I've Decided To Start Taking Metamucil After Drastically Changing My Diet

Powder is better, just put it in orange juice and mix it really well. You don't really get enough powder in the pill form for it to be completely effective, IMO.

You also need to work up to it. I took the recommended dosage of the powder the first day and thought I'd explode from gas and cramping.

The next day I started with half a teaspoon and over the course of a couple of weeks worked my way up to a full dosage of three heaping teaspoons a day.

OP

For that to work you have to drink a lot of water with it. I would go with almost one full liter of water.

For the powdered version, you have to have a full eight ounce glass of water as a chaser.

I am a Geriatric Nurse, so I know this shit, if you pardon the pun.

I take 6 of the pills every morning and I find that it keeps me quite regular. Yes, occasionally I am gassy but if I ever overeat, the metamucil seems to kick in and cause me to evacuate and remove the bloat.

Why are you asking AFTER you've already made up your mind?

If you eat well, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain food choices- you do not need metamucil. It is good Rx for the occasional bout of constipation or diarrhea as it creates a nice gentle sponge to move things along at a good clip etc... but you should never use it regularly- unelss you want to be come dependent on it.

what, exactly, is diverticulitis by the way?

Can we all agree that this is the ultimate Eldergay thread?

Diverticuli are small "pouches" that develop in your colon, in theory due to more diet and "straining" in the colon. Sometimes waste etc (this is the end of the GI track) can lodge in them and they can become infected and the condition become diverticulitis which can be quite serious.

Good diet, plenty of water and regular exercise will pretty much take care of chronic constipation and diverticulosis. That should be the approach for everyone. Metamucil is for the acute problem- not regular use.

My understanding is that Metamucil, Citrucel and like-items aren't habit forming. They aren't laxatives and only help the process along by pulling in moisture to the colon.

I was a daily dropper up until a couple of months ago and it's incredible how a change in the BM routine can really fuck with your mind. I was trying a low carb/legume/high protein diet and that along with a few major changes in my life, like unemployment and little activity screwed up my routine. I also was taking quite a few vitamin supplements. The last couple of days I got back on track by cutting out the supplements, adding in ground flaxseed and eating prunes. If that wasn't going to work, then Citrucel was going to be the next option. It has worked in the past.

Oh, OP, I think the pill is a good option for convenience, especially for travel. The powdered version is likely a better deal in terms of cost versus effectiveness.

[quote]Metamucil is for the acute problem- not regular use.

Charlie, why do you insist on posting about things you obviously have no clue about? You do this in every thread you troll.

Metamucil can be taken daily, and millions do.

Charlie, Metamucil is psyllium husk, not a laxative. It is not habit forming and one cannot become dependent on it. You are such a fucking know-it-all piece-of-trash idiot.

I most certainly do have a clue about this. I am a PhD, RD and have published many peer review papers and text book chapters on exactly this topic- also edit text books that cover the same information- one in the works right now in fact. Hate to say so, but I am an expert on both diarrhea and constipation. I also have cared for up to 50 home tube fed patients at a time and we used metamucil for diarrhea nd constipation as needed. It is not as habit forming as lomotil or an opiate, but it can nevertheless produce a dependency. I have seen it- unfortunately.

So, the GI function of tube-fed patients on fiber supplements are typical and can be generalized, Charlie? Really, you're saying that? Jesus, shut up, twit.

Does it reduce LDL cholesterol?

OP, it's so funny that you started this thread because I just started taking Metamucil capsules (well, the generic kind) yesterday. It's not that I desperately need it, but I just think it would be a good benefit.

However, I'm only starting off with 2 capsules a day. My label says to take 5 capsules and that you can do it up to 3 times a day! No way am I taking all of those pills.

I have been on methadone for opiate addiction about 2 years now, and was constipated for almost the first full year. I was ashamed of myself for being on methadone, (some people are very ignorant when it comes to addiction) so it took a while to work up the courage to go see my family doctor about my problem. I wish I would have done so sooner. I started taking 1 tablespoon of metamucil (the orange powder) 2 times daily and worked my way up to 3 tablespoons a day. It worked great!

I always take powdered Metamucil with me whenever I go on overtseas trips. I never need it at home (I eat lots of veggies) but for some reason I am susceptible to constipation when I'm abroad.

Drink the Pink Lemonade flavor! That stuff is awesome!! You need to buy it online now though. After the company had a shortage after a mechanical screw up, stores ended up stocking the normal orange once production began again.

R17, have you never heard of the Internet? You didnt look up "opiate constipation treatment"? It's a common condition for people chronically on pain medication. You didnt need a doctor for constipation treatment. The Internet is knowledge at your fingertips.

I used to be very regular - every morning like clockwork. But last year I also drastically changed my diet to lose weight. (I've lost 110 pounds, but still need to lose another 50 or so.)

Anyway, shortly after the dieting began (and I didn't do any weird fad diet -- just low calorie and lower fat; more vegetables and fruit, and minimal sugar) I started to get constipated -- now sometimes I don't go for three or four days.

I tried using the capsule version of psyllium but it's a pain to take so many pills (I think the dosage is five or six, three times a day) with so much water.

What do we think about the fiber gummies? They're really easy to take, but they don't seem to have much effect.

I have resorted to an actual laxative tablet a few times, but only when I was REALLY blocked.

My sister eats a couple dried prunes every morning.

"Hate to say so, but I am an expert on both diarrhea and constipation."

R13/charlie, please say this out loud to yourself.

r21, that sounds very odd...more veggies and green leafy ones in particular should help you be 'regular' naturally. What else are you eating?

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Low IQ loser

I use Metamucil daily, and I have been doing it for several years. I feel wonderful. You can set you clock by me.

Every morning I drink my orange flavored Metamucil, I take my probiotic capsules, and I drink a huge mug of green tea. Oh. And one huge glass of hot water with lemon juice.

Eating salads and fresh veggies also is a good idea. For many years I struggled with serious, chronic GI issues. Now I feel free!

Of course I avoid mucus producing foods, red meat, processed foods, and too much sugar. No alcohol except the occasional glass of wine. But the bloating, constipation, cramping discomfort that I lived with for decades is over.

Thanks for sharing, old man.

Old people are so nasty!

Metamucil is a travelers best friend. Even with a healthy diet, long periods of inactivity can create digestive problem. Capsules are a must in every suitcase, Round the world on 36 capsules...

r25 meant to troll another thread. Oops.

When Metamucil couldn't supply stores with it product due to a factory malfunction, followers on Facebook were freaking out. I just imagined them all furiously typing away while sitting on the toilet. The Metamucil company had to put out a statement and keep responding to angry customers on Facebook. It was hilarious.

Never take the pills, never eat the wafer, and never drink the clear water stuff. A nurse on here was brilliant. She said that in order for the pills to work, you'd have to drink gallons of water each time to get them to break down. She was absolutely correct. She said be a big boy and drink the real stuff. The grape flavor that they used to make was vile, and almost became a sort of internet phenomena. There are tons of videos of people slamming it. I'm telling you, the Pink Lemonade is great! It tastes like the real thing. I started taking Metamucil two years ago in my late twenties.

Miracle product.

If you do a high-protein diet, you better drink Metamucil!

Dump the Metamucil. Eat lots of cabbage. Rough at first, no pun intended, after that it's clear sailing.

r34, you want someone to eat that everyday? Metamucil is natural. It's not a laxative. It's way better for your system.

I tried both for years. Loves my cabbage and what it does. Sleek. Might explain why Korean men are so smooth.

Enemas...they are not to be sniffed at!

Everyone's different, I know, but what made most of you choose Metamucil over Citrucel?

Cabbage makes your shit smell like...

How did you drastically alter your diet? I’m vegan-keto right now.

I have IBS and avoid fruits and vegetables since they only make the problem worse. I started taking Metamucil in pill form about 15 years ago. In my case, I take 7 of them every night before bed. I have one perfect BM every morning. Of course, everyone's system is different. I just know this works for me. I take the pills as opposed to powder because I travel for work a couple days a week and you can't always count on having a spoon in your hotel room. I just count out the number of pills I need based on how many days I'll be away.

Let’s say you’re using the powder form. How long after you drink the Metamucil should you have a decent BM? About 8 to 12 hours later?

Instead of Metamucil couldn’t you drink a strong cup of coffee instead?

Is Charlie that same nutcase that supports GMO food and HFCS, if so he is certifiable. We only have his word he works in this profession and there are some nutcases in every profession.

Is it habit-forming?

The powder works far better for me than the pills. I'm not convinced the pills dissolve quickly or disperse into other fluids completely. When I take the pills, I tend to have very small, hard round poops, while the powder gives me a more natural digestive experience.

Supposedly, Metamucil is good for cholesterol, too. I use the powder, when I feel I need it, not every day. I use a heaping tablespoon in orange juice. I don't like the texture or taste of it, though. I'm thinking of trying Benefiber after this is gone.

Oh yeah.. coffee is great for moving things along.