I take 1-2 stool softeners a day, but am thinking about starting to take a spoonful of Mineral Oil at night to lube my insides up better, so I can hopefully heal up better. Has anyone else tried this? I heard Mineral Oil just goes right through you, so it's good for lubrication. But it's not an actual laxative like Castor Oil? I'm thinking of getting some.

Also, I already have the Metamucil tablets. Is there any difference in fiber tablets vs. the powder you put in beverages? If I don't want big diameter stools, I want to keep soft stools! Is Metamucil better or worse than Benefiber? Thanks, just thinking of adding these things in and keeping my stools soft at all costs!

Hi Alex,
I'd do some more research on Mineral Oil prior to using it, only because I've heard that other Oils might be healthier on your system generally, such as Olive Oil. It's not something I've tried personally, although I did take a large tablespoon of Olive Oil before bed at night and this seemed to help at the time.
Also with the Metamucil, I'd advise experimenting gently because you can have too much of the stuff and produce those big diameter stools you're describing!...I don't know a lot about the fiber tablets but I know for me that the added powder to the drink thing certainly did the job and that was a sachet a day with nothing else. I actually stopped taking it when I realised I actually already consumed adequate fibre in my daily diet and was actually over-doing the fibre thing....
The "natural" miracles I've discovered to do that job is prunes (for me the soft tinned ones you get in pineapple juice work best and taste yummy).....oranges, soft pureed apples, pears, soft veggies - these really help produce the "Mr Whippy" type consistency!.......

I've heard Mineral Oil might not be the healthiest, so am going to hold off on it for now. I drizzle Olive Oil on things I eat, may start taking spoonfull of it, couldn't hurt I guess.

I think soluble fiber is definately better, both are good, but the soluble tends to ensure softer stools especially softer tips. I am now peeling all my fruit before eating it, something I didn't do before. Those large round stools are murder!

About how much fiver is in a teaspoon of Metamucil or Benefiber? I'd probably just add it to water or orange juice, since my most regular BMs are in mornings.

I sometimes eat dried apricots, they don't taste bad, but again they can bulk up too much of not careful.
I do drink prune juice when I feel I need some help going, because I don't want to depend on laxatives. I have some powder Miralax as an insurance policy in case of constipation, I'm going to avoid hard stools at all costs.
Better diarrhea any day than a hard stool!

I eat usually 1-2 apples per day, or 1 apple and a pear, plus coffee, which stimulates my bowels, soft fish, veggies, trying to cut out bread unless whole grain, I eat raisins, oatmeal, cereal, etc.

And drink lots of water. I still take 1-2 stool softeners a day as an insurance policy.

I am a little concerned that the bottle says they have sodium in them. Will this raise my blood pressure? It has been higher lately.

Above all else, trying to make sure my stools stay soft. I hope to get to the point where I can eat pizza again in moderation, I am craving a basic Pizza Hut Supreme pizza in the worst way!

One last question, if you temper something like a pizza, which could lead to a harder stool, with stool softeners, Miralax, etc, would this be enough to keep it bulking up the stool too much? In other words, could I have a pizza, as long as I take the precautions to ensure a liquidy soft stool?

I'm a big fan of mineral oil because, as you say, it doesn't get absorbed, it just passes right through you so it stays with your stool all the way to the end.
I think olive oil would just be absorbed by your intestines and never get to the rectum.
I take Kondremul because it's a mineral oil emulsion so it mixes well with the stool and it does make my stools soft without bulking. (It also tastes really nice, which I don't imagine plain mineral oil does).
I ordered some today at my local pharmacy. You can also get it from Amazon.
I took 1 tablespoon 3 times a day at one point, and now I just take one at night if I think I didn't eat as well as I should have. I never had the slightest problem with it.

(I edited to correct how much Kondremul I used to take. Just 1 tablespoon at a time.)

One big advantage to Metamucil powder, as opposed to tablets, is that I get the first 12 oz or so of water for the day mixed with the powder.