Slow colon transit time - fiber diet - soluble or insoluble - inputs please

[guitarman49]

Morning hope you are all well - as you may gather from my previous post I have IBS-C with despepsia , however during a recent consultation the Gastro guy it was suggested I should review my fiber intake as he thinks I may have slow transit of the colon. This could well be the case given the way my constipation presents itself and a CT scan showing some faecal backup in the ascending colon.

Your inputs would be greatly appreciated regarding your experiences of slow transit and fiber.Thank you.

stay safe

[edwangy]

I have IBSC and slow transit,plus diverticular disease. I started to introduce certain fruit into my diet, slowly. I also try and eat more vegetables, and soluble fiber. I've even started eating some beans, just a small amount 'cause they cause gas. Yesterday I had 2 pieces of wholemeal toast and a pear for breakfast(usually every day), one piece of wholemeal toast with a few baked beans in juice for lunch and a 'spag bol' by own invention, chicken mince wtih oxo stock cube, dried chives and some dried basil, tin of chopped tomatoes, and of course wholewheat saphetti. I'm trying to eat more fruit and veg as well i drink the odd innocent smoothie too. Sometimes I still cant'go so I take 10-15 ml of milk of magnesia about 8pm. Non of this stops my pain though, but at least my bowel movements are improving

[guitarman49 in reply to edwangy]

Hi edwangy

Good to hear from you again and thank you for the diet tips,shall give it a go except for wholemeal which blocks me up . Checking my fiber intake it's around 15 grams , should be 30 grams ,so some work needed there to restore a reasonable level.

Never taken milk of magnesia , guess I should give it a go. Currently use Docusate and Laxido , they work to soften the stool as I'm reluctant to use stimulant laxatives.

I'm sorry to hear the pain continues , I guess it will probably be the IBD issue. Hopefully you find a way forward. Pain for me is the dyspepsia , feels like having an ulcer, thankfully its quiet . The IBS is more of a discomfort than pain.

Stay well

[Justbreathe55]

Hi I have slow transit but unfortunately my stomach cannot hack to much fibre so just up your intake slowly to see which things you can tolerate. I can't eat certain fruit and vegetables and the veg I can have has to be cooked really well. I can't eat any brown or seeded bread which is annoying i have linseed or flaxseed on my breakfast which is a good source of fibre. I hope you find a diet that suits you.

[guitarman49 in reply to Justbreathe55]

Thank you , it's always interesting to see how people manage problems. Also appreciate your input regarding diet. I guess I need to review and manage accordingly. Checking my daily fiber intake is currently 17 grams and a calorie intake 1600 meaning it's important that I do something to up these levels.As well as possible slow transit I also have to manage dietry matters for Silent Reflux , Dyspepsia and IBS-C.Not easy as they often conflict. The Gastro guy following a recent CT Scan advised I have" residual stool within the ascending bowel rather than evidence of impaction or significant slow transit and thankfully no evidence of any lesions.Some good news.

I would be interested to learn of your symptoms.

I wish you well on your slow transit journey.

Thanks again

[Orchid99 in reply to guitarman49]

Your Gastro should put you in for a transit study to confirm slow transit, this is normally how its diagnosed. I had a ct which showed faecal loading and then transit study, I have slow transit throughout my colon but its worse in the left section, I was told It will have to be managed with medications, diet and therapy, he advised a low fibre diet and I will be on movicol for the rest of my life.....great!

[guitarman49 in reply to Orchid99]

Hi Thank you for your input , it's Movicol and Docusate for me also.

We certainly need to be detectives to work out what's going on , my IBS-C often gives me the feeling of Tenesmus (yet to discuss with GP) at least I'm happy that there seems to be nothing nasty but I take your suggestions re a slow transit study and low fiber diet (depends how you define constipation - my poops are soft but have difficulty moving the bowels). I think also the left side is my problem area but no pain or 'Red Flag' symptoms.

Also about to do a post relative to Tenesmus Take care