I got my J-pouch about 5 years ago after having an illiostomy for about 3 years, after having UC for about 3 years.

I think my only issue to this day is the fact that everything just rips through my body....I am ALWAYS tired and I almost feel like it's because I can never get proper vitamins from vegetables because I can't digest them.... I have even tried just regular off the shelf multi vitamins but every once in a while I also notice that i pass those as well.

This has also been an issue for me in the way of gaining weight. I am a 23 year old guy and I want to gain a little weight so I can shape my body..... but every time I eat nothing seems to stick to me.

Can anyone help me? Anyone have any tips on how to get my vitamins ? any specific foods? any specific products? As well does anyone have any tips on putting on some pounds?

Jamesinkymarx@hotmail.com

Hi James,
Try chewable multi-vitamins, I take Forvia and they work great. And I take a sublingual B vitamin, they dissolve under your tongue. I also use Hemp Protein (Hemptein) to help gain weight.

To slow things down I found that rice, avocados, corn chips, and bananas work well.

Scott

My son had his Jpouch last year when he was only 7 y/o. The TD was in July, 2007. He has been loosing weight since them so we have started him on Pediasure. I think he is now maintaining his weight and may even be gaining a little. They have multiple different flavors. His favorite are the vanilla and the banana cream. I don't know that this will help you but it is worth a try.

Good luck and God bless you.

I am having the same problems with weight, and I've been drinking Ensure everyday but that's getting costly. I'm not gaining any, but maintaining and to me that's ok for now. I'm so tired of people telling me "you need to eat", and I'm like "wow, that's all? ok I'll try that thanks!" or they'll say "I'll give you some of my fat" or "I wish I had your problem" Seriously?

what worked for me was some crazy protein shakes with lots of fat and calories in them. just go into a health food store and tell them you need to put on some pounds. also, absorption of electrolytes/salt and potassium is an issue with us folk. i drink gatorade excessively to help with that. i think it kinda helps keep my energy up.

JAMES
I had same problem Doc put me on Lomital to slow things down take 2 tabs B4 meals and at bedtime. I also found vitamin called Juice Plus
they have web site google you will find it not cheap but gives you fruits & veggie nutrients in capsules. Also liquid vitamins work best when I take other ones. God Bless
Bill

GNC makes a gelcap vitamin that will not go straight through you. I found that something starchy like baked potatoes and rice helped to slow me down. Be sure and keep your blood checked. At one time I became very anemic because of undetected blood loss. That makes you very tired. Good luck.

You have always got to be careful and not take anything that is time release. Most of the time, you have already released it before it has time to start working. The chewables and liquids are both great ideas. I had my surgery in 2002, lost 30 lbs. immediately from the surgery. Never thought I would have to worry about my weight again but now am having to work hard at NOT gaining too much weight. Hang in there.

Forvia chewables are great. I take 2 per day, one in the AM and one in the PM. They are made especially for folks with IBD and IBS, etc.

www.Forvia.com

James,

I didn't see what you are doing to try and slow things down. It has been my experience that weight gain is directly tied to slow vs. fast transit. If you have continually fast transit, chances are you will have trouble gaining and/or keeping on weight. Slow things down and the weight will start to go up.

Things to slow things down (and for all I know, you've tried them all):

1. Metamucil (wafers are good, but some people use the powder)
2. Probiotics (change the makeup of bacteria in your gut - should slow things down)
3. Bowel slowers like immodium and lomotil (slows things down in two different ways)
4. Narcotics (last resort - tincture of opium, or other prescription pain meds)
5. Diet (rice is my favorite food to slow things down; I used to dislike rice)

How many times/day are you going?

Steve

You might try drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast between meals. Oncologists often recommend these to cancer patients who struggle with keeping weight on. They have one variety that packs 500 calories in one can! And they have lactose-free and sugar-fee options as well.

http://www.nestle-nutrition.com/Family.aspx?objectID=86...16-81D7-235E6F6E5183

Sue

Thanks for all your advice....sublingual B vitamin seems like a good idea also im going to do some re-search onLomital.

tbraz- Yeah i totally get that all the time.."do you ever eat?" blah blah blah.... when the reality is I eat like a horse.

Elmer- I haven't tryed any of that .... I should try a couple ....maybe the metamucil.

I have a pretty messed up routine .... i kind of eat randomly all day .... so if I am eating all day then usually I will go about 5 or 6 times a day (which seems to be normal? or is it not?)

If 5 or 6 is normal, is it normal to always have bits of un-digested food in your stool? It pretty much never fails for me... I almost never
take a crap that looks like a crap .....it is always very liquidy (if i have been drinking all day ...and by drinking i just mean drinking regular fluids haha) and it will have bits of chewed up food.

I think even if I didn't get UC and I didn't have a J-pouch I wouldn't exactly be fat... i think my metabolism would be fairly high .....just not this high ....and its gotten to the point where i have no energy

James,

Yes - 5 to 6 times to day is pretty good. But you could possibly reduce that more and it might help with the weight.

So you know, I take the following supplements to help me out:

1. Probiotics 2x / day
2. One Metamucil wafer eaten with each meal
3. One Immodium in the morning
4. One Lomotil at night

I can almost guarantee if you eat the fiber with your meals, and find a combination and dose of immodium and/or lomotil, your crap will look more like crap than it has in years.

In addition, I have found that rice is a wonderful food for slowing things and results in formed stool.

Yeah, it's kind of a pain to have to remember taking / eating that stuff, but after a while it becomes second nature.

At my low point I was down to 150 pounds (I am 6' 2" tall - sorry, I'm not converting to metric ) Since takedown, I was at about 172 pounds for months until I added the Lomotil to my evenings. That slowed things down quite a bit and I am up to about 180 - right where I would like to be.

Give some things a try and see how it goes!