I haven't been able to gain weight but I have been eating a little more than usual. I remember when my gastro wanted me to try meta mucil but when I did I felt so bloated that I stopped so I continued with taking one lomotil a day in the morning than I stopped that because I wanted to be drug free. I it took me about a week to stop feeling the effects of stopping it. The only thing I do is a bowl of oatmeal and about 1 hour later I have my protein drink with the vsl baby spinach almond milk and coconut water in my protein drink I have many bathroom trips after that. I am woundering if that is why I am not gaining weight because of all the bathroom trips after drink. I was thinking of putting 1/2 packet of Metamucil in my protein drink in the morning to help stop all those bathroom trips what do you think? I do take lomotil when I am going out with friends for dinner knowing that I would be out for a while. I guess I take it for my insecurities of bathrooms issue I would appreciate any ones input. It is the protein drink that gives me many bathroom issues in the morning but feel I am getting a lot of vitamins with it but if I am using the bathroom many times after drink maybe it is really not doing anything for me. I would appreciate any ones input Thanks Grace
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Spinach ALWAYS gives me diarrhea. You might try taking that out of your drink. I have never known fiber supplements to slow the gut, just thicken the output. I know you want to be drug free, but there is time for that later after you gain some weight back. How about using loperamide (Imodium), which is available over the counter. Even 20 years later, I still use it, but much less than my early years (1 a day now, compared to 8 a day 20 years ago).
Jan 
Thanks Jan you always have good advice. I don't know how else to get the good vegetables in my diet there are very few that I can eat. Do you have any suggestions about that. I know that the vegetables that I do eat have to be cooked very well. I was using baby spinach thinking it would be good for me never thinking that it would give me the runs. I have tried Imodium but I don't think it is strong enough maybe if I take two. I do take vitamins but I always feel that it is not enough Thanks for all your advice every little bit helps Grace
I don't have a lot of answers. For myself, I preferred to take the maximum amount of Imodium and not limit my diet in a big way. Right from the get-go I ate all sorts of vegetables, just limiting the amount in each meal.
One thing I can say is that Imodium and lomotil will likely work best when you take it on a regular basis, rather than just occasionally. That way, there is some in your system all the time, instead of big peaks and valleys of blood levels. It takes a long time for your gut to adapt to the loss of your colon. But, if you don't want to medicate for diarrhea, it pretty much limits you to a very narrow diet. Even then, it might not be enough.
Jan
Thanks Jan you and Scott and a lot of others always have good advice which I love. It just so wonderful that when a question goes out there are so many that are able to answer and help one another. Thanks again Grace
Unfortunately, the best advice is regarding the fact that there is no perfect diet or "best" medication/supplement to have optimum function. One reason is that results vary individually. Another reason is that we each have our own priorities in regard to what is essential, important, nice-but-not-necessary, and unimportant. There are intolerances and dislikes That factor in.
This is why trial and error is a big player, and what you think makes sense may not work at all, or even make things worse.
20 years and still learning!
Jan