Psyllium

TraceyUSA
TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316

I am looking for directions on the use of psyllium to help lessen urgency and frequency of BMs.

When I had my check-up in January, my doctor said to try psyllium for this issue.  He said to start with 1/2 a dose.  I tried for about a week and it seemed like it was having the opposite affect on me (more frequent BMs).  This was not long after they did a biopsy, I think that probably wan't the best time to start since I took a while to heal.  I'd like to try again.  I know a some of you use this.  Can you please provide dose, time of day and anything that seems to work for you? 

Thanks in advance,

Tracey

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    Tracey

    The one person on this board who seems to have had very good results from taking psyllium is Sandy.  Hopefully, she'll see this thread and chime in.  I've never tried this stuff.

    Martha

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    i use psyllium...edited for clarification

    after tx, docs at md anderson told me in order to slow down Bm's...to use psyllium:::  1 teaspoon in 2 oz of water.... do not put it in 8 oz.....hard to drink it like that but i did it and it helped ....at first do it 1 time per day   after breakfast....DO NOT DRINK ANY LIQUID FOR 1 HOUR  ,,then after 5  days, 2 times per day,,,,then after 5 more days,  3 times per day..... you can do it up to 4 times per day adding 1 tsp.  in 2 oz of water every 5 days ........took a while to work this way.....it is thick in 2 oz but that is the way to do it to slow down bm.....thx....sephie

  • qv62
    qv62 Member Posts: 434 Member
    TraceyUSA

    Tracey, I use psyllium everyday and if I forget my bowels let me know it. I take it once a day in the morning, I mix a heaping tablespoon with about 6 oz of warm water and drink it down quickly. My colo-rectal  doc said if needed take a secon dose but by the afternoon I seem to have everything under control. I use an organic pysllium I order online but also like Kinsyl which you can get at the drugstore. Konsyl makes individual packets in addition to the regular container which comes in handy to travel with or drink on the go. I actually keep a travel pack in my workbag in case I need it and just pour it into a half empty water bottle to shake and drink.

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    I have been taking metamucil

    I have been taking metamucil since I started on pain meds during treatment.  The only time I stopped was for about a month after it was over, fortunately that was the only time I experienced diarrhea.  I don't remember how much, maybe a tablespoon in a glass of water to start.  I'm now 2 1/2 years on and still take it to bulk up my stool.  It may seem like a lot but I take 2 tablespoons of whole psyllium husks with 1 tablespoon of metamucil (for flavor otherwise it's hard to gag down the plain stuff)  I alway drink it 2 hours after I take my morning medications so that the psyllium doesn't get in the way of the meds.

    Janet

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    Thank you all

    for the advise.  I'm going to give it a try again.  It amazes me that more fiber will slow things down. 

    My radiologist also told me to try prunes and I've been eating 3-4 per evening.  I can't say I've notice a difference one way or the other but I also read they good for osteoporosis, so I'll keep eating them.

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    TraceyUSA said:

    Thank you all

    for the advise.  I'm going to give it a try again.  It amazes me that more fiber will slow things down. 

    My radiologist also told me to try prunes and I've been eating 3-4 per evening.  I can't say I've notice a difference one way or the other but I also read they good for osteoporosis, so I'll keep eating them.

    fiber

    Soluble fiber will slows digestion.  Insoluble fiber acts like a roto rooter and clears things faster, too fast for folks like us.

    Here's a link to a WebMD page that gives a good short explanation:  http://www.webmd.com/diet/insoluble-soluble-fiber

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    jcruz said:

    fiber

    Soluble fiber will slows digestion.  Insoluble fiber acts like a roto rooter and clears things faster, too fast for folks like us.

    Here's a link to a WebMD page that gives a good short explanation:  http://www.webmd.com/diet/insoluble-soluble-fiber

    Interesting

    Thanks so much!

  • qv62
    qv62 Member Posts: 434 Member
    jcruz said:

    fiber

    Soluble fiber will slows digestion.  Insoluble fiber acts like a roto rooter and clears things faster, too fast for folks like us.

    Here's a link to a WebMD page that gives a good short explanation:  http://www.webmd.com/diet/insoluble-soluble-fiber

    jcruz

    Thanks for the info, I love being educated on this, it is quite helpful. I have been looking for a site that lists the food by fiber Thanks

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    WOW

    I finally started to try it this week.  I started a 1/2 tsp. in 2 oz. of water after breakfast on Sunday.  I don't drink fluids for 1 hr. after. 

    I can't believe it but I think it's helping already!  Frequency and urgency seem much better already.

    Thank you all for the advice!

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    TraceyUSA said:

    WOW

    I finally started to try it this week.  I started a 1/2 tsp. in 2 oz. of water after breakfast on Sunday.  I don't drink fluids for 1 hr. after. 

    I can't believe it but I think it's helping already!  Frequency and urgency seem much better already.

    Thank you all for the advice!

    Doesn't always work.

    I tried it for the same reasons - to help gel-up loose stools and to restore order as I know that psyllium husks are used for that, too. I took 1/3 tsp and within a few hours, I was having abdominal cramping with lots of watery stool. I have not wanted to repeat the episode. In addition to my irradiated lower GI tract, I've had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) since I was a kid. IBS and radiation injuries are not a good combination, as I've found out.

  • EvelynB
    EvelynB Member Posts: 72
    Psyllium Whole husk?

    Does anyone know if the whole husk is better than the powder or vice versa? I am desperate to do SOMETHING to stop this diarrhea.

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    EvelynB said:

    Psyllium Whole husk?

    Does anyone know if the whole husk is better than the powder or vice versa? I am desperate to do SOMETHING to stop this diarrhea.

    EverlynB

    I used Konsyl orginial formula....it seems to be a ground powder but I'm not sure.  I got it at the drugstore.  I took about a week to work (be sure to follow the directions given here (not on the bottle because that seems to be for a laxitive effect instead of bulking effect.)

    Also, have you tried Immodium?

    Hope it works for you.

     

  • EvelynB
    EvelynB Member Posts: 72
    TraceyUSA said:

    EverlynB

    I used Konsyl orginial formula....it seems to be a ground powder but I'm not sure.  I got it at the drugstore.  I took about a week to work (be sure to follow the directions given here (not on the bottle because that seems to be for a laxitive effect instead of bulking effect.)

    Also, have you tried Immodium?

    Hope it works for you.

     

    Tracey

    Thanks so much for your response. I actually just got back on the immodium yesterday and can already tell a difference this morning.I used it during treatment and stopped because it seemed that things were getting better. About 7-8 weeks after treatment, I was doing pretty good. Then suddenly, about 10 days ago, it came back with a vengeance. {I'm almost 3 months post treatment now} I had started to take some vitamin supplements and I'm wondering if it was that?? Have all your issues cleared up or do you still have to take anything? 

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    EvelynB said:

    Tracey

    Thanks so much for your response. I actually just got back on the immodium yesterday and can already tell a difference this morning.I used it during treatment and stopped because it seemed that things were getting better. About 7-8 weeks after treatment, I was doing pretty good. Then suddenly, about 10 days ago, it came back with a vengeance. {I'm almost 3 months post treatment now} I had started to take some vitamin supplements and I'm wondering if it was that?? Have all your issues cleared up or do you still have to take anything? 

    Evelyn

    Glad to hear things are getting a little better for you.  I think the vitamins may affect your bowels, especially if you are taking large doses.  You may want to check their side effects on-line.  I had diarrhea during treatment and it cleared up shortly after.  My issues are frequency (mostly in the AM) and urgency (gotta find a toilet ASAP) and they have lessened some but I think it's something I'll always have.  Taking the psyllium did help but I got lazy and haven't been using it.  It's not that troublesome at the present, so I just deal with it as the "new norm."

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    This is the old post I was referring to

    ....

  • tanda
    tanda Member Posts: 174 Member
    TraceyUSA said:

    Thank you all

    for the advise.  I'm going to give it a try again.  It amazes me that more fiber will slow things down. 

    My radiologist also told me to try prunes and I've been eating 3-4 per evening.  I can't say I've notice a difference one way or the other but I also read they good for osteoporosis, so I'll keep eating them.

    During treatment I had

    During treatment I had frequency and urgency... and then I became constipated and am still constipated.  I was told to eat 3-4 prunes a day or drink Plum Sweet Light.  I also take mirelax every day and, if things slow down I take a Colace.  I think I have to figure out how to add more vegetable fiber, as I don't want to take Metamucil.  But I thought that  prunes are supposed to help you  move your bowels, not slow them down!!