That's normal for all of us.  Eating stimulates peristalisis, and peristalisis is what pushes food through our system. 

 

Sue

I wonder if you might get some control over this cycle by choosing to use the toilet prior to eating. I often make that choice before going out or engaging in challenging activities (e.g. martial arts). It may not help, of course, but might be worth exploring.

 

You're also taking a lot of Lomotil. It's possible that it really helps you at that dose, and things get crazy for you without it, but I use it quite differently: at bedtime, and sometimes before activities that I'd prefer not be interrupted by a bathroom break. Everything in your intestines will come out eventually, Lomotil or not, so I just use it to influence *when* I need a toilet.

 

Is it possible for you to ignore the urge? I'm not dismissing it, just wondering if it's something that will stop after a little while, vs. causing an embarrassing disaster. This is best to experiment with at home, of course. I will often do this if I'm engaged in something I don't want to interrupt, and I generally get away with it.

 

Have you been examined for pouchitis or cuffitis? These alone wouldn't affect the timing of the urges (i.e. after meals), but they could certainly affect how urgent your urges are.

 

Good luck - I hope you find ways to get this under better control.

 

 

Same happens to me.
That is alot of lomotal.
I don't even take it anymore.  One would plug me up.
I use bananas and apples.  They work fine.  Almost too good.

Yep, that is normal for me too. It never occurred to me to rush home to use the toilet after eating out. I just use the restaurant restroom before I leave. I try not to focus on how much I go, and focus on how I feel instead. The j-pouch only replaces your rectum, not your whole colon, so you cannot expect things to be the same, or even similar.

 

Jan

Agree with everything others have said. I generally try to empty my pouch before going out, working out, etc, so there's less of a chance I'll have to go during an activity, especially one where I may not be too close to a washroom.  Also, skipping meals tends to have the opposite effect for me - I get more watery BMs (harder to hold for longer periods), and/or I get increased gas.  So in that sense, I've never really found it helpful to adjust my eating schedule. At times I may adjust WHAT I eat (in the sense that perhaps a bean burrito isn't the best thing to have before a long car ride *LOL*) but I don't find it necessary to modify my eating habits on a regular basis.

 

As others have mentioned, almost all of us will experience increased peristalsis after meals. This is normal, even in people who still have their colons. That being said, you could possibly have a mild spasmodic bowel, especially if you have a huge jump in frequency and urgency shortly after you eat. If this issue is significant enough that it is interfering with your daily activities, you can ask your doctor about an antispasmodic med such as Buscopan (in Canada) or Levsin or Bentyl in other markets. That can slow the bowel contractions so that you're not rushing to the toilet immediately after eating. Of course, those drugs have other side effects (I was briefly on Buscopan for a temporary issue and experienced blurry vision as a side effect - if that would have been an ongoing thing, it would not have been worth the trade off for me, thanks), so you have to weigh the pros and cons, as with anything.

i have  the same issue ..just eating anything usually  makes me want to go and in evening  t and home  could feel like going various times including during eating!!!

I've been taking codeine sulfate tabs, that is without the Tylenol in it. One of my Dr's wouldn't prescribe it, one has no problem prescribing it. I was told a long time ago if a Dr won't prescribe something that helps...it's time to change drs. But it helps thicken like the Lomotil, but not the same side effects. I can take up to 8 30mg a day but I usually only need 1-3 depending on what I eat and how bad the diarrhea is. Most drs are concerned about the Tylenol on your liver, but codeine sulfate is minus that problem so works well. You just have to get it filled at a hospital pharmacy. Local pharmacy can't fill it. 

If you take an anti-spasmodic 30-45 minutes before meals this issue probably will be nipped in the bud.  Bentyl, levsin or donnatal.  Surprised nobody has mentioned this to you - irregular peristalsis or excessive peristalsis is a very common issue after J Pouch surgery.

 

The anti-spasmodic drugs can make you feel a little loopy- I found that donnatal has the least effect in that regard.

It used to be more common for me to have to go after eating, not usually 15 minutes, I'd say within an hour, but that's not always true for me now.  I can defer for some time now. Time may change things for you, eventually.