psyllium husk & hydration

Metamucil recommends 8 ounces of water be taken due to the possibility of choking, but there are conflicting reports on whether this is necessary.  Psyllium husk powder does soak up water quickly (quicker than mortar does) and if taken dry there is a chance you will choke to death, but you would probably have to drink it pretty dry to have that happen.  I would not recommend trying it to see what happens. If you have trouble swallowing or a narrow esophagus, be careful.

My CCFA support group leader/moderator is aggressively opposed to taking metamucil with a lot of water.  Not really sure why, or where the harm is.

Here is the thing. If the point of the fiber is to bulk the already watery stool, you do not want to add "a lot" of water to the already watery mess. So, just take it with the minimal amount of water needed to be able to dissolve it and swallow it quickly. But, DO NOT follow up with extra water as recommended (since it is being recommended on the package for constipation and extra water is needed for that purpose).

Jan

Thank you & would you recommend not drinking water for 30 minutes after?

Paul

That sounds about right. The directions say to use atleast 8 ounces of water to mix, so it is mot that much. You want to drink it, not have be a paste. Also, do not take it with other medications if you can avoid it, as it might delay absorption.

Jan

For what it's worth I usually drink it with about 3-4 ounces water, but you have to drink it immediately after mixing the powder in water, as it will coagulate and the liquid will turn into a thick paste rapidly if you sit there and stare at it.  I do a really fast mix with a spoon and power swig it, like I would drink a double shot of Fireball.

I find that it does its job well for me even with plenty of water. I'm not seeking perfect stool consistency, just a bit of "glue" added. More important than that is I never want to become dehydrated, so I never casually restrict my water intake.

Thank you all, another question please, is it better to take it at mealtimes or spread it out more evenly, for example I'm taking it with food at present, so at 10, 2 & 7, that's 3 doses in 9 hours. I also take an immodium 1 or 2 times a day at 12 hour intervals.

Paul

I take it at lunch and bedtime. Metamucil powder at lunch and the wafers at bedtime, for purposes of variety.

I take it with meals, to glue together the stuff that needs gluing. 

I take my psyllium spread in my ceral in the morning and yogurt in the eve , a little over a half of tsp.,has workeds for 14 yr's.