I'm taking the new Metamucil capsules that have added calcium. The dosage is 5 capsules, 3 times a day.
fiber capsules - how long?
I started taking Metamucil w/Calcium capsules almost 2 weeks ago, per my doctor's advice. (The same advice I've ignored for 20 years.) I hate taking pills and b/c the dosage is 15 per day and b/c I didn't want to shock my body (lol), I've been working my way up to the full dose. (I'm up to about 12/day.) My normal routine was C for about 4 days and then one or 2 large BMs, maybe with D at the end. This time, around Day 4, I started have small, hard, BMs and I've been going to the bathroom daily this week. Yesterday, I felt like I was in the bathroom all day, but all BMs seemed formed and firm, but not necessarily hard. I just had an episode of some upper abdominal discomfort that turned out to be gas and another BM (that's 2 today) that was somewhat urgent, but not D. It was large and, in the end, soft. What I'd like to know is how do I know if I'm taking too much fiber or not enough? I mean, how do I regulate myself? I just want to go to the bathroom like a normal person and not have pain or urgency. Maybe once or twice a day and be done, KWIM? I guess that's what we all want. I'm happy that I haven't had any cramps, that's for sure. I'm also taking Align and ate popcorn and nuts this week so maybe that's kicking in, too.
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I have the bottle in front of me and it reads, "Take 5 capsules one at a time w/8 oz of water. Can be taken up to 4 times daily." That last sentence is not included on their website, for some reason, but it's clearly written on the bottles under Directions. A serving size, 5 capsules, is only 3g of fiber. An extra 3 grams of fiber, once a day, wouldn't do a darn thing for me, personally. I can get more fiber in a serving of Mini Wheats!
I used to hate the powder, and the capsules are easier to take now that I'm getting used to them. It's a lot easier to stick them in my purse, kwim? My doctor wanted me to take these, specifically, b/c of the added calcium, b/c she said the fiber would be absorbed and digested better b/c of it. I had never heard that before, and she said it was odd, but true. I have cut back a bit and I will just keep playing around with the amout until I find a happy place, I guess. Thanks!That actually sounds about right...sounds like an insane amount but it isn't.I'm doing the same thing, basically if I remember right - 6 pills equals about a tablespoon of p. husk.In that 6 pills there's only like 1 gram of insoluble fiber so in order to get more fiber (near 30 grams recommended) you have to take mass amounts of pills. That's why most people use the powder form instead of the pill form.But still it's one way to go. I don't think i'd jump into that many pills though starting out, that's probably why you had IBS-D instead of C that day..you can do an easy way (slow way) is to take 1 pill a day and then add it one pill a day at a time..so tomorrow 2....3 the next day...4... ect. And make sure you drink the 6-8 glasses of water a day of course.And also you want to space them out so you're not taking mass pills at the same time, so if you're doing 6 a day you want to take 2 in the morning..2 afternoon...2 evening. I read most web sites suggest if you do it the powder form; one tablespoon a day until you feel comfortable and then do 2 tablespoons a day after working up to it.. that would be 12 pills right there.Eventually the long term goal getting up to 30 grams a day, eating veggies or beans or whatever you need to do and use the pills or powder as a supplement to your diet.
Thank you!Well maybe so.... but to get back to your first question.. as with ANY remedy or management technique with IBS.. it DOES take some finageling (I'm sure I didn't spell THAT word right.. LOL) around to find what works best for you. And if 10 tabs or 8 tabs seems to work best for you.. then that's what I would take and no more.. no matter WHAT the box says! So you may need to adjust things to suit your unique symptoms. So I sure would not feel compelled to take ALL 15 tabs if that's not what works best for you. All the best & hope you feel better real soon!
I meant to say that the fiber helps the body absorb the calcium, not the other way around like I stated previously.
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