Soluble or Insoluble fiber

     Which is better for people with IBD?  I am trying to bulk up my stool but in the past I have had some problems when flaring whenever I ate fiber.  Any suggestions?  I have apples but cannot tolerate the skins.  The bleeding has stopped but I still go five times or so in the mornings, very soft stools.

---

Soluble fiber is gentler.

Sue

---

dx proctitis in 1987
dx UC in 1991, was stable until 1998

1998 started prednisone, asacol, pentasa, nortriptylene, ativan, 6MP, rowasa enemas and suppositories, hydrocortisone enemas, tried the SCD diet, being a vegetarian, omega 3s, flax, pranic healing, yoga, acupuncture, probiotics

2000 lost all my B-12 stores and became anemic

2001 opted for j-pouch surgery- now living life med-free

Soluble, definitely. Insoluble actually runs through the digestive system faster, whereas soluble can slow transit time. Plus insoluble is scratchy where soluble has a paste-like consistnacy.

---

Heather, 22/Female/NJ
Ulcerative colitis from rectum to mid transverse colon, diagnosed 3/6/2009, symptoms for 2 years beforehand
Feeling much better, except for the roid side effects.
Currently on lialda 4x/day, azithioprine 150 mg/day, Prednisone taper, calcium and d, B12. Enemas make things WORSE
Allergies: penicillin, sulfa, bee stings, environmental (especially ragweed!), OTC meds as needed

Psyllium husk powder really works nicely to bulk up the stool. I take one tbs a day in water cut with pomegranate juice.

---

Ellen

diagnosed pancolitis mild to mod Sept. 2009
On Pred since March 20, 2010 -- now 5 mg. and 7.5 alternating for two weeks on a taper.
12 400 mg. Asacol daily, 1000 mg. Canasa every third day, Rowesa enemas nightly; analpram for hemmies, 1 tbs. psyllium husk powder VSL-#3 -- one packet daily, multi-vitamin; 1200 mg calcium plus D, 1000 mg Biotin 5,000 (hair loss) Eliminated dairy, red meat,alcohol caffeine, spicy, fried, greasy, vinegar and citrus.
Bipolar - Lamictal 200 mg, Zyprexa 5 mg.
Omeprazole 40 mg for GERD

From what I read, soluble fiber is recommended. Insoluble has two different views. One view is that insoluble is scratchy, and it should not be taken at a flare since it scratches colon. The other view is that insoluble can scratch the colon and hence clear stool/granules better than soluble.

What I do is to avoid insoluble during a flare, and take it in more step by step after getting into remission.

I eat a certain amount of insoluble fiber, such as nuts, spinach, collards and green beans. But not too much or constipation starts up.

Nuts have both soluble and insoluble fiber in them and I'm careful not to go overboard on them (so tasty and crunchy).
I've gone the extra step and soak my nuts overnight and then dry them out in the oven on 150-160 degrees. I can digest them better that way. Nuts have an ingredient to keep them from sprouting that makes them less digestible unless soaked out first.

---

Ulcerative colitis 10 years
Jan 2010 started SCD diet but modified by me (tried 5 years earlier no improvement)
Jan '10 first time in 10 years bleeding stopped, by Apr '10 90% improvement
Started reducing meds 6 weeks after colon improved with diet-all OK
Diet: Protein(meat/fish/eggs,no soy),nuts(soaked/roasted),no-starch veg(no potato),no grains bread
eliminated carbohydrates, no dairy except small amt. hard cheese, no fruit/juice (blueberries OK)
Daily: fish oil, Vit D3 1000 2Xday with oil/fat, veggie juice, sunflower seeds, probiotic VSL#3
Highly recommend: the book "Life without Bread" and the SCD Diet