Pardon me for sounding a bit ignorant but I'm a little bit confused. I have a jpouch and I lift weights in the gym 3-5 times a week. The diet I follow is rich in protein for muscle recovery. The problem I have with the protein diet is constipation (which I used to get even when I had a colon). My remedy for this when I had my colon was to raise my fiber intake. I have tried to increase my fiber recently but it seems either have no effect or actually makes it worse. I remember my Dr telling me to consume more fiber when I had watery stools after my takedown surgery to thicken things up. My question is, with the j pouch does our body react differently to fiber? With the exception of cutting back on my protein intake, what can I do to soften things up?
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Try taking metamucil. I like the wafers. It will definitely help with getting regular again with your BMs. I have taken it for many years and it provides bulk (soaks up excess fluids) but also keeps things moving. Constipation=bacterial stasis and you definitely do not want to promote it.
You can thin your output by staying hydrated, drinking hot liquids like tea or broth with meals, and drinking juice. Caffeinated beverages may also speed up your transit and thin out your output. When all else fails, Miralax is safe with your j-pouch.
My son uses a fiber called ACACIA -- I get it from RENEW 100% Clear. Just recommending it as an alternative fiber. I actually put it in capsules for him so he does not have to drink it.
I like fiber gummies. Don't take them so much to thicken my stool (although they do), but to help me feel full when I feel like snacking. They sort work both ways, by thickening watery stool and retaining water in stool when it is too firm, making them easier to pass.
Jan
Jan
The fiber gummies sound good,any idea where to find them in UK and under which name?? Thank you, Jane has always good tips!
I take the Phillips brand, mostly because my husband is partial to them. But, I like the generic house brand, lime Target makes. I don't know what's available in the UK though.
Jan
Jan
Great idea my friends. Never taken anything. I am always starving. Maybe fiber will help. Love idea of putting it in capsules. Thank you
I've tried all the fibers and they just don't help for me. Dr pushes it like crazy and it just makes my bm's explosive and painful. Seems every time I'd gone to the doc he pushes fiber , fiber, fiber. I finally had to tell him to shove his fiber, it's not for everyone!
My J-pouch surgeries were in Oct. 2012 and Feb. 2013. I have had 2 small bowel obstructions sending me to the ER, one just a couple weeks ago and the other almost exactly 1 year ago. Both wound up clearing pretty much on their own, after a lot of discomfort and a few days in the hospital. A scope found 2 strictures, although the tube passed easily through them. My gastroenterologist says my experience is very common and not as bad as some people experience. He is recommending eating a low-fiber diet, examples of which he mentioned not eating raw fruit, asparagus, kale, pineapple, corn, tomato skins. Things like brown rice, cooked legumes are fine, he says. Metamucil, which I've been taking pretty regularly, mostly with half the amount of water given on the label per his recommendation, is a fiber but it's soluble fiber. So apparently what is to be avoided is the high insoluble fiber foods. Looking online for lists is very confusing as different lists contain different and sometimes conflicting items. For example, some sites recommend brussels sprouts (cooked) as very high in soluble fiber. Other lists say it's a no-no. Does anybody have any advice on this. I want to avoid further bouts with small bowel blockage if at all possible!