The CRS I saw the other day recommended I take 1 tablespoon of Metamucil in the morning and two Colace pills a day since I have IBS and my stools are never consistent (sometimes they are drier in the morning or in a few pieces at the end and then sometimes I have mushy/watery stool, but not full-blown diarrhea, for the second movement... then sometimes they are perfect and nice and bulky and easy to pass... and I eat the same food basically every day and drink water constantly throughout the day!). PMS and my period also causes problems for me.
It seems like Metamucil+Colace is a pretty standard way recommended by doctors to create softer, bulkier stools. I'm just afraid I might be taking too much fiber with my diet (which is mostly whole grains and veggies) and some people say the Metamucil just makes huge stools and causes you to go to the bathroo more. I'm a bit afraid to start taking it because of that. Should I start with a smaller dosage and move up?
Also, does Colace cause cramps or cause you to go to the bathroom more? It was my understanding that it just softens stools. I've heard mixed reviews on it here and other places online, so I guess it just depends on the person how well it works. Did it work for any of you?
The CRS I saw said Miralax is a laxative and shouldn't be taken every day. He discouraged me from trying it. He also told me to stop eating prunes because they are a laxative. Honestly, I don't have any problem with them since they don't seem to have that effect on me (just make the stools softer), so I probably will cut down on them, but not quit them completely.
I really don't like messing with supplements and medications, but it seems like I can never get consistent stool. It's either a bit too dry in the morning and/or too mushy/watery afterward. Some days it's perfect, though, and I eat the same things every day, basically. I really don't get it. : (
I'd love to hear other peoples' experiences with this. What gives you consistently soft stools?