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Just started taking psyllium husk. Some questions...

Posted , 3 users are following.

JaseInSpace
JaseInSpace

I've taken it the last 2 days and both times it made me go not long after. But it hasn't really bulked up my stools, its just kind of pushed them along, which is still kind of nice, but I'm still left with some incomplete evacuation (but less so now, thankfully) and general discomfort after every meal as per usual. My stools have been broken into lots of pieces for a long time and I was hoping the Psyllium would firm up my stools up so that I'm emptying more at a time rather than having to go like 5-6 times a day. Should I wait longer for better results or increase the amount I take now? (Started with 2 teaspoons once a day). Also when is the best time to take it? How long is Psyllium meant to take for full effect?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • phil07766
    phil07766 JaseInSpace

    Posted

    Psyllium husk has been a god-send to me these last two years.  I suffered from intestinal bloating and inconsistent bowel movements all of my life (63 years old) and ended up with severe GERD and serious discomfort all of the time. All medical tests and consultation had very little effect.  Even the fodmap diet and other diets had little success.  Then my daughter left a jar of psyllium husk at our house by mistake.  I read the label and tried it.  Now I use it every day and enjoy a kind of regularity and evacuation ease I never dreamed of.  I started with two teaspoons in 8 oz of water once a day.  Now I am down to one teaspoon most of the time.  If I eat constipating foods like nuts I will increase my dose.  So far I have not worried about when I take it during the day.  It seems to have some  effect after several hours but continues to keep my stools soft for about a day.  I am now have to go only once or twice a day.  I would recommend that you vary your dosage and scheduling according to your own diet and habits to see what is optimal.  Stick with it!  This stuff has changed my life!
  • astrozombie
    astrozombie JaseInSpace

    Posted

    I use flax seed and I think it has a similar effect but I choose flax as has omega 3 which is good for your heart and husk has none though it is much lower in calories.  The only thing I have found to give you the bulk is Macrogol otherwise known as Laxido but I had to stop taking these as my body was becoming too dependent. I did try the p husk but for me I found better results from flax seed.  I think we react differently to different stimuli as notice someone on here says nuts to them are constipating whereas if I eat nuts it often has the opposite effect.  I remember going to the doc when I was very bad and would spend nearly all my weekend in the loo so took to consuming cashew nuts over the weekend to try and stop me being ill but it had the opposite effect the doc said and when I started to cut nuts out I was better. I do consume nuts now but more sparingly.
    • phil07766
      phil07766 astrozombie

      Posted

      Thanks astrozombie. I am going to try flax seed instead of psyllium husk just out of curiosity.  It is so interesting that nuts have the opposite effect on you.  That points to a serious problem with diagnosis and shows the need to talk to a practicioner who can spend sufficient time with us to get to know our particular symptoms, our dietary habits, and other life factors that will affect treatment. I have yet to find someone who can do this although my osteopath comes close.  And true confession,  my mental/spiritual state of mind also has a dramatic effect on my digestion and bowel conditions. 
    • astrozombie
      astrozombie phil07766

      Posted

      Hello Phil Please post your review here please. I consume a handful of mixed nuts daily to aid movement and works but if I eat too many they can upset my stomach. I did see a nutritionist who worked through my diet with me and she agreed with the IBS diagnosis although the fact I suffer from sickness too is unusual but I have seen others' in here who have the same symptoms re: sickness. My mental state is important too. The more stressed I am the more Ill I am. 

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