Metamucil Advice

Quincy: Can you or anyone give me advice on if I would like to add metemucil to my daily diet? Right now I am on Simponi, Pentasa enemas (usually every 2nd night), 3 Mesevant daily.
Thank you

add Metamucil or any fiber slowly to avoid lots of gas. Take with plenty of water to avoid constipation.

I did not have great results with Metamucil. I had better luck with Renew Life Triple-Fiber (flax, oat & acacia) and Now Foods psylum fiber. I take 2-4 capsules of each daily with plenty of water.

There is some problem with adding fiber if you are flaring badly - because fiber is not low residue. You need to judge when the flare is controlled enough that the fiber can help instead of giving you more diarrhea to poop out.

Actually just saw a review in "Inflammatory Bowel Disease" journal. In addition to giving more comfortable stool (symptom help) there may also be a small anti-inflammatory benefit (disease help).

Fiber in the Treatment and Maintenance of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials said...


Abstract


Background: Dietary fiber may favorably influence fermentation, gastrointestinal inflammation, and disease progression in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis (UC), and pouchitis and offer an attractive therapeutic addition to pharmacological treatment. This systematic review appraised data from randomized controlled trials of fiber in the management of inflammatory bowel disease.


<snip>


Conclusions: There is limited weak evidence for the efficacy of fiber in improving disease outcomes in UC and pouchitis. The potential antiinflammatory role of fiber is intriguing and merits further investigation in adequately powered clinical trials. Excluding overt gastrointestinal obstruction, there was no evidence that fiber intake should be restricted in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

You might want to check the ingredients if you're going to use a powdered fiber supplement, most (if not all) will contain sugar alcohols and all kinds of unnecessary junk that can affect your gut negatively...I used Prodiem stool bulking/fiber supplement pills, they had the least amount of offending ingredients in them.

It's key to start with a very small amount of fiber supplements, drink plenty of water daily, and only increase your amount of fiber if necessary, everyone's system is unique so some may need more or less than others, it's best to gradually increase if needed, it took my system about 3 months to adjust, during the adjustment period I had significant amounts of gas and bloating but once my system adjusted those symptoms went away, it was difficult to stick with it but I did and it ended up cutting back some of my daily frequency and I was easily able to tolerate eating fiberous foods as a result of starting with Prodiem pills (that is, after my system adjusted to the pills initially).

Best of luck with it!

I, personally, wouldn't use the powder or wafers....ever again. I did start the powder (Metamucil smooth NOT the sugar-free).

Just a fact....matamucil is both soluble and insoluble. Since the word of the day is soluble...they neglect to state the insoluble.
you need both.

So, since you asked me, the process for the capsules are the easiest and best way to adjust if you do tend to eat away from home and don't want to carry the powder.

Take it with meals than alone...that will make it a "food" rather than a separate entity to be added during the day.

Use ONE capsule added to breakfast for a few days. If you have no discomfort, add a capsule to supper for another few days. Go back and forth till you continue a comfort level and consistency with your stools.

I only eat 2 meals a day, so that's why I use them twice a day. I'm at 6 each meal, but on occasion have increased it to 7...but 6 seems fine at this point.

q

I followed Quincy's instructions and found great benefits with 2+2 caps a day