BTW- I have avoided Imodium even though my doctor said it was ok to take them. Am I dumb for doing that?  Have most of you been prescribed to take your Imodium post takedown and has it helped to get your confidence back to be out in public?

People vary a lot in how quickly they feel confident. Your job now is to patiently recover and adapt. Can you say why you're avoiding the Imodium?  Are you taking walks? Are you working on delaying toilet visits (stretching the pouch)? Have you considered trying soluble fiber?

Don't really know why I'm avoiding the Imodium. Afraid I guess of backing me up. Did you feel like it helped you to be out?

i am walking in the morning when I seem to best between movements. And I have been taking Metamucil. 

Are you going a lot? I never ended up using Imodium either. But, I wasn't going a lot even immediately post op. If you feel like the Imodium would help, give it a try. I'd say after 3 weeks post op I felt confident going anywhere. 

For many (most?) people the first 5-6 weeks after abdominal surgery are simply about recovery: regaining strength, adjusting to your new plumbing, etc. Some bounce back more quickly.  That being said, sometimes a problem worth treating (with more than patience) crops up. Have you called your surgeon? It's possible you have a spasmodic pouch, usually treated with Bentyl or Levsin. Mostly, though, it's just still hard at two weeks post-op.

I had my takedown surgery on the Thursday and left hospital by the following Tuesday; I had a 4 hour train journey home.

During my journey home, I only required one toilet visit on the train, since the last, which was at the hospital.

My biggest difficulty was the discomfort and lack of mobility due to the healing of my old Stoma site.

Getting up and sitting down was really awkward but once up, my mobility was ok, no issues walking or shopping.

My surgeon suggested I take Immoduim but also suggested I decide what dose to take and when.

I tend to take no more than 3 Immodium per day, mainly to thicken output rather than slow it down, however, when I had ileostomy I took Immodium to slow down the output.

With the ileostomy, if I knew I would be out longer than normal, I would take an extra 1 or 2 Imodium but since takedown I've had no reason to increase dose.

My BM's returned to a manageable amount whilst in hospital after takedown; my surgical team stated I could only leave hospital once my BM's were manageable.

It took roughly 8 weeks by time my mobility was back to normal and my Stoma site had healed.

I am 16 days post takedown. I rode in the truck 5.5 hrs yesterday stopping twice to use restroom. I didnt eat until 30 minutes out in case it caused me to have the urgency. That and the searing pain(butt burn) have still been my issues. I have problems if i walk too much. I have explosions from time to time, so Im still wearing pads. I hope to feel confident soon but i think at this rate it will be 6-8 weeks before that happens. I have been taking immodium anout 6 a day. I think it thickens. Wanted to ask surgeon anout lomtil but havent got call back. Ate fajitas a few hours ago so will probably be in tears in a few hours.