Wow, that's awesome! I guess you can always increase your dosage in small increments if you want to experiment. I only wish more people would be open to the Metamucil therapy (if situation permits), we would not have all these posts with problems such as butt burn, loose stools, leakage and urgency that are solvable for some. So happy for you...

Meatball, thank you for being so demonstrative. It prompted me to give Metamucil another shot. I tried to get the Trader Joe's brand, but they were out of stock. So, I went to Costco and got the psyllium husk powder, Kirkland generic. I sat there and did calculations with the capsules. You are right about the capsules not being enough fiber. Specifically, I have to pay about three times as much to get the same amount of fiber. By the way, the price on Metamucil powder was at least twice as much per gram of fiber.

 

Anyway, I got home and took about one teaspoon of the psyllium husk at about 3 pm. I got instant results after only one teaspoon. My next two bowel movements were healthy looking and full. Last night, I woke up only once.

 

These are preliminary results. However, I wanted to let you know because my body has not responded this positively to a remedy in a long time. Thank you.

 

-Original Poster

 

Hi Everyone...so I will answer questions asked of me about my Metamucil (or equivalent) post:

 

Maddie18...I would definitely check with your doctor on that one. I don't have obstructions, so it goes through nicely.

Jake McCoy: Yes, I've tried the capsules. It's just not enough for me, even when I take four or five. I find it easier and more effective when I take it in powdered form.

Catinthehat: It is definitely NOT recommended to take it the way I do. I can see where some people might choke. It works quite well for me, however. It is easy and fast. And considering how much I take, I just don't have the time (plus I don't like it) to put it in water and drink it down. The way I do it is fast and simple. Plus I actually do like the taste. But it is definitely not the normal or standard way to take it.

 

 

 

Also, I noticed the comments about "seems like you still need to poop after going".  Yes, this is true for lots of folks.  I highly recommend a hand held shower for times you feel clean out has not been achieved.  The high pressure vibration mode on some handheld units will stimulate a excellent purge (every time) of every pouch out there.  Sounds gross, but the same shower can be used to clean the  shower/bath afterwards.  This method decreases poop frequencies buy a large amount.  I don't do it every time, but you will begin to recognize a incomplete dump/purge of your pouch.  The hand held shower has increased the quality of my life dramatically.  I can now eat spicy/gassy/hard to eliminate foods without worry.  I can now eat whatever is served me when I go out on the town.

I've had my pouch since 1/2002. I haven't had a full night sleep since. I've also tried eating. ..or stop eating at all different times and nothing helps. I actually get up at least 6 or more times a night.  My biggest problem is that I absolutely cannot pass gas without some stool coming out...so everytime I need to pass gas I have to jump up and run to the bathroom. Sometimes it's literally every hour or less. I also have found myself falling asleep on the toilet just to get some sort of sleep.  Three of the meds I'm on say "gas is a side effect " which I mention to the doctors but they don't seem to mind.

 

Sorry to say this whole thing "has " ruined my marriage.  After 20 years of marriage i was divorced last year because my husband was "sick of m being sick " ironic!  

 

If anyone has advice on getting rid of gas, I'd really appreciate it.  It also seems like my body waits for me to lay down and lay still and then everything decides to move through. 

 

Heres to keeping my faith up. Love to all.

I also don't get 6 hour blocks of sleep on a regular basis and it's tough. But one solution I tried that worked well was polyphasic sleep (google Everyman sleep). If your schedule allows for a few of naps strategically spaced during the day, then even 3 hours of sleep at night should be enough to feel refreshed.

I can not recall the last time I slept through the night without getting up. I guess it is the price we pay for not having a bag. I try to not eat after 7 pm.

By the way, my sleep pattern has affected my romantic relationship. We sleep in separate rooms. It's all for the better though. I can get up without worrying about waking her up.

So glad it's working for you Liz. And don't worry if it's not the brand "Metamucil". Actually, I purchase the store brand of sweetened psyllium  husk, as I go through a container so quickly and it's not cheap. It works exactly like the name brand. You should see the way I take it, it's insane: I put a teaspoon of the dry stuff in my mouth, and chase it down with a gulp of water. Then I do it a again...I take several heaping teaspoons at a time. I do not have time or patience to put it in water; I want to get it done quickly. To me it tastes like the old school Tang, not bad at all! I carry a small container with a spoon in my purse so I have it at all times, and have learned how to take it discretely when we're out. Your body will tell you if you're not taking enough. As soon as I experience some butt burn and loose stool, I think back of how much I took that day, and it usually wasn't enough, so I adjust accordingly. It's so simple. And it has been such a lifesaver!  Good luck to you...

One word: METAMUCIL. As I've posted before, for me (and of course everyone is different), it has given me my quality of life back. I take it every day...lots of it...more than the recommended dose...after every meal, and at bedtime. I no longer have: butt burn, leakage, urgency to go, watery stools. I only get up once at night, sometimes not at all. I can eat and drink ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I want. The Metamucil bulks up in the gut, making your stool more normal. I'm reading how so many of you are going through so much trouble trying to avoid certain foods, taking different drugs, experimenting with every new product or suggestion, to no avail. I do not have to do any of that. Ever. Try it, folks. I hope it works as well for everyone out there as it has for me!

If I can get a solid 5 hours of sleep without going to the toilet, I consider myself lucky.  I usually average 2 hours of sleep at a time.  Sometimes I have to go 15 minutes after the last time I went. Towards the morning I tend to be able to sleep a bit longer, but then I have to get up to go to work and keep an appointment etc so I can't sleep any longer.  As noted by many respondents  my husband is very loving and understanding even though he always seems to wake up when I get up to go to the toilet. 

I just have a general question for anyone who may experience this. Often I am in so much pain after a BM that I actually need to take Oxycontin. It feels like I'm passing razor blades. I know to avoid fruit and vegetables as these seem harder to pass but sometimes there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the pain. On a side note, I cannot eat anything without bolting to the bathroom. I am a 51 year old woman, 5'2" and weigh under 100 lbs. I have not been able to weigh over 100 lbs since my surgery in 1999. Luckily my husband of 30 years loves his wife on the "slender side" although he'd prefer a healthier weight (as would I). Any suggestions on how to gain and keep a few pounds?

I go to bed around 11pm and get up at 7am. I never wake up to go to the loo during the night unless I over do it on wine at the weekends, then it's just to empty the bladder. I'm really careful what I eat and drink. No Wheat or gluten, no fatty foods or mad sauces, no heavy fibrous vegatables such as cabbage. No oranges, etc, no red meat. Just Rice krispies or Gluten free Cornflakes for breakfast, maybe chicken and cheese for lunch. When I had my external bag I could eat anything, and did. I went up to 88KG. Immediately after my reversal I quickly found out my diet would be incredibly limited. Now I have my diet under control I am in fantastic health, no bloating, no tiredness. I have three little kids and now have the energy to out-play them.

I usually get up 2 or 3 times during the night with the urge to go. More disturbing are the times I manage to sleep through the BMs in my depends which leaves me with a sore bum overall and a lousy start to my day. Sleep pattern?? Don't have one. Sometimes I think I fall asleep on the toilet. Judy K

Wow. To sleep 6hrs would be a miracle. I can do it after I Completely exhaust myself (like, all day at a music festival), combined with not eating much. Just short of 3yrs with Jpouch, I too am most active at night. I try to not eat after 8. Even stopping at 7 doesn't help (well, it helps make sure I don't have an accident.)  I conclude that because I've spent my whole life as a late eater (growing up supper was between 7-8pm) and because I am naturally a late shifter, my body's clock is set latter than most and refuses to adjust . Add a child to the equation, I rarely ever get the sleep I need to feel rested, healthy, sane.

Sleep dep is torture. Literally; a torture tactic.

 

I had J pouch after U/C surgery in 1988. I could count the number of full night sleeps - more than 6 hours straight - on 2 hands. I will go to bed after 10pm, and still be up 2-4 times before 4am. Night time diet makes a difference some time. I am now just used to it . If I have a reason to sleep I will not eat any solid food after mid day.

I have had the same eating pattern for 25 years since having a J-Pouch, last meal of the day is eaten no later than 6 pm. I have always had a high output pouch, I couldn't tell you the last time I slept through the night, even when I go to bed late! 3x/night is normal.

Original poster here...

 

I usually eat pretty heavy at night. I know that's  a big part of my problem, but it's difficult to control myself. I workout 5 or 6 days per week.  I eat quite a bit and have trouble keeping weight on my body.  (I know, good problem to have.)  I know i need to scale back my eating at night, but that just means I'll have to overload even more earlier in the day.  I already eat a lot.

I'm still using it with success!  I use about 3 heaping teaspoons per day.  I could use 6 heaping teaspoons per day for even better results, but I'm going to hang tight at this dosage for awhile.  In my use of psyllium husk years ago, I was using the capsule version and not seeing much success.  It was probably because my fiber dosage was lower with the capsules.

 

Jake McCoy, that's fantastic...I'm happy it's working for you!  I couldn't live without the stuff. I only WISH I could take merely one teaspoonful to get results, I have to take so much more each time...keep me posted on your progress!