metamucil

Dawn,
Metamucil is definitely not any kind of probiotic. It is pure fibre and for j-pouchers it serves to firm up the stool. I take a tablespoon in about 3/4 of orange juice every morning and it makes a huge difference. If you don't drink it all, you will notice that it creates a gel at the bottom of the glass. That is basically what it does with your poop. It gels it together.
I've never tried the wafers or the pills as the unflavoured powder works great for me.

Try it and let us know how it's working for you. Some people say it gives them has, but I find that it settles my gut more than anything.

C-jay

Orange juice is too acidic for me right now. I would like to hear from people of the pill works just as well. Or any other drink you might put it in without a bad taste.

Hey Dawn,

I've been using the wafers since my loop ileostomy surgery about 4 months ago. At first the flavour was bearable, didn't even mind it actually. But currently am looking into a new way to take my metamucil as I cannot eat them anymore, the texture, the taste and the smell twists and turns my stomach, the thought of them now makes me sick to my stomach lol. So in substitute I've been taking the berry flavoured powder, not bad... but would prefer no flavour at all. So I've considered getting the pills or this flavourless powder CJB speaks of

However 2 wafers a day and my stool is formed and much more firmer. Using the powder I'm stil trying to dial it in, been taking 2 teaspoons daily and it seems to work decently so far.

Mike

Just bought some. All I could find was orange flavor. Will give it a try. As for the amount the directions say to start with one tablespoon a day and build it up to 3 tablespoons. Tomorrow morning I am going to start with one tablespoon. Will let you know how it goes.

In my house the Metamucil thin wafers are called "nasty biscuits" because of the flavor - but not all the flavors are equally bad. They now have thicker bars (Meta-Health bar) which I haven't tried. Their new packaging/brand-mates also include a probiotic ("Meta-biotic,") but we're talking about the Metamucil "Multi-health fiber" (psyllium husk). It's most commonly orange flavored, but it's definitely not anything like orange juice when mixed with water. The *flavored* powder is either sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened. It's a little harder to find the unflavored psyllium (Konsyl seems to more commonly be on the shelf that way). It also comes in two textures: "coarse" and "fine." I prefer the sugar-sweetened fine texture orange, but there are plenty of reasons to choose the others.

Some folks like the capsules best: low calorie, no sugar, no artificial sweetener. I found they didn't mix well enough with my food, though, and they are more costly than the powder. They may work in your body; if you try them, you have to take a number of capsules.

C-jay described the mechanism very nicely. In the non-J-pouch world Metamucil is commonly used for constipation, but it bulks and thickens our stool.

I take about 1 teaspoon of Metamucil powder with a small amount of water about 30 minutes prior to meals. That seems to work for me. I usually buy the generic brand, whatever is on sale. Since I also bought Konsyl to try out and I didn't like the plain taste I just mix some of that in the Metamucil container and it makes the Metamucil less sweet. I have also bought the Metamucil multigrain wafers - cinnamon spice. They are okay but more expensive than the powder and I haven't found any generic brands. I carry those around with me when I am out and mixing up the powder is really not a convenient option.

Mike,

It's strange because I have read on this site before that people can't find the flavourless Metamucil, but here in Quebec it's always well stocked on the shelves.

I love the stuff. I take a tablespoon after I eat, as opposed to before I eat, as I have read that some people do. I makes my bowels feel so close to normal.

C-jay

I have just had the reversal (last Wednesday) an have read a lot WRT what to do an not to do especially this site which has been extremely helpful. My stools were best decribed as acidic water. Use baby wipes and a zinc based cream.

I started using the orange flavoured metamucil a couple of days ago, three times a day so far before meals. The difference in stool output is significant. It is now, well, pasty and come out cleanly (sic). There is much less irritation.

As far as flavour goes, it's not great, but I can gulp down a small glassful without noticing it. And compared to the benefits, well worth it IMHO. A small price to pay for a large benefit.

And I have also read that you will not get the same effect from Benefiber. It is wheat based and soluable so doesn't bulk anything up as does the metamucil. See http://www.metamuciladvisor.co...efiber-vs-metamucil/

I'm a fan of pure psyllium. It's like Metamucil but no flavor, sugar, fake sugar. It doesn't dissolve as well as Metamucil but I don't find that to be a problem at all. I take quite a bit of it daily (4 doses).

CJB

I went out today to find it, the first drug store, no dice... But the drug store closest to my house had it! Go figure. Picked up some juice, came home mixed me a drink and down it went. It's flavourless which I love, the only con is the tiny amounts of particles you occasionally drink. That's okay though!

Considered the Metamucil pills but they're more money and don't seem like they would last as long as a jug of powder.

Mike

I used the orange power originally-mixed about 1 part powder with 1 part water into a sludge in a Dixie cup and down the hatch.

Then I used the wafer bars for years when they first came out (ate one before every meal) but after a couple years I became taste averse to them.

Thankfully they came out with the capsules-so easy! I swallow about 8 before every meal (you may need less, but I have sphincter issues so really need to try to thicken as much as possible). I buy the generic ones at Sam's Club-can get 400 capsules for $10. TONS cheaper than brand name at the drug store.

Also, no extra calories in the capsules, compared to the sugar added to the powder and wafers.