Question 1

are there good fiber supplements that can help prevent my hemorrhoids?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Hemorrhoids do best when you have one soft but formed bowel movement every day. The powdered form of fiber tends to be more effective than the pill form, but many powdered fibers get thick or gritty. There are some newer powdered fibers that dissolve completely clear, such as benefiber or Metamucil clear and natural that are much easier to take. Start with one serving per day and adjust to effect.

Question 2

i have to take fiber supplements after hemorrhoid surgery and metamucil is causing me a lot of pain (bloating and cramps). whats the alternative?

Accepted Answer

Fiber sources: http://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/whats-the-best-fiber-supplement#2

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/high-fiber-foods/art-20050948

You may also consider taking gas-x before you take your metamucil to decrease gas a known side effect. 1 serving metamucil powder is 2.4 gm soluble fiber.

Discuss options with your doc

Question 3

what is a good supplement for insoluble fiber?  id like to drink some every day since it is difficult to get enough in my diet. 
it would be used to relieve or prevent occasional constipation.

Accepted Answer

Dextrin and psyllium: Two common fibers are wheat dextrin and pysllium fibers. They are natural fibers. The former comes in a prebiotic form that aids in the growth of good bacteria also helping to aid with constipation.

Question 4

chronic constipation since i was a baby.for years up until recently i thought any bm was good even if most of the time it's pellets. if i stay on top of water&fiber supplement im normal. lately notice i'm taking senokot 1-3/month to help. is that bad?

Accepted Answer

: Do not forget about physical exercise that is critical to maintain proper bowel motility. Infrequent use of Senna should not be a problem.

Question 5

are fiber supplement tablets a good way to get more fiber into my diet and are they healthy?

Accepted Answer

They help.: guidelines suggest 35 grams of fiber daily for women, 50 grams for men.  That's a lot of fiber.  Tablets can help,you reach these goals, but should not supplant normal dietary sources of fiber.

Question 6

very good afternoon doctors. for occasional constipation, is it better to take miralax or a fiber supplement like metamucil or benefiber or citrucel or both miralax and a fiber supplement together? which fiber supplement do you recommend?

Accepted Answer

: For occasional constipation, I would try the fiber supplement first. This may be just enough to regulate the bowel movements. The fiber supplements are all about the same so whichever is easier for you to get and is affordable would be suitable. If this doesn’t solve the problem, you may want to see your doctor prior to taking any medicine for it to review possible dietary interventions. Good luck

Question 7

does fiber cause gassiness? i rarely passed gas, always was constipated. since eating fiber. taking fiber supplements as well. i'm extra gassy every day and going poop every day. i know pooping every day is good but is gassinesss serious?

Accepted Answer

: Intestinal gas includes the air you swallow during feeds/drinking. Add carbonation from beverages. Then add the gas caused by gut germs feeding on digestive debris. By itself it is just a reflection of these contributors and not a disease. A food diary may help you decide that some foods make you gassier. These you can avoid. Taking probiotics can change your gut germs and help you be less gassy.

Question 8

what can i do about infrequent small, hard--and incomplete-- bowel movements? i am a 66 year-old healthy woman who very rarely has a normal bowel movement. i eat a good balanced diet and take extra fiber supplements; i have tried stool softeners which onl

Accepted Answer

On : On the surface this sounds like irritable bowel syndrome (ibs).  This is a benign condition but the unfortunate thing is that ibs can mimic a lot of other bowel problems including diverticular disease and other lesions like colon cancer.  Even without bleeding cancer is always possible in someone that has not been screened.  There are treatments for ibs but before those treatments are tried anyone over age 50 should have colonoscopy as a screen for colon cancer.  You can then embark on other therapies once you know there is nothing wrong in the colon itself.  I recommend you see a gastroenterologist near you.

Question 9

good morning....i am taking an iron supplement.  i take fiber supplements too and recently my stools are very hard and i am straining when i have a bowel movement.  is it ok to use a stool softener daily to help with this?  i have increased my water intak

Accepted Answer

Doctors can check: Each person with constipation needs to be sure there is no other disease causing it. If constipation is just due to slow movement of the food and poop through the gut, then the things to try are vegetables, water, fiber with water, prune juice, prunes, polyethylene glycol, Senokot or other senna, milk of magnesia, other laxatives... A doctor can evaluate to check for anything serious.

Question 10

sometimes mild bleeding from hemorrhoids. been eating more fruit/veg/fiber, drinking more water. its decreased 100%. is my diet change a good thing?

Accepted Answer

Sound good but eval: You need an evalaution by a gastroenterologist since you have  seen  bleeding. Need to confirm if it is hemorrhoid

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Doctor answers about:

Good fiber supplements prevent hemorrhoids

A member asked:

Are there good fiber supplements that can help prevent my hemorrhoids?

A member asked:

I have to take fiber supplements after hemorrhoid surgery and metamucil is causing me a lot of pain (bloating and cramps). whats the alternative?

A member asked:

What is a good supplement for insoluble fiber? id like to drink some every day since it is difficult to get enough in my diet. it would be used to relieve or prevent occasional constipation.

A member asked:

Chronic constipation since i was a baby.for years up until recently i thought any bm was good even if most of the time it's pellets. if i stay on top of water&fiber supplement im normal. lately notice i'm taking senokot 1-3/month to help. is that bad?

A member asked:

Are fiber supplement tablets a good way to get more fiber into my diet and are they healthy?

A member asked:

Very good afternoon doctors. for occasional constipation, is it better to take miralax or a fiber supplement like metamucil or benefiber or citrucel or both miralax and a fiber supplement together? which fiber supplement do you recommend?

A member asked:

Does fiber cause gassiness? i rarely passed gas, always was constipated. since eating fiber. taking fiber supplements as well. i'm extra gassy every day and going poop every day. i know pooping every day is good but is gassinesss serious?

A member asked:

What can i do about infrequent small, hard--and incomplete-- bowel movements? i am a 66 year-old healthy woman who very rarely has a normal bowel movement. i eat a good balanced diet and take extra fiber supplements; i have tried stool softeners which onl

A member asked:

Good morning....i am taking an iron supplement. i take fiber supplements too and recently my stools are very hard and i am straining when i have a bowel movement. is it ok to use a stool softener daily to help with this? i have increased my water intak

A member asked:

Sometimes mild bleeding from hemorrhoids. been eating more fruit/veg/fiber, drinking more water. its decreased 100%. is my diet change a good thing?

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