OK heres my story. I will leave out the obligitory "this may be gross" :) I have been having some symptoms for the past 4 weeks. It started one day with loose stools and much more frequency. Every once in a while there would be a very watery one but mostly just loose and more often. I have diverticulitis but haven't had a big flare up in many years. At first I thought it might be that but in the past that caused constipation not this. I did feel some pain where the diverticulitis has been but not much. I went to the doc and I am now going to a gasto to get a colonoscopy. I am totally freaking out here thinking that naturally it is the worst (my Father died of colon cancer) I am 47 years old. Stools are kind of flat too but I haven't been eating any real fiber either. Well that is a lot of details so... any thoughts?

rrr,

A person needs to intake 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily to have normal BMs. THe fiber needs to be a combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Insoluble fiber is mostly contained in all fruits, veggies including all greens and nuts & seeds --also wheat bran & green beans.

Soluble fiber is the inside part of all grains (rice, corn, oats, barley, wheat), beans & peas (the outer husk is insoluble) and root veggies --like potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips--- And of course psyllium husk that is in Metamucil and other brand, Citrucel, Benefiber.

All meats, seafood and all dairy products contain NO fiber.
Most people's diet does not contain enough soluble fiber -- it is the type fiber that will bulk up your stool and make it firmer but regular w/o straining.

I suggest to make sure you get enough water soluble fiber -- that you start taking a fiber supplement like Metamucil --- but I take Equate -- the Wal Mart brand because it seems courser, a dose is about 1/3 more psyllium and it cost about half as much and works just as well.
Just make sure that you drink enough water daily -- 6 to 8 glasses.

Also --psyllium is a natrual fiber that is safe to take daily but when you first start it--- it breaksdown during digestion-- ferments and produces gas but the Gas will go away with continued use --- everyone is so different with their diet so it is hard to predict how long it will take?? a week or so is normal.

I have used psyllium for 23 years and it works for diarrhea as well as constipation.

I think lack of fiber in diets is the reason for colon cancer being second only to lung cancer-- for cancer deaths--- not only lack of fiber but people don't like taking about their Bowel Habits to any body-- including Doctors!!!

God Bless~~~Harry

Harry, Thank you for your reply. That is a lot of very good information. I actually did start taking metamucil capsules yesterday. Only a couple just to start off slow and had some oatmeal too. I kind of felt constipated but I think that just may be things working more the way they are supposed to. I have been going so much lately I kind of forgot how it is supposed to be. Anyway things were a little bulkier so that is good. Once again thanks for your reply.