Good morning everyone!
I’m new to the site as of yesterday and posted a little introduction about myself under this forum with a few questions. Now that I’ve been reading and reading everything on here I can think of I have some more questions.
I’m reading very good things about the Metamucil wafers. Also, of course the immodium seems to work for a lot of you too.
Here is what I’d like. YOUR BEST advice on these products, usage, dosage, mix, don’t mix, is there anything else out there that works well.
I bought the wafers and started them last night, just one, then one this morning. I took an immodium before bed. Ten years ago when I had my surgery (the 3 step surgeries were in 98, 00, & 00) I used immodium and for some reason stopped. Then I used kaopectate then stopped but I don’t remember why because it was so long ago.
I’d like, if possible, to get some advice on the products people use and have good luck with. My ultimate goal here after 10 years of the same old BS is to
1. LIMIT the frequency from anywhere between 12 – 20 times a day lol.
2. ELIMINATE any cream related to frequency! I’m over it, I don’t want to use it or have to spend the money anymore!
3. That URGE feeling. Initially it’s ok, but say I can’t make it to the bathroom, it gets bad, painful, pressure, and my goodness LOUD noises from my belly.
Any advice or suggestions are greatly welcomed! I’m looking to finally make the changes I never thought were possible til I found this site and see what great success many of you have had! Over all I’m an extremely healthy girl, never a cold or a sneeze! Just the everyday things related to being a pouch recipient.

Here's some things that work for me:
I eat a good breakfast full of fiber (shredded wheats or something) and that tends to bulk things up for me and slow things down so I only have one or two BM's at work during the day.

If I take an immodium (and I don't always) I'll take it about 4 or 5 PM since I understand it takes a while to kick in and stays in your system for a while and I'd like it to be doing it's thing at night while I'm sleeping.

I've also followed someone's advice on here and I don't drink anything with my meals but rather wait 30 minutes or so afterwards to drink thus cutting way back on the gas and belly noises.

I unfortunately still use a cream but only once a month or so for the dreaded butt burn. I just make sure I don't eat hot salsa or something that will cause me pain.

That may not have answered all your questions but those are a few things that I do that are working for me.

Take care.

Theresa,

Don't be afraid to experiment with different things. If you're like me, you want to find a combination of things that works well and stick with it. But over time I have just continued to tweak things - usually for the better.

I eat:
1. 1 Metamucil wafer with each meal. Eat these with your food and they will work better than just eating them on their own
2. 1/2 Immodium morning and 1/2 Immodium in the evening
3. I just recently tried taking 1 Lomotil before bed - with wonderful results. It does more than anything to reduce the urgency at night, which is what I want. I don't take it during the day because I figure I need to go sometime
4. Probiotic (VSL#3 DS) at breakfast and dinner

Between that and keeping the gas at a minimum (probiotics and the tip Olive Oil gave you help with keeping it in check), I feel pretty good.

Steve

Oh - and the butt burn. I don't know if we ever eliminate it completely, even with all the supplements. I use it less often than more anymore - but still need to kill that burn at times.