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Two questions for you folks

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/18/2018 5:32 AM (GMT -8)
How many of you drink close to a gallon of water a day?

How many of you eat a high fiber diet or take a fiber supplement, e.g. psyllium seed powder or metamucil?

Thanks!
Posted 1/18/2018 8:38 AM (GMT -8)
"How many of you drink close to a gallon of water a day?"
No but it seems like I pee out that much each day! That seems like an awful lot to drink in one day...

How many of you eat a high fiber diet or take a fiber supplement, e.g. psyllium seed powder or metamucil?

I've found that it can help at certain times, hurt at others, and do nothing at other times.

1.) When I'm flaring badly, I avoid fiber supplements as it is bulking and abrasive (when we flare badly the inside of our intestine is narrower, raw and bleeding, and that hurts!). A low fiber, low residue diet is recommended when flaring badly.

2.) When I'm in a remission fiber supplementation makes no difference. I get enough natural fiber in my diet from fruits, vegetables and the like that supplementation is unnecessary.

3.) When fiber seems to help is when I am have some mild, lingering inflammation and related symptoms as it can slightly firm up bowel movements ,which in-turn slightly reduces urgency and frequency. Fiber cannot turn diarrhea into a normal poop, but it can help slightly loose stool become formed. I only use fiber when it will help me the most, in a targeted fashion.

Why do you ask? Are those things that you are experimenting with?
Posted 1/18/2018 9:27 AM (GMT -8)
I've always been interested by how drinking water impacts your system when flaring.

On one hand, drinking water I'm sure helps digest foods, especially around meals. I typically dont eat meals without a beverage anymore like I used to.

On the other hand, when you're colon is inflamed, it is having trouble absorbing water, so i'd imagine drinking a lot of water would make that more difficult and lead to more diarrhea. I wonder how this would compare to someone who has no colon inflammation and the inflammation is only in the rectum.

If you're in remission, i'd imagine your water intake is pretty immaterial beyond regular health needs.
Posted 1/18/2018 11:03 AM (GMT -8)
I had to calculate....so 8 (10ish-oz glasses) are average for me, in conjunction with coffee/tea which I don't include as water.

A gallon, my thoughts, daily is way too much for many reasons....dilution of electrolytes, causing more diarrhea as Ucer23 mentioned, and it would be waaaayyyyy hard on kidneys.

I take psyllium capsules after eating....6 with breakfast and supper.

q
Posted 1/18/2018 5:27 PM (GMT -8)
I try to drink 4, 8 oz. glasses of water daily. I also have started drinking orange juice and eating bananas and other high potassium fruits and vegetables. Dr said my potassium levels were to low on my last labs due to recent flare and my wbc count was also high. But mostly I stick to a bland low residue low fiber diet.
Posted 1/19/2018 9:52 AM (GMT -8)
The reason I ask, is I had some thoughts about inflammation in the colon. Mucus is produced to help lubricate the digestive tract, and we all have increased mucus when flaring. Both insoluble fiber and water also help the passage of stool. Every time I flare, I find myself avoiding water and fiber because it causes me to go more often. However, I pushed through it this last flare, and started drinking tons of water, and started taking psyllium seed powder after every meal, (along with a couple other normal mods). After some initial discomfort, I had good results. Any other people had experiences with this?
Posted 1/19/2018 9:54 AM (GMT -8)
Maybe my filtration system, (liver and kidneys), need more water run through them?
Posted 1/19/2018 10:15 AM (GMT -8)
Keep in mind that if you overload, not good. You use the term tons of water, so I imagine extremes in that thinking.

The body is quite capable....contrary to some thinking...once you take it to an extreme, that's when issues can arise.

If you pee regularly and its not dark, unless from a vitamin pill, your kidneys are doing fine.

q
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