Well, Metamucil and other fiber supplements have a completely different action and function than Imodium.

Imodium is a bowel slower. By slowing the gut, you absorb more water and nutrients, and the stool thickens by having increased time within the gut.

Fiber supplements add bulk and help thicken the stool. This makes it easier to retain and less painful to expel. But, it does NOT reduce your output. If anything, it increases it.

I was put on both Imodium and Metamucil while I was still in the hospital recovering from my surgery. I found that I was intolerant of Metamucil and it increased my intestinal gas. It did thicken my stool, but since I was not having continence issues, it was not helpful. I wound up visiting the toilet more. I did have better luck with Citrucel, which does not contain psyllium, but methylcellulose. Some people are just sensitive to psyllium. I guess I was one of them. The main thing with fiber supplements is that for our purpose (thickening rather than as a laxative) we do not drink a bunch of water with each dose. Just enough to dissolve it and get it down.

Jan

Be careful if you take the Metamucil with reduced water. It can become very thick that way and could get stuck while swallowing. It's not the way I use Metamucil (I use plenty of water, and it works fine), and I have a suspicion that it's unnecessary, but lots of folks (including some of the doctors) suggest it.

ok thanks I kink of thought that.

I'm fairly yolo with metamucil now that I know how my body handles it.

Two tablespoons with half a cup of water (say 200ml) and I'll be blocked up perfectly.

My sweet spot however is a tablespoon and a half with say 300 ml of water, 2 or 3 times a day.

On the subject of fiber, could someone explain soluble vs. insoluble fiber for j pouch. thank you.

I recommend that you use the "Find" function to search for the word "insoluble." You'll get a bunch of perspectives. Soluble fiber, like psyllium or wheat dextrin, helps us keep our stool a bit thicker, and (for some) easier to control. Insoluble fiber (e.g. fruits and veggies) is okay for most of us, at least in moderation, but not as directly beneficial for us as for folks with colons.

I use both immodium and metamucil, and I use the pills and do NOT take any of the extra water. My issue is incontinence due to the loose stools and a damaged sphincter, so I aim for as thick as possible stool to manage my continence.

Insoluable fiber pretty much passes straight throught the digestive system in folks like us, without breaking down much-thus you can often see the corn kernals, apple skins, etc. on their way out, and at least for me these types of fiber tend to lead to more watery stool.

Soluable fiber (like metamucil)actually helps to absorb water and then creates a kind of gel-like substance, thus leading to thicker stools.