Psyllium husk

Psyllium husk will only help with your constipation.
It won’t put right your gut health, ie your good and bad bacteria.
You need a good probiotic. Be aware that most probiotics get destroyed in the stomach ( acid destroys it) before it gets to your intestines. where it does the work.
I take Symprove when I need it. It was the first probiotic to developed to get around the problem of the stomach acid.

I would advise against as it can cause intestinal obstruction and faecal impaction. If you are already taking a laxative then you are bombarding your gut with products which are working against one another.

If an endoscopy has found nothing wrong then you need to look at your natural diet - and to exercise more if you think you don’t do enough.

Why is your diet at the moment? Is it meat heavy? Do you eat enough fruit and vegetables?

A change of diet could also bring down your bad cholesterol levels removing the need for Atorvastatin.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation/

Concerned that iron tablets might make me constipated ( and also trying to bring down my bad cholesterol) I now eat a chia pudding every day consisting of chia seeds flax seeds milk yoghurt and honey. I thought it might make my IBS worse but, in fact, it has helped it.

Psyllium husk can help with either constipation or diarrhoea. It draws water from the gut into the stool and makes it softer (which is good for constipation) and bulks it up (which is good for diarrhoea).

But .... some people find it irritates the gut and gives pain and spasm.

Diet not meat heavy. In fact very little meat. I wouldnt take Laxido as well as p husk. I would stop the laxido..
I eat a lot of fruit and veg. Diet is pretty good. I weigh 8.5 stone at foot 4 inches. So not overweight by any means. I do as much exercise as possible while beng a carer for bed bound DH.

I have non hodgkins lymphoma currently in remission. DD says her wind, bloating and occasional constipation is very much helped by P Husk. Family heart/stroke problems are the reason for the Atorvastatin as well as a higher cholesterol level than good for me. Am interested to hewr from any GNs who take it.

Chemotherapy is hard on the gut and causes ongoing sensitivity/irritability.

The problem is that OTC products will work differently for different people even within the same family.

If you are eating a good diet, getting plenty of exercise and still suffering from constipation then lower bower motility could just be due to age.

However, when I searched on “why does Atorvastatin cause wind and constipation”, it says:

Atorvastatin, a commonly prescribed statin for lowering cholesterol, can cause gastrointestinal side effects like wind and constipation. While it is not fully understood why this happens, it is believed to be related to the medication's impact on the gut, rather than a systematic effect on the whole body.

Impact on Colon Nerves and Motility: One of the main theories is that statins, including atorvastatin, can affect the nitric oxide levels in the body, which in turn can affect the nerves in the colon. This can make muscle contractions in the gut less effective, slowing down digestion and causing constipation.

Reduced Bowel Motility: When food remains in the colon for a longer period (slowed motility), it can lead to increased fermentation, which causes gas, bloating, and wind.

Reduced Bile Production: Atorvastatin works by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which leads to lower cholesterol production. Because cholesterol is essential for producing bile, a decrease in cholesterol can result in lower bile levels, which can also contribute to reduced bowel movements and constipation.

Depletion of Coenzyme Q10: Atorvastatin may decrease levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a coenzyme that helps with various body processes, including digestion. This depletion may also play a role in causing constipation.

I don’t suppose there is any great harm in trying the husk but perhaps also consider a Coenzyme Q10 supplement and a nitric oxide booster. Beetroot is good for the latter.

OP psyllium will help your good bacteria, it is a prebiotic. Different gut bacteria need different prebiotics and psyllium would benefit some bacteria that produce very beneficial butyrate. Go ahead and take it

Thank you all for your replies. I will give it a tentative trial and see if it helps.

I have taken it for a number of years, since an incomplete haemorrhoid operation which left me a bit fragile. The stool is soft but well formed which is ideal. Being a bulk bought powder instead of sachets, the daily quantity can be tweaked slightly when needed.
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B084ZTCQRW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1&tag=gransnetforum-21

How much do you take per day shysal and how do you take it.

My daughter stirs it into a glass of diluted orange juice instead of just water as she says it has a slightly odd tastw

I also take it in a glass of weak squash., followed by a glass of tap water. Over the years I have taken anything from a teaspoon full to a desert spoon. It is trial and error. Good luck!

I take it in capsule form, which I find much pleasanter than powder. Capsules vary hugely in strength, so my advice would be to take the dose recommended on the tub.

Agree. I use it too.

I also use it. After a long period of intermittent constipation because of strong painkillers I have found that Laxido, taken in the morning, followed by about 1 heaped teaspoon of psylium husk taken with breakfast, ensures an easy, regular bowel movement. I do get wind as a side effect but that doesn't bother me and is far preferable to the alternative.

Inulin is a water soluble prebiotic fibre made from chicory root. It is very slightly sweet.
I have a little bit in coffee, it takes the edge off of any bitter taste.
I get mine from Amazon.
Good to get fire into them children who don’t like vegetables, add to fruit juice.

I had IBS for many years and cured it taking Lepicol (which includes psyllium husk) night and morning. Been free from IBS for nearly 2 decades now. Lepicol just makes your gut behave normally.

Havent heard of Lipicol Uppercase. Will have a Google.

That looks interesting. DD has ordered me p husk so I will try that first but keep Lepicol in mjnd. Thank you.

pce612

Inulin is a water soluble prebiotic fibre made from chicory root. It is very slightly sweet.
I have a little bit in coffee, it takes the edge off of any bitter taste.
I get mine from Amazon.
Good to get fire into them children who don’t like vegetables, add to fruit juice.

I must get some more. I used to take it every day after Michael Mosley recommended it. Word of warning, though; I had stomach pain when I first started taking it and think I should have introduced it much more gradually.

A poo stool can also help. It is a far more natural way for the bowl to evacuate.

I suffered with my guts for years with bloating and pain and running to the loo in the mornings several times. I discovered that I was glutin and dairy intolerant!

I am so much better having changed my diet

Granny42

I suffered with my guts for years with bloating and pain and running to the loo in the mornings several times. I discovered that I was glutin and dairy intolerant!

I am so much better having changed my diet

I followed the FODMAP diet religiously for 6 weeks.
No change 😥

I have had IBS for 64 years and have been taking this for at least 40 years. It might possibly help with the constipation but I still get tummy aches every evening.