Hi, everyone. My 81 year old mom had ileostomy surgery for an obstructed bowel 2 years ago. Lately, it seems we can't really keep ahead of the output. It's watery and though she drinks all day long, she still has difficulty. It seems that mornings are pretty bad since she's lost fluids during the night but not drinking (due to that annoying habit of sleeping).

She had her surgery at a military hospital and I've been asking for 2 years to be followed up by someone in the gastroenterology clinic. Mostly, I've been told that isn't necessary. Thursday, however, I FINALLY got someone to refer us.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, what do you suggest to help us out? She is sick to death of peanut butter, had rice last night but didn't seem to help. Is sodium deficient (I can tell because everything tastes "sweet" to her when it isn't), had banana pancakes for breakfast (I guess the maple syrup should have been left out...who knew?), a salami sandwich for lunch with potato chips. (I'm trying everything I can think of, here!)

Is Immodium used for this type of thing? I would never give it to her until seeing a Dr. but I guess I'm just trying to see if there is some light at the end of this long, dark, 2 year old tunnel!

Thanks,
Melissa

Melissa,
I have an 82 year old Mom with an ileostomy. Her surgery was in Feb, most of the time she does very well. You may want to try some oatmeal sweetened with applesause. Stay away from all sugars and dairy for awhile. You can also try bananas with wheat toast. My Mom eats very small portions but likes to eat at about 3 hour intervals. So far this is working for her.
Mom was also sodium deficient I gave her stick pretzels to snack on, it helped with hydration also.

Good luck, I hope this helps. I know that it can be very frustrating. Keep us posted
Norma

Thanks, Norma! She had been doing better until recently. I'm unsure what has changed. It's just been over the last 6 months or so that she's had such problems. Prior to that, she ate normally (sugars, etc) and wasn't bothered.

We'll try the oatmeal...again. Maybe if she forgoes the brown sugar, it will work better.

Also, she has Gatorade once a day; should she discontinue that, too, as it has a lot of sweetners in it?

It's all such a puzzle!

Again, thanks for the response.

~M

Hi Melissa,

I would drop the gatorade because the regular one has a high level of sugar in it and the sugar-free one has sweeteners which can cause diarrhoea in some people. There is a product called Gookinade which is a rehydration powder that you mix with water. You can order it on-line. This is a link to their web site. http://www.gookinaid.com/index.htm

We have a similar product here in the UK called Dioralyte which I use whenever I'm dehydrated and it can really help to turn things around.

Imodium (Loperamide's the generic name) can be baught over the counter and might help, so too can Lomitol (sp?) but you need to ask your doctor for a prescrition for this.

Hope she gets some relief soon. Let us know how she gets on with her GI appointment.

Shell

In addition to what's already been suggested, I'd add potatoes and pasta. They have always worked well for me.

Best of luck!

Shell,

Thanks for the info on the gookinaid. I'll have to order some for her!

Rudolph,

The potatoes help a bit and today I made her some beef stroganoff. I figured there's plenty of sodium in that and the pasta should help out, too.

Thanks, again, all of you!

Any other tips are welcomed!

I have a perm ileo and use Immodium at night to help with fluid retention. I generally take one a night, sometimes two if I have been eating things that might make me runny. It does take a few days to a week for the Immodium to kick in for me, so don't give up on it...

Jill,

GREAT info! I was just thinking today, "Aw, gee...she won't be able to have the pecan pie she loves so much!" But I guess she can have a piece every now and again, as long as we can keep her from leaking like a sieve!

Thanks for the info on the Immodium. I would like to try her on it but I'm a bit scared since we've not gotten the okay from a Dr. (But then again, what the heck to they know?)ha.

Thanks aggain.

~M

A few more questions, folks....if you'll indulge me.

1. What about artificial sweetners. She uses Splenda.

2. What about fiber supplements? She's using Fiber Sure (I think...it's the blue bottle that dissolves in liquids). I had an internist tell me that the fiber could be contributing to the watery issue.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
~M
PS...Today went pretty well:
-Fried egg sandwich with sausage link for breakfast
-Beef stroganoff with peas for lunch
-1/3 Grilled chicken breast, buttered noodles and asparagus for dinner
-Snack was some brie cheese and 1/2 of a banana

Anyone see any glaring problems?

Melissa,

My Mom does not have any problem with splenda, but we keep it at a minimum. usually not more than 2 packets a day. One thing that I didn't mention is water consumption. She should be drinking at least 16 to 32 oz a day. You were going to order the gookinade that should help.

For fiber supplements, I do not follow the directions. i mix it in a third of the water that it calls for. As far as putting it directly on food I only add it to the food I know will cause problems such as spaghetti sauce.

Once you get her back to normal it should be easier to keep her there. Check with her doctor about immodium, it does help. I have found that staying on a routine dosage 2 in the am 2 in the pm works better than using it as needed basis.

You can slowly add the foods that she likes back in, if they cause a problem stop them and try again later. My mom is also diabetic so we have to watch her glucose levels as well.

I hope she stablalizes soon, it is tough on them and they tend to dehydrate very quickly.

Keep us posted.

Norma

I was getting dehydrated to the point of passing out at first then I started taking immodium. It has made a HUGE difference.

Thanks. Norma. She only uses the Splenda for her coffee in the morning, mainly. I made some tapioca pudding yesterday and used that instead of the sugar as a precaution. Luckily, she's not diabetic.

She's looking better but still having to drink constantly just to keep on || this side of being dehydrated.

Still waiting for the appointment to the gastro clinic.

Alexandra,

Thanks for the note. I'm so eager to try the Immodium! But I'm reluctant to until I can talk to a Dr.....although, I'm starting to think we should just try it! What dosage do you take?

Melissa

Hi Melissa,
What is your Mum drinking? If she drinks a lot of plain water that can actually make dehydration worse. If you can get her to drink a light broth, soups etc instead, that should replace valuable salts. We have a soda water here (Farris) that I hate because it's so salty, but it works like a dream. 50-50 soda water and apple juice is a favourite diarreah cure here. You could try getting her to drink club soda with a little apple juice added. It should have a similar effect. "Flat" Coke works well (just shake or stir out the bubbles). You said she drinks coffee - maybe you could get her to try herbal tea like peppermint or chamomile? That's easier on the stomach.

Soph,

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been trying to get her to have some broth, but so far that's a no-go.

I will, however, try the 1/2 apple juice, 1/2 club soda thing. I think she'll go for that!

Thanks so much!

Melissa

If you give your Mom apple juice, make sure it does not have sorbitol in it...sorbitol can increase bowel activity and it is in a lot of apple juices as a preservative/flavor enhancer. It is also in almost every gum and breath mint out there...

Also, drinks with caffeine should be limited as caffeine will dehydrate the body. My nurses and drs told me I couldn't count caffeinated drinks toward my daily fluid intake because of that...I find that if I eat a little something while I'm drinking (not a lot, just a handful of pretzels or something like that), I can get more fluid in...

As for the dose of Immodium, my capsules are 2mg and I take one at night, two if I've had a lot of sugar or something else that might make me runny.

By the way, Cape Cod potato chips thicken me up like nobody's business, plus they are wonderfully delicious!