bad reaction to immodium - alternative suggestions?

Hi there,

I've been waking up almost every night around 3am to go to the bathroom. Usually fairly watery, but the bigger issue is that I often can't fall back to sleep for hours. My surgeon suggested taking one Immodium before bed to slow my system so I might sleep through the night, but I tried that last night and instead I woke up at 3am with the same amount of poop and urgency, but also with stomach pain and severe belching. Anyone else have this issue? Is there an alternative to Immodium you'd recommend? I remember trying Immodium within the first year post-op and not liking it, but I'd forgotten this was why.

Other possibly relevant info - I usually eat dinner on the early side, and try not to snack past 9pm. I typically go to bed around 11.

Thanks!

4/26/185:09 PM

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AimcMember

J9pouch, you could try lomotal. It's a prescription drug, so you will have to have your surgeon to write you one. Maybe eat dinner earlier and maybe no snacks after 6 pm or so. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Aimee

4/26/185:18 PM

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AimcMember

Sorry it's lomotil.

4/26/185:20 PM

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Bubba1028Member

I take Lomotil instead of Imodium bc I thought I was having a reaction to the Imodium. I take anywhere from 3-4 pills a day but the script is written so that I can take up to 6 pills a day. Maybe chat with your doc and see if it that might help. I also take Beano before lunch and before dinner for the gas build up.

4/26/187:59 PM

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ElSurMember

Hey J9Pouch, you could also try to use Mucofalk (sorry, I don't have an American trade name). You have to drink it and it will (probably) thicken up your stool a bit. I'm using it and I'm honestly not 100% sure whether it really does anything to lower the frequency or urgency of bowel movements, but the stool definitely is more "formed" and not that watery. It gives me a good feeling (like "yeah, I have taken something, this should help") and I think that it's indeed helping (but I can't tell you 100% as I don't use it that often and after that don't watch the clock etc.). But you can definitely try it

4/26/188:19 PM

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Still StandingMember

I used to have the same problem with waking up in the middle of the night with my pouch wanting to empty and empty and empty. My GI gave me a prescription for Elavil (Amitripylin) 25 mg. It is a medicine given for mental issues, but it side effect is thickening. (Which is why he gave it too me.) I take 1 of these and two lomotils every night. I might still wake up to empty, but I can then go back to sleep. I've even been able to sleep through the night. It has really helped me to get much more sleep than I had ever gotten before. Might be worth trying.

4/28/189:45 AM

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NurseButtholeMember

Yes, I've had the same problems. The first decade after my takedown I was taking 20 Imodium a day and tried lomotil, and anything with the side effect of constipation. Im taking tincture of opium now and find it helps because it slows peristalsis. I've been taking it for about 10 years - same dose, and it works well unless I have pouchitis.

4/29/187:50 PM

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J9PouchMember

OMG, Nurse Butthole, that handle!! I LOVE IT!!

5/3/1811:48 AM

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