Best Fiber Supplement?

[treefrog]

Okay, I checked when I got home.

Miralax is polyethylene glycol, no fillers.

Benefiber is wheat dextrin, it says no gluten (but some people who are gluten sensitive, have sensitivities to wheat proteins too). I think that is something that you won't know if you are going to have a problem, unless you try it.

[Katie]

Cathy, thanks for checking on that. I cannot risk being in contact with wheat in any variety. If I even breath in the dust from straw (we have a farm), I have to use my epi-pen. I developed this sensitivity last fall out of nowhere, and even rice sets me off. If I didn't mind the awful cramping and possible ride in an ambulance, the rice and wheat, etc. sure cleans me out in a hurry

Your steel cut oats mixture sure sounds wonderful...I really miss my grains. ;(

[KBear]

The old saying "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away" definitely applies here. I have been eating an apple (green or red) and it has gotten me regular; which is amazing because I have serious constipation issues (sometimes I will go 5 days without going). I really didn't believe that an apple a day would help me, since my issues were so bad that even laxatives wouldn't work, so I was incredibly surprised. If nothing else, it's one of your daily fruit servings! Good Luck as I know constipation is unbearable and uncomfortable.

[melodyl]

Hi Justin,

Have you tried pysllium seed powder? Health food stores carry it or you can order it online. It is easy to mix with juice or in smoothies. It worked well for me when I had issues after surgery. For extra help, try drinking warm juice. I don't know why it makes such a difference....but warming it up for a minute or two in the microwave before drinking really seems to make a difference. If you have a juicer......and the energy or someone to make it for you, fresh carrot-apple juice is really good. I make big batches and freeze the extra in glass jars.

Narcotics certainly make dieting easier....I rarely felt like eating when I was on high doses of fentanyl. I'm happy to say that my appetite is increasing in direct proportion to decreasing pain medication.

Melody

[KBear]

If you have a juicer......and the energy or someone to make it for you, fresh carrot-apple juice is really good. I make big batches and freeze the extra in glass jars. Melody

I love carrot-apple juice in the juicer. Pre-warning to anyone not used to juicing, this stuff is very filling. The first time I made juice, I drank about 10 ounces, got a stomach ache and was bloated. I called my sister, who also juices and she told me this very important detail. Lesson learned, don't drink as much of this juice as you would a bottled juice.
Kathy

[SemperFi]

I eat very well w/plenty of veggie servings and fruit as well, whole wheat products however w/medication use I have to also rely on Miralax or PolyGlycol 3350 17 gms bid and it's *da bomb* literally..

If push comes to shove and you find you have to use something the PGC should work well for you if necessary over and above diet altho perhaps this isn't an issue for you now?

[Justin]

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. I've been taking Benefiber and it's actually not bad at all--hardly any taste, not gritty and is relatively inexpensive.

Thanks Cathy for bringing up the gluten sensitivity. Patients with Celiac Disease would most definitely have to avoid the gluten-containing fiber supplements.

Melodyl, I'll have to look into the pysllium seed powder you suggested--thanks!

Kathy, I've found that increasing my fruits has helped, especially dried fruit (these pears I found at Trader Joe's have 13g of fiber per serving).

Kaite, I've got my very own epi pen as well. uggh... I wish you the very best.

This is a good topic to discuss because anyone on long-term narcotics will have issues with regularity. The physiology of the intestines change: narcotics directly affect receptors in the gut.

[Katie]

The doctor who investigated my hypersensitivity to grains and their dusts, etc., suggested that it may be caused by all the narcotics I've been taking, that somehow it messed up my immune system or something. He wasn't sure, and didn't know who else to send me to.

Do you think that when the narcotics are no longer needed, that I will go back to normal, that I will be able to tolerate the grains? Justin, you suggested ciliac disease, and I am pretty sure you are correct, although I haven't seen a gastro specialist yet. But rice isn't supposed to be in that group that would irritate the gut. Perhaps there were pesticides or some other chemical that was in or on the rice that triggered the shock?

I just hate the guessing game....I can adjust to the restriction on diet well enough, even though I miss the goodies including good breads, but it is the 'surprises' when I end up in the ambulance and don't know what has triggered it yet again that is a bit annoying

I have learned soooo much on this board, and want to pass on my thanks, once more.

[KBear]

I forgot to mention that Activa Yogurt works really well for constipation. I'll eat 2 or 3 the first day, and keep doing that until I go, then go back down to 1 a day. It is really good yogurt, and I tipically don't like yogurt. I like to add granola to it, to get some texture.

[runagain]

I have a laundry list of what has helped me with constipation.

Miralax (not used every day), Smooth Move Tea (very helpful), Colace, not taking narcotics until later in the morning.
Grapes (fresh, really, really works).
And if things are really bad, ducolax suppository.
Yogurt (home made) helps me feel better.
Fruit Smoothies with yogurt, tofu, etc..
Watermelon and licorice are also good.

Runagain