Lol , I eat supper between 6-7 pm , then usually a snack around 9 , it usually cures my late night cravings.. oh & I installed a dimmer switch in the bathroom .. WORKS GREAT.

Hey Carlitos,

I came across ads for these Metamucil Apetite Control products on the TV. I haven't tried them so I'm not sure how well they would work. Maybe give it a shot... it does contain phylum fiber though so your output might get thicker!

http://www.metawellness.com/en...eta-appetite-control

Yeah a dimmer switch sounds like a great idea! I cannot stand the light at 4 am. Like the cold lid of the toilet wasn't enough am I right? and how can you eat so early like I am still at school at that time! 

And ufff... my pouch doesn't need fiber at all, It works more than great at the point it is also frustrating not being capable of emptying it on a first sitting; actually I take more laxatives than fiber supplements, but thanks for your support!

Hi Carlitos,

i am 6 years post takedown and still have not found the magic diet to get me through the night. However there are lucky people on the forum who manage it every night. Sucks to be us! Metamucil is a great binding agent and you should give it a go if you haven't already. Just need to drink extra water as I find it also very dehydrating, many on this site would recommend it's usage. 

You are certainly not alone, the light, not an issue but feeling tired all the time is. 

I seems like you're making your choices with good information. You might get some relief from a spoonful of peanut butter at bedtime, but I wouldn't turn it into a full meal. Good luck.

Yes - a dimmer, or perhaps a nightlight.  I use this one:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...ge?ie=UTF8&psc=1.  It's plenty bright enough so that you do not need to turn another light on, and you can "stop" the color at red, which is the best color (red or orange-hued) for getting back to sleep.  Also, have you tried taking a couple immodiums before bed? 

Hello, Carlitos. When I'm starving for a snack, I put cheddar cheese or Swiss cheese on a slice of bread and put it in the toaster oven for a minute or two just to melt. Try to get real cheese, not the processed kind. The cheese and bread will help thicken your output, or maybe even hold you until morning. Just make sure the cheese sits in the middle of the slice so it doesn't drip over the side and set off your smoke alarm at 11:45pm. Don't ask me how I know this. 

And a small nightlight plugged into a wall socket can give just enough light, but not wake you up completely. The tiny 7 watt bulb is enough to see by. 

I look forward to going home from work and relaxing with some great food. I won't give up night time eating, so I either get up during the night once or twice (that's the sacrifice) or I sometimes take Imodium before I go to sleep. Then I usually last until around 6:00 - 7:00 in the morning.

I tend to sleep through but I do struggle with snacking and always feeling hungry, when in fact I'm actually dehydrating.

The snacking somehow provides my body with enough fluids until the next craving for a snack.

Even after a huge meal, within minutes I'm looking for food again, so maybe your cravings are actually a sign of dehydration.

Although I struggle to practice what I preach, maybe next time you're feeling hungry and craving a snack, have a non alcoholic, low sugar and non carbonated drink or an apple.

My midnight choices (and yes, I am a midnight snacker) are a tbs of really good jam, dulce de letche, chocolate, chunks of cheese, peanut butter...All protein or concentrated carbs meaning that they cause very little output...but satisfy the cravings...don't gobble them down, but enjoy them slowly to better satisfy the craving and eat less.

While away on a cruise I was stuck...I didn't bring any snack food with me (never do) and they give you nothing that you can 'take to your cabin' at dinner...so at around 10pm I had nothing to nibble on...and I discovered hot chocolate again...but the real thing, served in a tiny little cup just bigger than an espresso cup...about 2oz. It hit the spot..Was little enough to not wake me at 4am but very satisfying and the fact that it was hot made a huge difference.

Sharon

How envious I am of some of you. I can not tolerate chocolate, if I eat it, I will "Pompeya" the hell of my arse. I cant stand jam because of the seeds. I am only 6 months after takedown and finishing treatment for cuffitis. I suffer a lot of "constipation" as well; fiber is a no-no for me.

But anyway thanks for your responses! 

I am wondering how long it's  been since your takedown?  The reason I say, about a year and a half out, it's unusual for me to wake up during the night .. but it was a gradual process.

I eat "regular food," and have been taking 3 imodium twice a day if it helps.   Yes, getting up at night is a PITA!   Best wishes.

aka KNKLHEAD posted:

I am wondering how long it's  been since your takedown?  The reason I say, about a year and a half out, it's unusual for me to wake up during the night .. but it was a gradual process.

I eat "regular food," and have been taking 3 imodium twice a day if it helps.   Yes, getting up at night is a PITA!   Best wishes.

3 imoduium!!? Uff maybe you didn't read my previous reply but I suffer of constant constipation and I am 6 month post-takedown. Imodium for me right now would be very bad idea. I am gonna try the magnesium milk for a few days to see if I can have a more liquid stool. However my Gastro said that for long term, Mg milk it's a bad idea.

Have you tried using a blender or immersion mixer and blend fruits & veggies into smoothies? They will unconstipate you, help things move through you easily and allow you to better regulate your output.

Things change over the years...it takes your body time...I tend to think in periods of 3 months when I am charting progress.

3 months post op I expect catastrophe...meaning I did not know what to expect and it changed daily.

After the 1st 3 months I started charting...foods that agreed with me and my pouch, foods that were 'off the list forever' and foods that I was willing to try again a few months later.

Every few months I would introduce something new and write down what, how much and how it interacted with us (me & my pouch).

As time went by I learned it was not just what I ate but what I ate it with...meaning the liquids as well as the solids that I ate along with it.

There were also questions of time of the day (my body hates solids in the mornings...my pouch likes to be completely emptied out before I start filling it again so I stick to hot and cold liquids til noon...But, that is me and my pouch...not everyone else.

I eat 2 meals/day...noon and evening...mostly protein meals with a blended or overcooked veggie....I only drink water, tea or coffee (no milk products) and rarely a carbonated beverage (usually water). I avoid drinking sugars, never drink juice with my meals and stick to fruits pre-meal...I snack on yogurts in the afternoon of chunks of cheese.

But I have learned all of this over many years...you are just at the beginning of the learning curve. 

Whenever you introduce a new food do it alone or on an empty stomach...wait to see how it goes through you before you eat anymore...then chart it.

I am sure that you can find an app for this...

Then start mixing it with other foods to see what it likes or doesn't like...you will learn very quickly.

Do not expect things to be stable for at least a year (although some lucky pouchers were regulated within their first month)

Sharon

Carlitos posted:

aka KNKLHEAD posted:

I am wondering how long it's  been since your takedown?  The reason I say, about a year and a half out, it's unusual for me to wake up during the night .. but it was a gradual process.

I eat "regular food," and have been taking 3 imodium twice a day if it helps.   Yes, getting up at night is a PITA!   Best wishes.

3 imoduium!!? Uff maybe you didn't read my previous reply but I suffer of constant constipation and I am 6 month post-takedown. Imodium for me right now would be very bad idea. I am gonna try the magnesium milk for a few days to see if I can have a more liquid stool. However my Gastro said that for long term, Mg milk it's a bad idea.

 

Ha, ha .. you will note that we posted as almost the exact same time, and your reply beat mine -- therefore, I didn't read your previous post!  Since you are six months, things may get better for you.  Best wishes.

Your situation sounds somewhat similar to mine, with the exception that I've had my pouch now for about 12 years.  Over the years I have suffered with constipation and trouble emptying to the point where I'm now taking Lactulose 2x a day.  I take a tablespoon in the morning with my coffee and don't eat anything until about noon, that's the only way I can go to work and have my pouch feel 'normal'.  Around noonish I eat a regular lunch, a sandwich or leftovers from the night before, and try to drink as much water/coffee/juice in the afternoon as possible.  I get home around 5pm and make dinner, which usually consists of a protein, carb, veggie combo (and a glass of wine...). I also have something to drink after dinner, juice or green tea so I can dilute my lactulose and hopefully empty my pouch before bedtime.  I too feel hungry, especially in the evenings, and will sometimes snack on peanut butter and/or a banana.  I made the mistake of having a bowl of Raisin Bran one night before bed, needless to say, I never did that again!  I've been through many, many tests and so far they have found nothing wrong with my pouch...I guess this is good news because I really can't imagine going through another surgery at this point in my life.  I do wonder however what my pouch will be like in another 20 years....will I still be taking lactulose or will I go back to an ileostomy??

Two bathroom trips seem to be the norm for me...i haven't slept through the night in almost two decades.  I have a nightlight in the bathroom so I don't need to put on the light.  Red is best because it's doesn't disrupt your circadian cycle.

My understanding that this can be normal to have to go in the night.