I'm still having issues with frequent stools and unpredictability over a year after my reversal. I want to take metamucil or citrucel, but the warnings all over the packages about choking if you don't wash it all down quickly with 16 ounces of water freak me out. I always feel like my throat tightens up when I have to swallow a large pill, so swallowing something that can swell in your throat makes me nervous.
So I haven't started taking either yet (I'm leaning toward Citrucel because it supposedly causes less gas and cramping). I went to the MD Anderson site to read through their bowel training instructions after colorectal surgery and it says to take a teaspoon of Citrucel with only two ounces of water and to not drink anything else for an hour. I respect MD Anderson a lot, but this is contrary to everything it says on the Citrucel bottle and on their website.
Has anyone tried this and is it safe? Has anyone here had any problems with Citrucel or Metamucil swelling up in their throat? Please say no.
I was worried sick about swallowing the giant Xeloda pills and handled that without a problem. I'm sure once I get past my first dose, I'll be fine. I just hate medicines with twenty warnings on them, especially ones concerning things swelling in your throat. I'm funny like that.
Anyone here try the one teaspoon in two ounces of water plan from MD Anderson and did it help?
My surgeon's only advice was if I was having constipation, take the fiber early in the day and then drink water all day long and if I was having loose stools take it at bedtime when I wouldn't be drinking as much instead. But in both cases, I was supposed to take it with the full sixteen ounces of water recommended on the medicine bottle.
Thanks in advance for any answers you can give me.
Judy