Question For Harry - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

LISAG · 04-05-2004, 10:16 AM

I posted thread a few weeks ago because I was having loose stools in the morning since before the birth of my baby 4 months ago.

I said that I was taking two psyllium husk fibre capsules every day and this hadn't improved things very much. You suggested that I increase this and I did to 4 capsules each day (2 capsules contain 1000mg of fibre). Things improved for about 10 days but then the loose stools returned. I have tried to improve my diet and I'm not sure whether to increase the capsules further as it does only say to take two a day on the bottle and I've already doubled that.

I've still got a lot of stress going on and I'm not sure whether as long as I have this, the loose morning stools will not improve. This is obviously adding to the worry.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Ibsux · 04-05-2004, 03:50 PM

Harry compelled me to take fiber caps as well too. This has been only the second full day of taking it, but I have noticed some more bulk to my stools in the last few BMs. I was on Fibercon for about three weeks before the Metamucil.

The Fibercon worked great for about a week, but then the diarrhea eventually returned. On better days my stool would just be watery, but at least I didn't have to go as much.

What I'm reading from you worries me because I'm not sure how else to manage this if Metamucil doesn't work.

If you are experiencing "soft" stools, unless you are going frequently, I wouldn't worry about it. People have varying consistencies of BMs.

Harry · 04-06-2004, 11:15 PM

Lisag,
Stress can cause problems. There is a connection between the Mind and Gut that causes diarrhea as well as loose stools!! The treatment is to take a very low dose of an anti depressant like 10mgm of Elavil. This has been well documented in the medical literature!!

I have found that using psyllium to bulk up your stools-- it takes 5 to 7 or 8 grams daily along with your diet that contains the rest of your fiber. You need 20 to 30 grams daily.

Also, you may need to keep a daily log of what you eat and drink daily. You may have one or more trigger foods that cause loose to watery stools. Some food that affect people are wheat products and dairy products (lactose intolerant).

Eating yogurt can help rebalance friendly bacteria in your intestines if it's out of balance.

As you see there is not a plain simple answer??

I Wish you well---Harry

6th_sense · 04-07-2004, 11:28 PM

Hi guys,

I have a cousin who suffers from loose stools as well, and he controls it quite well with calcium supplements after I suggested it. You could always try powdering a half a pill of calcium (powdering the calcium significantly increases the effectiveness in my opinion) with your meals - it tastes horrible though. Try the kind without the magnesium or zinc. That should help your stools get a little more firm.(Harry should also be aware of the idea I suggested - Linda, I believe used to talk about calcium).

Of course, if calcium doesn't work, you could always go and ask your doctor if he is open to prescribing Colestid/Questran (also well known on this board. They are usually prescribed for heart patients to reduce colesterol, but they also act as bile absorbents which will help your stools bulk up). Of course, they also reduce absorption of vitamins - so you may have to take supplements to help with that.

Cheers, Raju.

Harry · 04-08-2004, 10:37 PM

Hi,
I agree with Raju --- Calcium does have a tranquilizing effect on your intestines. It is natures natrual tranquilizer. You need it anyway to reduce chances of osteoporosis.

I don't take a calcium supplement because I eat yogurt at least 3 times daily and my calcium is OK but I do take magnesium for calcium absorption as well as vitamin D and zinc.