Here's the background: I have a rectovaginal fistula, and the attempts to close it (fibrin glue and 2 plugs) have failed. Meanwhile, I figured out that if my BMs are thickened up, then I get virtually no fistula drainage. When I told this to the doc, he said, "well, that's your answer, manage the consistency and there's no need to do any big deal surgery to close the fistula." At the time, I thought that the thickening was caused by the fiber I had started to take on a daily basis. It turned out I was wrong--it was caused by the antibiotics I was on for a recalcitrant ear infection. Once those went away, consistency went back to the way it was.

So the question is: will taking more fiber help me? I tried 2 tsps Benefiber twice a day and that doesn't seem to do the trick. What about my doctor's suggestion of Questran? Thanks for your input!

bec

I find that as you suspected, there is a bacterial component to thickening the stool. The fiber is a necessity, but without taking probiotics too, I don't have consistently formed stool. In fact, I was having trouble and upped my intake of VSL to 2x a day (from just in the morning) and noticed immediate improvement. I also bumped up my fiber intake (from 2 wafers to 3 per day) and my immodium (from 1 at night to 2 - one at night and in the morning).

So, I would attack it with fiber and a good probiotic. Add a slowing medicine like immodium if they don't seem to do the trick.

I have to say that eating oatmeal every morning has drastically thickened my stool...I also take probiotics every day (culturelle)...

regarding the questran- I tried that and it did help thicken the stool but side effects - aches pains, stiffness in joints. But I'm very sensitive to meds, you may do just fine. Although my doc did say that he sees ALOT of reactions to cholesteral meds. Can't hurt to try, worse case you stop it.
LoriP

Thanks so much for your replies. I have more questions now!

ElmerFudd, I was already taking DanActive as a probiotic, and just bought some Activia to try. Doc mentioned VSL, is this better somehow? I know it's Rx, but is it, like, stronger, or something? Re fiber, I've been taking Benefiber, so, similar question: are there better forms of fiber for this purpose?

Goldy--good idea on the oatmeal. I've never noticed a difference myself, but perhaps a combination of these things will do the trick.

LoriP--I may decide to try Questran if I have no luck with anything else. I hear it tastes bad but if it works (and no side effects) I'd live with it.

bec