Psyllium

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

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 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.

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 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

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 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!

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.

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 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!!