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How can I bulk up my stool?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/4/2015 7:30 AM (GMT -5)
Tests have indicted that I am now in remission with my colitis. I have no symptoms apart from slightly looser and softer BM but still formed and some mild cramping after a BM.

I want to bulk up my stool but not sure if increased fibre could cause a flare or even have the opposite effect of even looser stools because I know people who suffer with constipation take fibre supplements to help their stools along.

What can I take that is also safe for UC?
Posted 2/4/2015 7:36 AM (GMT -5)
Two things could work, but try the separately.
1- psyllium fiber works well for me, I take two tsp's of konsyl every day. The key is to start with a little and gradually increase the dose.
2- some sort of resistant starch from food sources or green banana flour or potato starch mixed in with a drink of some sort. When my stool gets really soft I put a tablespoon or two of potato starch in my smoothie.
Posted 2/4/2015 7:46 AM (GMT -5)
Psyllium works really well for that but start small (and gradually increase) for the first month at least.
Posted 2/4/2015 7:58 AM (GMT -5)
Psyllium has never really done anything for me. in fact I found it made my stools looser.

Where do I get potato starch from? Wat brand is good? I live in the UK btw.
Posted 2/4/2015 9:06 AM (GMT -5)
Bob's red mill potato starch seems to be the most readily available.  I looked and it's available on Amazon.uk.
Posted 2/4/2015 9:28 AM (GMT -5)
I found that brand of potato starch in my local grocery store, so its definitely not one of those exotic things that come through here every once in a while. You might be able to find it in store pretty easily too
Posted 2/4/2015 9:45 AM (GMT -5)
And is potato starch good for you? Does it make you put on weight? Can it be used all the time?

I have found island sun farina potato starch at Asda??
Posted 2/4/2015 10:01 AM (GMT -5)
just curious - why do you feel the need to do anything at this point - why take the chance just so you can have "firmer stools" ?
Posted 2/4/2015 2:22 PM (GMT -5)
- Add porridge to your diet. I blend the oats into a fine powder first and make it with water & double cream but if you're looking to stay trim you could lose the cream!

- Eat potatoes with your meals without the skin. Skins might still irritate your colon at this point

- 40g Potato Starch powder each day

- S. Boullardii (take one or two with the potato starch). It's a yeast that feed the good bacteria. The end result is that your colon retains less water.

You'll notice the difference in just a week
Posted 2/4/2015 2:32 PM (GMT -5)
Forgot to mention, provided your not bleeding, add 5g L-Glutamine powder each day (again you can just add it to the potato starch drink)
Posted 2/4/2015 2:32 PM (GMT -5)

juststud said...
just curious - why do you feel the need to do anything at this point - why take the chance just so you can have "firmer stools" ?

Ditto this. On a normal basis, my poo is fairly soft; I think softer than my pre-UC days, but since I didn't ever really look at my poop back then, I really don't know. At any rate, I don't really think that soft poop is a bad thing!
Posted 2/4/2015 3:18 PM (GMT -5)
I suffer this disease with mainly constipation during flares and in remission. I second fruitgirl and would take softer poop any day. Anything to not strain!
Posted 2/4/2015 3:54 PM (GMT -5)
I've never experienced looser stool from Metamucil, just the opposite. Everyone is different though...
Posted 2/4/2015 4:26 PM (GMT -5)
Drinking the nopal water firmed up my stools within just a few days. Before I started drinking it my stools were soft and often only semi formed. Now they are what I consider 100% normal -- they are fully formed, and don't disintegrate when I flush lol. I know it's not something many have tried so far but it's very cheap and fairly easy to make, it's a regular food in Mexican cuisine. I thought it worth a try after I did more research about it and found that it's actually pretty nutritious. You can find the cactus pads in Mexican grocery stores.
Posted 2/4/2015 6:30 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the tips you guys! Really appreciated!

Soft poop does not ordinarily bother me but I also know that it is not a normal thing for me whilst in remission. So I kind of feel like I'm not quite there yet! Plus I don't seem to be putting on weight and I am slightly anaemic, which could be because is poor absorption.
Posted 2/5/2015 5:50 AM (GMT -5)
Well I got the Island Sun brand potato starch from Asda yesterday at a value price of 38 pence for the bag! I took two tablespoons in apple juice last night and noticed this morning that my stool had bulked up a little. I have taken three tablespoons this morning so lets see! I have also noticed that the mild pain in my colon has subsided too. Its still there but not as bad. I have noticed some increased gas but its not bothersome and I have heard that can happen sonce you start taking it as it changes your microbiome somewhat and that it should lessen. That's what also happened when I started taking the VSL3 probiotic too at first.
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