Mineral Oil for hard stools

I can't remember if I was made to take it when I was young, or if I just remember hearing someone talk about it. It's supposed to taste nasty as all get-out, but does work.

For maintenance, have you considered drinking mineral waters all the time? Not tasty, but nowhere near as bad as mineral oil either. Apparently they are very popular in Europe--France, especially--and are touted for their ability to keep you regular. You, of course, need more than just a course of mineral water, but added to your regimen of fiber and whatever else you take for constipation, it may give you an added lift... err... expulsion.

JHP, that's how I was with Citrucel. Sometimes there is a particular fiber brand that doesn't agree with you. Have you tried Psyllium? My doc told me it's supposed to be one of the easiest on the gut. Make sure to start out with smaller doses too... Never take the recommended dose right off the bat. Daily yogurt might help you too.

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I just wanted to mention that it is NORMAL to feel gassy and bloated when initially taking fibre supplements, it's your system adjusting to it and this even happens to healthy people with no bowel problems. The same thing happend to me when I first started taking Prodiem (in Canada). Always make sure to drink plenty of water with your fibre supplements and on a regular basis as well.

:)

Eight 8oz glasses is the bare minimum for a normal person, so I'd shoot for more than that since you're constipated. In order to drink enough water during the day, I got in the habit of filling up a tea pitcher with water or green tea and sitting it on my desk to drink throughout the day. I found that when I don't have to stop what I'm doing and walk to the kitchen to get a drink, I drink a lot more. I easily down my whole 64oz pitcher during the course of my work day, and then I drink another 32oz glass or two with my dinner. So I get around 16 glasses of water a day, lol.