Taking fibre- doesn't it swell in the stomach?

I also use ground flaxseed (linseed).  You can add this to anything!
I haven't used psyllium post-sleeve as I haven't needed to, but it is a good natural bulker.

Thankyou everyone :)

I've used psyllium husks for years, great for bowels and beneficial for cholesterol management. I used Benefibre from about 10 days postop while still on a soft diet but gradually went back to using one teaspoon of husks in weetbix from about a month postop, and now have 2 teaspoons either on a weetbix or in half a glass of water. It certainly goes quite solid if you leave it in the glass but doesn't seem to expand much in my tummy, I can still fit in an english muffin and coffee after the husks and water on a non-weetbix day.

I have 3/4tsp of Psyllium husks and 1tsp of slippery elm soaked overnight in a large glass of water in the morning an hour before breakfast and afternoon - I built up to having this much and started off with a little pinch and added a little every couple of days and I've felt much better for it. Like everything it's trial and error - good luck

No, Benefibre doesn't swell in the stomach. You can do your own test - put a teaspoon of Benefibre in a glass of water and mark the level of the water - after 10 minutes you will still just have a glass of water to that volume, just a bit thicker consistency.

cheers Nini

Hi Ninoid,
My dietician recommended Benefibre for both diarrhea  and constipation.  It's tasteless and dissolvable...I use it most days.  When I asked my surgeon post-op about what to use for constipation, he said to mix up a glass of Metamucil each day.  You can also buy the Metamucil capsules.  I have tried both with no problems.  If you are still unsure though, best to check with your own team of professionals.
Wishing you all the best.

I could be wrong but I think the reason they make you feel fuller for longer is because they set a little so take longer to digest rather than because they swell, but also psyllium husks are low GI which sustain you for longer (my mum is hypo-glycaemic and we used to just sprinkle a little bit of the natural product version - ie; not metamucil - over our toast and avo or onto our dinner so that it would regulate her blood sugar levels better).

Anyway, good idea to check with your dietitian.

Best wishes,

I will definitely ask the dietitian when I get to that stage, but yeah it's confusing. 
I have taken fibre tablets (I think they were been fibre but I can't remember) to try to fill myself in order to lose weight. To no avail sadly. But yeah I'd been under the impression the stuff expands. Hmm

My understanding is that Metamucil is made from psyllium husks.  Psyllium husks thicken in liquid and sort of become like a slimy jelly - I know this because once we used it to thicken a pea and ham soup but used too much of it and the soup kept slipping off the spoon like egg white, lol.  I don't think it swells so much as thickens.  As long as you only use the recommended amount you should be okay.

BTW, my dietitian recommended Benefibre rather than Metamucil although I don't know if he had a preference for one over the other or just happened to mention Benefibre as an example. Whatever he did, I used Benefibre but didn't really utilise it much as I didn't have any issues in that department - I think that was because I was drinking Yakults (great in liquid phase) which restore your gut bacteria and are supposed to be good for preventing both diahorrea and constipation by keeping your gut bugs balanced.

Pardon my ignorance, but I'm a little confused with fibre taking post op (I'm still 7weeks out til my initial consult so its not an issue yet but trying to learn)

So I've read ppl take Metamucil, benefibre etc for fibre. But doesn't that swell in the stomach? Usually to fill the belly so you feel fuller- wont it damage a new sleeve?
Or are there ways to take it for fibre but not swelling in the stomach?
Thx in advance :)