I have read many a post discussing various methods of slowing things down and reducing # of bm's. I am only five weeks post takedown, so am still experimenting....unsuccessfully What I would like to hear from some of you with more time under your belt and with what you would describe as success in your reduction of bm's, is the "what, when and how much." Example. Three doses of immodium at breakfast, lunch and before bed. Four fibre tablets spaced out through the day. Probiotics twice a day. You get the picture. Thanks in advance!

Slow down a bit - You are only 5 weeks out! One thing I see some ppl do on the site is try and slow then down so much that they cause pain, straining issues and some other problems. The best bet is to talk to your Dr. see what he says about the time frame and what you are looking to do and go from there. I was one of the people that never minded going a bit more a day when it was loose... MUCH EASIER TO COMPLETLY EMPTY and no straining! Be careful you are barely over a month out!
Good luck and in time all will sort out

I agree with Jason. Take it easy. I had surgery just under a year ago and wanted everything back to normal in a heartbeat. Give it time, gotta let it flow baby! You're pouch has barely had time to adjust. It stinks, literally, but hook up the PS3, some books, or the Netflix and just chill.

It will get better. At this stage, if you start tinkering you may be doing more harm than good.

Brian

I have to agree with Jason, things aren't going to be perfect right now and there is no magic formula! However, I was just in your shoes a little while back, so I'll let you know what I use. Remember, every single person here uses a different plan and what may slow one person down can have the totally opposite effect on another. You just need to know what all the options are you can find the right combination that works for you. I had a hard time being on lomotil and immodium, they upset my stomach, so I stopped those as soon as I found something else. I currently take 3 capsules of Metamucil three times a day and questran powder 3/4 of a scope twice daily. The questran powder has helped me so much, but a portion of the people here have the reverse effect from it. Your goal is to find the right consistency for you, rather that just reducing the number of times to the bathroom. Just be patient, which is so much easier said than done!

Cheryl
Step 1: May 7, 07
Obstruction May 29, 07
Step 2: June 5, 07

Poolboy,

To answer your question with a question: what would you describe as success? In other words, you have to set the bar for yourself for what will be a decent quality of life for you. Some people here go 10-12 times/day and have for years. They have adjusted and are okay with that. Some people like Jason like loose stool and go more, while others prefer to do what they can to firm it up.

I don't really know that you can completely answer the question about what is success for you at this point, and I think that's what others are saying. You probably have some idea, but until you see how your body adjusts to things you may not want to set that bar (goal).

I can say the average # of BMs/24 hours is between 3-7 with 5 being a good true average. But that's after a year of adjusting. And no one ever says what people do to get to that 3-7 average either. Some people take nothing and only go 3 times/day (more likely for the colonic-pouch folks). Amazing, but true. Others eat 6 fiber wafers and take 8 immodium and 6 lomotil tablets with a few 100 mgs of codeine and still go 8 times/day.

Anyway, if you read through posts (do a Find on a keyword), you can see what different people do to slow things. For me, I average about 6-7 BMs/day using:

Breakfast - 1 immodium, 1 fiber wafer, probiotic
Lunch - 1 fiber wafer
Dinner - 1 fiber wafer, probiotic
Bedtime - 1 immodium

It took about 18 months for my son to drop from 9-12 movements/day down to 6-9. That's where he has stayed for 5 years, and nothing much seems to change it.

I am on the other side of the fence. If your output is causing you problems and/or pain then it's perfectly appropriate to start trying to see what works for you. Here's the caveat - start slowly. If possible, start with only one thing at a time to see if it works for you. And the other caveat is - call your doctor to make sure s/he is okay with this. (Although, I sometimes think doctors would be much more agreeable to starting bowel-slowing methods if they had fire blowing out their butts.)

Many people have started imodium before even being released from the hospital. So try 1 imodium/loperamide to see if that helps. You should be aware that imodium has a half life so if you're taking it daily there's always some hanging around in 'there.' Some people find that lomotil works better for them. That's prescription only. As I recall, lomotil slows motility. Imodium slows motility and increases liquid absorption so it can help produce more formed stools. The other thing that I think helps immensely is Metamucil wafers. The wafers seem to work better than the powder or capsules. I don't know why. (Well, I KNOW why they work better than the powder - because I won't ever take the powder again - it's gross.)

The other thing that slows things down is food. The 'good' slowing foods are white - rice, pasta, bagels, bread ..... I think it was Nikki from this site who also mentioned that Basmati rice is better than Jasmine rice. I think it had something to do with the hypoglycemic index???

As Connie said, it can take a while for things to improve and then plateau and then maybe improve again. I have a 17-year old pouch and I still see little improvements.

Welcome to pouchdom!

kathy

Honestly, I don't think you should take immodium or anything else to slow things down unless you talk to your surgeon first. Each surgeon has their own timetable on starting those things.

Have you tried slowing things down with foods?
I was able to slow things down by eating bagels, potatoes, rice, pasta, ground meats, bananas, and oatmeal. Try adding some of these foods to your diet and see if they help. It takes some time for your pouch to adapt, but you'll get there.

I don't know what you drink, but if you're drinking gatorade or other sugar flavored drinks, they will cause frequency and burning. So for now, I would stick to water and unsweetened iced tea for a while and see if that helps.

I also took probiotics after a few weeks and that seem to help me.

I have always been more comfortable when things were not so formed, it's easier to empty.

Good luck,

janna

I am going on 8 months out and I was taking about 9 immodiums a day and 6 metamucil pills and I was still having over 15 bm's a day so I figured they were making no obvious affect.

What did make the difference is cutting out the amount of raw veggies and fresh fruit I was consuming. Made a big difference.

Now I do pop 3 immodiums about an hour before dinner and it helps even more. Also the metamucil tablets didn't seem to do anything for me but the cookies do help.

Good luck

I will add my two cents in, although I am a newbie like you; my takedown was just five weeks ago. I, like you, am trying to adapt to the pouch function, and of course it takes time. I am willing to go frequently during the day if needed (as I agree with the others that making it too thick can cause problems as well), but during the nighttime I don't like getting up too frequently, particularly since I've been having difficulty sleeping in the past. My solution is simple - I eat a banana about 1/2 hour before bed. No immodium, no wafers....the banana works wonders. Nice that it's healthy, too. Couldn't hurt to give it a try to see if it's helpful for you too!

My best advice is to not go at the first or second or third urge. See how long you can hold on even though you're uncomfortable (you shouldn't do it to the point of pain obviously). I think this really helps "train" your body/pouch to go less - eventually you realize you're not going very often and no longer notice the "holding on" feeling. I waited a couple weeks after take down to let everything heal (most of the pouch healing actually took place before takedown) and the started really holding on and holding even when I felt the urge. I average 4-5 times in 24 hours and I'm 5 months post takedown.

oh, I can so relate. It is hard to say what I think will be "acceptable".... I want to be able to hold it, I really don't care so much how often, but I don't want to be sprinting for the bathroom all the time. Guys must have it harder, I wear pads and at least am not changing my undies all the time. I am tired of being stuck in my house next to the bidet. I am only 6 weeks post takedown, and I am totally frustrated. I had a few good weeks, where I could tell when I was "full", had a hard time emptying, but at least it wasn't like it has been lately. I am going to go find the wafers. I haven't seen them anywhere so far, but I don't get out much either.... Let me know what works for you. I am willing to try just about anything at this point!!!!

Kristi

Thanks for all the advice folks. Going to see my surgeon Tuesday, will discuss it with him further. He's a man of few words. Last two visits, the only thing he asked was whether he had given me any Immodium samples. No instructions or advice. After first surgery, he put me on liquid Immodium three times a day to "slow things down." He has never said boo about diet, expectations, etc. I've learned more from this group than anywhere else.

Yes, time will be key. I will be patient...not.

In answer to EmlerFudd's question, success would be 10 bm's a day. Success would also include only one or two trips to the toity at night. Last night, I went...hmmm..haven't got that many fingers. Yes, sleep is an issue. Pretty much up every hour....all...night...long. I run a business from home, so napping is not an issue. Elmer, your immodium/fiber/probiotic regimen is what I was looking for. It appears to work for you. I am already doing a similar thing.

I'm starting to look like a Chinese monkey from eating bananas and rice. No bananas before bed though. I'll give that one a try. Thanks Michelle.

Been doing the pasta thing as well. Not daily, but more often than pre-surgery.

Well, back to the laboratory for some more experimenting. When I perfect the formula, I'll give you all a yell. Thanks again!

Steve,

One word about your surgeon....bring a list of questions and make sure you get answers is all I can say. You have a right to his input, advise, opinion on the things that concern you and the outcome of this surgery.

Make him answer your questions. He's supposed to be working with you. It's your health and well being that's at stake here. Plus I'm sure he's being paid well for your time.

Where did you get your surgery? I'm from MI also and had my surgery at Beaumont Hospital from an excellent surgeon...Dr. Kadro.