Any JPouchers have luck slowing transit and thickeningn stool with pysllium husk powder?

More specifically, if some of you do use it, do you put it directly

on your food OR do you take it with water.

I had a "natural" flaxseed with marshmellow root and more ingredients in it, it is in powder form, just a coarser powder, I put it on my food, it was sticky, I thought "this will work" and slow transit but no luck.

Thanks again. xo

Thicken, yes. Slowing transit, no. 

My experience is that it thickens well, but increases output (volume). Plus, for me, it increases gas production.

Jan

It does the job nicely for me. Mix 8 oz. of water with a "dose" (usually about a tablespoon), and shake well (shaking works much better than stirring. Drink it down. If it's unflavored it's a little yuckier. I take it before breakfast and dinner. Consider starting with a smaller quantity to see how it goes for you. Good luck!

I love the way Metamucil works for me. I take one tablespoon (unflavoured) in about half a cup of orange juice each morning. It mixes up quite well. And doesn't change the taste of the OJ. It reduces my output in the sense that the thickening allows me to hold longer than if my output would be more liquid. 

I don't find that it gives me gas either, so I'm a big fan!

c-jay

VancouverGirl posted:

Hi, I just got some in the mail. I have a loop ileo see sig but want to know if any JPouchers have luck slowing transit and thickeningn stool with pysllium husk powder?

I ate Brat diet to put on weight after being sick for so long, but now I"m back to my diet which is high protein, low/no carb and unfortunately low veg fiber, it's all loop ileo can handle 6 weeks out, and I eat this way due to my fitness. (Not yet at it but getting stronger to get at it.) Things trying to settle but early out from ileo surgery. Only 6 weeks. Many more times emptying and changing bag when I came back to the wait I typically eat.

 

Any of you find psyllium husk powder beneficial?

Thankyou ahead of time. I appreciate your kindness.

 

Hello VancouverGirl,

I found that psyllium husk powder (in my case, Metamucil smooth) was the only thing that made my j-pouch bearable. I think it was suggested to me by a nurse, or mentioned in patient literature that I was given in the UK.

Of course, everyone is different, so please proceed with caution!

I took two heaped teaspoons mixed with a minimal amount of water (just enough to allow me to mix it and gulp it down comfortably) before any main meal, or one heaped teaspoon before a snack that included salad, fresh fruit or other high-fibre item. I took it at the last second before eating. You need to mix it up and quickly swallow it before it thickens into gloop.

Without Metamucil, I would have watery BMs with butt burn and occasional watery incontinence. With Metamucil, I could eat almost anything, apart from very high fibre meals (e.g. lentil curry) and high fat meals (e.g. chocolate fountain - yuck, never again!).

I did not need to take it with low fibre food / small snacks, e.g. toast, yoghurt, stewed apple.

I did find it hard to carry the Metamucil powder around at first - you need a container with a double lid, otherwise it tends to escape into your bag. I found that a Japanese tea tin was perfect. Something like this:

https://chachatea.net/accessories/japanese-tea-tin

They are pretty easy to find at specialty tea shops.

It is also helpful to carry a small plastic or disposable cup and a teaspoon, and maybe a small bottle of water, just in case you can't get hold of a glass of water to mix in.

Hope this helps,

Sarah in Melbourne, Australia

Metamucil and Konsyl are available in single dose packets, very helpful for travel.

Sprinkle a teasp. or so on your cereal or yogurt.

I can't handle Metamucil (gives me gas) but I have some success with the sugar free Citrucel. I can somewhat control the consistency of my stool with it. I mix it with water.