Best/Safest Way to stay Regular?

[GARYS]

What have you all found to be the best at staying regular. I have tried taking a fiber pill every day or two but it seemed to fill me w/ gas and upset my stomach. I have also taken a stool softner which seems to work well, but I am afraid I will need to take one every day forever. Today I really had to strain for a bowel movement and it set off another flare up. This has to be muscle related!!!

[Gegatso]

I use psyllium husks from the health food store. About $6 for a good sized bag that'll last a while. I use a tablespoon of it in about 8 oz of water every night. You can have it up to 3 times a day as tolerated. Just be sure when you mix it, you do that right before you plan to drink it because it'll start to gel up and stuff. I usually just take it once in the evening.
Psyllium is the "good" part of Metamucil and works great for me by itself. I've been told that eating a cup of plain shredded wheat or a serving of Triscuits in the evening is good too, but I can't vouch for that. Sounds like an idea, though.

*Not medical advice

[treynor33]

Just go slow with the psyllium whatever form of it you take. All fiber supplements should be slowly introduced. Otherwise it can backfire. I started with too much too fast.

I then researched it and some people are actually hurt by adding supplemental fiber to their diet. It can cause the colon to become somewhat spastic. I guess I am one of those. I cut it way back, which contributed to some improvement.

Dr said that since that happened I should take milk of magnesia every night before bed instead. Haven't done that yet, but intend to start this weekend.

[LifeInTurmoil]

Some things that help me stay regular are oatmeal and raisin bran every night, a few prunes before dinner, and spinach is a very good source of high fiber which can help you "pass the poop" so to say. If you really get into a "bind" a glass of prune juice may help too. Just don't over-do the prune juice or you may get a real laxitive effect at the wrong time! Broccoli and shredded wheat can also help if you add them to your diet from time to time. Just be careful not to mix all these fiber-rich foods all together in one day or you may get full of gas and upset your stomach. Balance is the key to staying regular, though I must admit that even with all the fiber I can still have a hard time moving my bowels sometimes and get a bad flare-up of pain which will ruin the entire day for me. Muscle tension in the rectum can make even soft stool hard to pass and hurt like hell!

[MastCells]

I am fortunate not to be allergic to many foods. I can't stand taking fiber supplements and find prunes and prune juice nauseating, so I eat a bowl of raisin bran for breakfast every morning and have several servings of fruit throughout the day.