons and paid for it from the hours of 5am through 9am. definitely revering back to just one teaspoon. :( this sucks. monday's remicade infusion cannot come soon enough. it's sad but i am really counting on it helping me get through this.
Posted 3/23/2013 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
what do you mean by ' paid for it'? did it make stool more diarrhea? or constipated? or gassy/crampy?

I'm thinking of adding psyllium myself, so watching your progress...
Posted 3/23/2013 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
went to the bathroom 7 times over that four hour span. considerable discomfort, gas/cramps

less diarrhea which i contribute to the seed powder but 2 teaspoons was just too much for me to handle this morning. i wanted to die. no joke.
Posted 3/23/2013 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
jac, that's what my reaction has been every time i tried it. my frequency just goes up super fast. i hope the remicade helps you! i felt so much better after my first infusion.
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