Diverticulitis Support Group
Diverticulitis is a common disease of the bowel, in particular the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches on the outside of the colon. Diverticulitis results if one of these diverticula becomes inflamed. Diverticulitis most often affects middle-aged and elderly persons, though it can strike younger patients as...
If Metamucil is too harsh three weeks after the beginning of an episode, are stool softeners a safe option?
I don't know if taking small amounts of Metamucil is too harsh 3 weeks after an episode began, unless the the episode lasted longer than 10 days or was "complicated". Maybe some doctors or others in this group would disagree with these words --- we'll see what they say.
The following is based upon the advice my doctors have given me over the years...
When I have a Diverticulitis episode, they usually last 7 - 10 days for me. By then, I am off the antibiotics and I am beginning to transition from the low residue diet to a diet with fiber then to a high fiber diet again.
I usually begin taking SMALL amounts of Metamucil any where from 5 to 7 days after I am off the antibiotics. It is a judgment call how long for me to wait. I wait at least 5 days or more since the pain has gone. In other words, I wait 5 or more days for my pipes to be in good shape --- no pain --- then I slowly begin to take SMALL amounts of Metamucil again. I have never had difficulty reintroducing Metamucil to my diet this way.
Maybe 1 or 2 weeks after restarting the Metamucil, I am back at my normal amount.
As far as stool softeners, my doctors have asked me to take them DURING an active episode to help lower the pain in general and to lessen the pain while having BM's. I have taken stool softeners for 3 to 5 additional days after the antibiotics stopped if there is any pain or discomfort during BM's. And if there is, I would of course be delaying possibly restarting the Metamucil until the pain and discomfort has been gone for 5 days or more.
FL