Psyllium
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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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fiberTraceyUSA 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
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Interestingjcruz 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 so much!
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jcruzjcruz 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
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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!
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Doesn't always work.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.
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EverlynBEvelynB 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.
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.
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TraceyTraceyUSA 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.
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?
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EvelynEvelynB 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?
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."
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During treatment I hadTraceyUSA 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!!
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