Bulking agents

Hi JAYMEE

When you tried Psyllium Husk, how did you try it, capsules or in it's natural form?

You really need to try it in it's natural form; try a small amount in a juice, then increase; but check with your HCP first.

Hi there,

I did try it for a while in powder form (with water) but usually I've taken it in capsules. I'll try again as suggested. Thank you.

Hey yes try it again in powder. The pill form never worked for me.

The psyllium capsules didn’t work for me. The powder, taken in a proper dose, does the job nicely. I use as much as suggested on the label, measured carefully. Some people have better results with different soluble fibers, like Benefiber or Citrucel.

Pysllium husk as mentioned above. I use 5-6 bananas the day I feel my output is runny. Bananas are pretty much the only source of carbs for me that day. Oatmeal, brown breads, sweetpotato these are some good foods that produce much lower output for me.

I've started taking Metamucil, but it's expensive to buy from the UK, I get it from Amazon.  Imodium gives me really bad dry mouth, excess wind and doesn't really work that well for me.

Hi - I take 1 Imodium & 1 1/2 tsp of Metamucil (Costco brand ) in the morning & I’m good to go all day. I had a 3 step pouch redo 2017. Complete fistula fix,hernia repair as well. No other medications except thyroid meds. My surgeons office said that’s all I would need and it’s working so far. I do bananas as well.

Imodium or loperamide generic formula as sold at Walmart has a very significant thickening effect for me. I can’t take more than 2 without fearing constipation due to excessive bulking. I tend to be careful with any bulking agents because I take antibiotics which are themselves bulking agents.

As far as opioid meds, they have a significant constipating effect. As I have reported elsewhere, one of my clients and also a personal friend who has UC had to be hospitalized with constipation (severe impaction of stool) due to excessive use of OxyContin after a very serious neck surgery. I warned him to take it easy after noticing him apparently high as a kite and his retort was, “I have UC and cannot get constipated.” 3 weeks later he was in the ER and had a manual disimpaction performed. He reported to me it was the worst pain of his life. I had the misfortune to personally witness a manual disimpaction, on my hospital roommate at Mount Sinai who was in the final stages of Leukemia. It’s not something any of you ever want to experience.

The only thing that works for me is Metamucil Wafers! Not the powder, not the capsules...just the wafers. I take one or two (depending on daily bulk level) in the morning. I am not sure if they are available in the UK. Maybe you can try Amazon. The Pysllium husk powder never helped in the long run. On occation, I find that a baked sweet potato or butternut squash do help. But the wafers work 100% of the time. 

MJC, are you sure that you were taking an adequate dose of the psyllium powder? The only bulking ingredient in the wafers is psyllium powder.

Any other suggestions other then psyllium husk or rice?

meds are slowing it down but not bulking

Benefiber and Citrucel also provide soluble fiber. 

Scott F posted:

Benefiber and Citrucel also provide soluble fiber. 

Thanks, unfortunately all these fibers are having the opposite effect. Decided to try ground chia seeds, they absorb liquid.