Anyone have experience with using psyllium husk?

Itā€™s best to start small and build it up.
Example: 1/2 tsp. with 8 ounces
Use this for 3 to 4 days then increase to 3/4 tsp. for 3 to 4 days, then 1 tsp. once a day.

Gradually increase to taking it more than once a day and up to 3 times a day. Of course, itā€™s always best to get advise from your health care practitioner.

Note: taking psyllium husks more than once a day to start could cause harmful cramping.

Is it to relieve constipation?
I take one capful of restoraLAX once a day in my coffee when Iā€™m having problems.
 
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PeppermintPatty said:
Itā€™s best to start small and build it up.
Example: 1/2 tsp. with 8 ounces
Use this for 3 to 4 days then increase to 3/4 tsp. for 3 to 4 days, then 1 tsp. once a day.

Gradually increase to taking it more than once a day and up to 3 times a day. Of course, itā€™s always best to get advise from your health care practitioner.

Note: taking psyllium husks more than once a day to start could cause harmful cramping.

Is it to relieve constipation?
I take one capful of restoraLAX once a day in my coffee when Iā€™m having problems.
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Sorry. I didn't see your question. Yes. This cycle started about a week ago. Yesterday I took 2 does of MiraLax, and a DucaLax pill. Still constipated. I started 3 days ago with the husk. 1/2 tsp..then a little more. I had about 2 tsps all day today, nothing else...food of course. Lots of fruit and an avocado. I can't eat at night...i have been getting sick around midnight. I eat twice before 2PM each day. It is a complicated thing because of the "lymphatic colitis". It is a bizarre illness. It is idiopathic and incurable.
 
Paco Dennis said:
Sorry. I didn't see your question. Yes. This cycle started about a week ago. Yesterday I took 2 does of MiraLax, and a DucaLax pill. Still constipated. I started 3 days ago with the husk. 1/2 tsp..then a little more. I had about 2 tsps all day today, nothing else...food of course. Lots of fruit and an avocado. I can't eat at night...i have been getting sick around midnight. I eat twice before 2PM each day. It is a complicated thing because of the "lymphatic colitis". It is a bizarre illness. It is idiopathic and incurable.
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I added the question afterwards which is why you probably didnā€™t see it. It was an edit.

Have you considered eating a salad a day with oil & vinegar dressing? The psyllium husks should help you a lot. Sorry for being so graphic but often when weā€™ve been constipated for so long , the feces turns into a big huge blob that becomes impossible to get out. Physically manipulating that blob from the outside can be helpful. This will sound gross but shoving the end of a spoon up there to cut the blob up can help relieve the pain. First make sure the end ( handle part) ismooth. Never shove anything sharp up your anus.

I know from my own past experience how painful it can be. I rarely get constipated but prescribed pain killers tend plug me up something awful. Being constipated is a serious thing to deal with. The biggest problem you have is if you continue to use laxatives but are still plugged up. This can cause some serious cramping so is something to seriously take into consideration. Taking psyllium husks is a good natural solution. A good choice. I wish you the best Dennis.
 
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When they first issued a medicine for the colitis I wish I had known the little trick you just mentioned. I got so constipated that I pushed too hard and got a hernia! That had to be operated on.

The husk is helping. I will try to eat a salad also today. Thanks for the care!! :)
 
I buy generic psyllium husks at Walmart for substantially less than brand names like Metimucil. The package recommends two tablespoons per day taken with a 12 ounce glass of water.

I do a tablespoon in a small juice glass of water about a half hour before each meal.

If you take medications it may be best to avoid taking psyllium husk for an hour or two before of after your meds. In some cases the psyllium husks prevent proper absorption of the meds.

If you do a little surfing you will find some pudding recipes or recipes for adding them to oatmeal to make them a bit more palatable.

Some folks also use ground chia seeds with similar benefits.
 
I tried it a few months ago, and ended up with severe pain in my lower intestine, which was bad enough to see a doctor about. She fixed the problem, which I believe was caused by the husk. She surmised, but only as speculation that perhaps the husk was an irritant. While taking it I also experienced and unusual dry throat while hiking, something that I'd never experienced before and an indication that something was going wrong inside.

It's an over the counter herbal thing, and I would advise caution because there is no scientific data on it. It may work for some, but I'll never take it again.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I adding the question afterwards which is why you probably didnā€™t see it. It was an edit.

Have you considered eating a salad a day with oil & vinegar dressing? The psyllium husks should help you a lot. Sorry for being so graphic but often when weā€™ve been constipated for so long , the feces turns into a big huge blob that becomes impossible to get out. Physically manipulating that blob from the outside can be helpful. This will sound gross but shoving the end of a spoon up there to cut the blob up can help relieve the pain. First make sure the end ( handle part) ismooth. Never shove anything sharp up your anus.

I know from my own past experience how painful it can be. I rarely get constipated but prescribed pain killers tend plug me up something awful. Being constipated is a serious thing to deal with. The biggest problem you have is if you continue to use laxatives but are still plugged up. This can cause some serious cramping so is something to seriously take into consideration. Taking psyllium husks is a good natural solution. A good choice. I wish you the best Dennis.
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A healthy BM is contained within a biofilm. There should be no mess to wipe.
Psyllium, as it absorbs water, has been known to clump in the throat and choke people. I took a quarter teaspoon of psyllium in eight ounces of water for years, until I read from a reputable source that it is not good for us. Sorry, I don't remember why, but please do google it.
Some sort of raw produce should be included in every meal, such as celery, cabbage, apple, bell pepper, green onions, or other.
The above just an opinion.
 
gruntlabor said:
A healthy BM is contained within a biofilm. There should be no mess to wipe.
Psyllium, as it absorbs water, has been known to clump in the throat and choke people. I took a quarter teaspoon of psyllium in eight ounces of water for years, until I read from a reputable source that it is not good for us. Sorry, I don't remember why, but please do google it.
Some sort of raw produce should be included in every meal, such as celery, cabbage, apple, bell pepper, green onions, or other.
The above just an opinion.
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Iā€™ve never heard that but good info and thanks for adding it. I use restoraLAX when Iā€™m constipated. It works well but I donā€™t get constipated often. Thank God. Years ago I was so constipated I did some serious damage.
Paco Dennis said:
When they first issued a medicine for the colitis I wish I had known the little trick you just mentioned. I got so constipated that I pushed too hard and got a hernia! That had to be operated on.

The husk is helping. I will try to eat a salad also today. Thanks for the care!! :)
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Be careful using the husks Dennis. Two members on one thread stating it could be dangerous; Iā€™d take heed.

Years ago I did what you did also. I couldnā€™t sit down properly for a couple of weeks. Being constipated is serious stuff and you are most welcome my friend. I wish you the best.
 
gruntlabor said:
Psyllium, as it absorbs water, has been known to clump in the throat and choke people.
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Possibly related in my case, but I'm not sure. My doctor x-rayed me and thought she detected a bowel obstruction. A laxative cured my pain immediately, although I was not having constipation that I could tell.
 
Paco Dennis said:
I know to mix a teaspoon into at least 8oz. water. Can I take it that way more than once per day. Would 4 times a day be too much?
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I use the capsule form, DH uses 1 tablespoon in a glass of water 3 times a day. So you will be perfectly safe using the measurements you said 4 times a day.
 
Well you all will happy to hear that I feel so much better. Things have started returning to normal. I think I will take a tsp. in the morning, and one in the evening for now. I really appreciate you helping me with this. All the info is helpful in making my decisions. Thanks. :)
 
Paco Dennis said:
Well you all will happy to hear that I feel so much better. Things have started returning to normal. I think I will take a tsp. in the morning, and one in the evening for now. I really appreciate you helping me with this. All the info is helpful in making my decisions. Thanks. :)
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You are correct. We are all happy about your improvement, Dennis!
My own experiences with self and others taking psyllium, I will add to this thread.....
that it's a good option, IF you're not allergic to it;
AND IF, you are able to drink enough extra water with it!

A little before to lubricate the throat, plenty mixed with it, and then some after it. (water, that is, for all 3)

In my opinion and hospital experiences, it would then be safe and effective. The extra water should prevent problems.

If not able to drink much water, then I would look for other alternatives.
Such as Miralax or Dulcolax or stool softeners.....other OTC's.
They all work in different ways, by different methods, so they do not have the same precautions as each other.

Different people find that one or a combination of 2, works better for them than what other people find best for themselves.

Of course it's always great if dietary changes as suggested above, substitute for the need for any,
or diet can be helpful in taking less of the otc's.

Taking it 2 times daily, and eating those foods, sounds like a great balance to me.
Just my opinions, based on my knowledge.

Btw, psyllium, in addition to being available by itself in the powdered form,
is also the active ingredient in some of the MOST popular name brands, that zillions of people consume daily and that doctors and surgeons recommend. Including Metamucil.
 
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Kaila said:
Let's hear it for prunes and prune juice! ;)

Soak and simmer your own dried ones, to avoid the sugars added to store brands.
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Thank you for all the info. I have the prunes ready to go too. I am feeling so much better with using a small amount. I am glad that this method can be used if there is next time! :)
 
Paco Dennis said:
Thank you for all the info. I have the prunes ready to go too. I am feeling so much better with using a small amount. I am glad that this method can be used if there is next time! :)
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Experiment with adding the right amount of fiber to your diet so there isnā€™t a next time.

The prunes are great if you can tolerate the carbs. We used to make them by loosely filling a mason jar 2/3 full with dried prunes and filling the jar with boiling water. When cool, refrigerate overnight and serve.

Bran flake, bran muffins, apples, etcā€¦ are all good choices and of course psyllium husks.

The psyllium can be added to smoothies, nutrition drinks, juice, etcā€¦

Good luck!
 
Aunt Bea said:
The prunes are great if you can tolerate the carbs. We used to make them by loosely filling a mason jar 2/3 full with dried prunes and filling the jar with boiling water. When cool, refrigerate overnight and serve.
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Very good! Add a squeezed lemon or orange, and use it for filling a pie crust, and you have a delicious desert! :D
 

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