OK...I am not exactly sure how this works.
Benefiber/Metemucil is for supplementing fiber. But fiber has a laxative effect right?

How much do I take to "bulk up"?

I tried it once and it just gave me diarrhea, ugh!

How do the wafers work? And can they also have a laxative effect if you don't eat enough?

I am confused.
Any advice would really be helpful.
Thanks

It's sort of misleading - metamucil/benefiber is a bulker which will help coloned people have bowel movements - it's not a laxative. For j-pouchers, it bulks things by making absorbing water. It also helps reduce bile irritation and number of BM's per day for me.

I eat 1 package (2 wafers) in the morning with breakfast. I also take 3 loperimide/imodium. It says to take with 8 oz of liquid but I find I don't need to do that. And I've found that the wafers work way better than any other form of metamucil. That may be because I couldn't stand the powder.

They shouldn't have a laxative effect unless your system finds something objectionable with them. The wafers have worked well for many people but for others it causes gas and more frequency. There are other products to try if this is happening - straight psyllium husk, apple pectin, or other fiber. I was just looking up the ingredients in metamucil and came upon this very interesting recipe (I'm assuming our innards don't get as hot as a microwave....): http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/flubber.htm Flubber - who knew???

kathy

O.K. I googled flubber and my take on it is it is not someting to eat? I had never heard of it before.

Well, since it's metamucil and water, I suppose you could eat it. But it seems like it would be a little gross. I hope people aren't going out and creating Flubbers and eating them....

kathy

Hehehe, I checked out the flubber receipe. Ok, so it´s obviously not for consumption, but what on earth is flubber for?!! I´m intrigued :0)

Flubber is probably something fun for kids to play with.

As for the laxative effect...don't take it with the amount of liquid it says. It needs to absorb the EXCESS liquid in your digestive tract. If you take the amount of liquid it says, it WILL act like a laxative.

Take care...Lori

Yes, it's for kids - sort of a science project play thing. The site has experiments for children to do.

kathy