Psyllium husk

About Parkinson's and health Treatments and therapies
1

Hello all,
just a quick post to ask if anyone has tried psyllium husk for constipation? If so, has it helped!? My husband currently takes docusate x 2 daily and cosmocol powders, between one and two daily depending if he needs more help. He also drinks prune juice and has fruit and vegetables daily. However, his problem is mainly getting to the loo in time. It can happen when we’re out which is extremely distressing (I’ve posted on this topic before) It’s frustrating trying to get the right balance between enough laxative to help keep him regular or too much which can often result in bowel urgency. I’ve asked to be referred back to the continence clinic but it’ll be a while before we get an appointment possibly.
I’d appreciate any feedback. Thank you. Jean

2

Hi Jean1, thank you for your post. We hope the community is helpful for you.

We understand how worrying and distressing this can be and we hope you are able to find the right balance for your husband. Please know we are here to help.

We’d recommend you speaking to your husband’s GP or Parkinson’s nurse about this. They will be able to offer advice tailored to you, and suggest medication or tips to help with the situation.

Alternatively, you can call our free helpline on 0808 800 0303 and speak to one of our specialists who can offer you advice which may be useful.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do.

Parkinson’s UK Moderation Team :blue_heart:

3

I’ve tried psyllium husk myself for constipation (not Parkinson’s related), and it can be helpful, but it really depends on the person. It works by adding bulk and softening stools, so for some it helps with regularity, but for others it can actually increase urgency if the dose is too high or not balanced with enough fluid. If your husband already has urgency issues, you might want to be cautious and maybe try a very small amount first to see how he reacts. Some people also find splitting the dose across the day easier on the system. It’s great that he’s already including prune juice and lots of fruit/veg, and hydration makes a big difference too.