Absolutely not !  Are you taking magnesium? Try meta mucil and take Imodium like 4 pills before bed.  Eat like a banana or potato at night.  You can fix this. Don’t get nervous 

I'm not taking magnesium, what would that be for? I take 2 fiber pills per day and it seems as though it's doing it's job. Lomotil isn't working for me so I'm not sure that Imodium would help. It happened twice during the day yesterday so it's not only at night. Now, I'm almost afraid to go out.

Do not take the magnesium.  I was just asking. The fiber pills could be giving you loose stool. For me it would. Try the meta mucil 4 times a day with the Imodium. It will help.  Try it ASAP and let me know by the end of the week. Get the orange flavored. Two teaspoons per serving. Your doctor could try Rifaxin pills. That will work 100 percent. 1 or 2 pills a day and you could stay on it

The fiber pills have been very helpful in firming up my stool. The doctor gave me free samples of the Rifaxin a long time ago and it never helped. Nothing seems to work on me....but the fiber pills do work. I'll try the immodium and see what happens. I'm using a new inhaler for another problem, and wondering if it's a side effect. Thanks for your suggestions.

The inhaler wil not effect your pouch. Try the meta mucil. You can buy it at Walgreens.  Try eating more starch maybe. 

I know, I just checked it....I don't know if I can drink it, the thought of it makes me gag. I eat lots of starch. Going to the doctor today for another problem, I'm going to see what she says, although I'm pretty sure that she doesn't know too much about pouches.

Pals, do you know of another drink with no taste that I could take, by any chance?You take Metamucil 4 times a day? I don't even weigh 100 lbs....would I need as much as you?

It’s not a heavy drink.  You can handle 1 teaspoon in a half a cup of water.  They have one with no taste but the orange is not bad. I suggest go with that. 

Okay, I'll get some today and will let you know what happens.

This sounds like pouchitis to me. Has that been considered/ruled out? Sometimes a number of antibiotics have to be tried - the only one that worked for me was Cipro.

The soluble fiber might also help. I find the orange Metamucil quite tolerable, but some people do fine with Benefiber, which is pretty much tasteless when mixed into another beverage.

If was pouchitis the rifaxin would of worked. When did you take it last ?

Scott, I just came off of Levaquin and don't think that I have pouchitis. Benefiber was the name I couldn't think of. 

Pals, I took it a long time ago. My insurance doesn't cover rifaxin. 

 Have you tried Cipro got pouchitis?  As much as I hate it, it does help with the leakage issues from pouchitis 

Yes , cipro will work as well 

I'm not sure that I can take Metamucil. I was taking the wafers and got horrible gas.....I have too many issues, and don't think I can deal with gas on top of it. Is there anything else that I can take without the ingredients that Metamucil has?

Hi everyone. How is everyone doing today?  Well, I'm new to this forum.  I was thinking of adding tofu to my diet.  Has anyone been eating tofu?  And what do you think of it?  I need to add protein to my diet since I've been told I can't have legumes of any kind.  This does not make me happy.  I like beans and I know they do the body good. But in my case, with the J-Pouch, the J-Pouch rules.  

I love salads as well, but I've have tried butter lettuces and trust me, I'm not a fan.  I really miss eating Romain lettuces.  Any suggestions out there?  

I love salads as well, but I've have tried butter lettuces and trust me, I'm not a fan.  I really miss eating Romain lettuces.  Any suggestions out there?  

Jan, do you know if Benefiber  has the same ingredients as Metamucil? I know that you have a problem using it as well.

I have been using Benefiber for over a year and for me it works well.  I also use Immodium at bedtime and no leakage. Leakage is something I am concerned about as I get older.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

There are fiber gummies that Jan told us about.  Phillips is the brand.  

If you do need to have it removed you would have a permanent ileostomy vs a colostomy.  You might want to read some posts in the Ostomy section here.  There has been quite a few of us that had j-pouch failures and had our j-pouches removed or had them disconnected.  If you have any questions asking there might bring you question to the attention to more of us.

The nurses told me to take imodium - generic is really cheap - as an appetizer and fiber, metamucil in my case, as dessert. The timing of when you take them really does matter.  You can take up to 8 imodium daily so if what you are doing isn't working you might want to try taking them 3-4 times a day.  

I hope things improve for you but if you do need to go to an ileo please know that it has helped many of us and we are feeling much better now.

Hi everyone......I'm new to this forum......I'm no longer able to use VSL#3 ds as my probiotic because I can't afford to buy it and the company that has been supplying it has closed it's doors.  Can anyone give me the name of an affordable probiotic or the name of a company that can help with obtaining the product?

TE Marie, Gummies vs Benefiber, which works better? Will check on a permanent ileostomy, although I'd prefer not going on that route.

Edith, I use Align and most times I get it at Costco or if I can get a good deal, at CVS. At Costco, it's about 55.00 for 12 week supply.  It's much cheaper than VSL #3 DS.  Another thing you might want to do is check the VSL website to see if you qualify to get it free or at a reduced price.  It's based on income.  So far, the Align has worked for me.

VSL closed it's doors!  I didn't realize that!

I think VSL is still around. Edith may be referring to some third-party supplier.

Yes, Scott, I see what you mean.

Cipro is in the same antibiotic class as leviquin, so if it was not helpful, Cipro probably would not help either. Rifaximin was not as effective for pouchitis for me as Flagyl or Cipro. If you have not tried Imodium, it is worth a try. It is known to improve muscle tone of the rectal sphincters, along with slowing the gut. You may need up to 16mg/day (8 doses). 

Benefiber and Metamucil have different fiber sources. Metamucil is psyllium and Benefiber contains wheat dextrin. If you are gluten sensitive, Benefiber is not a good choice. Citrucel is more inert, containing methylcellulose.

Jan

Thanks for responding CTB23.  VSL#3 hasn't closed its doors, it's the company that I was getting it from that closed it's doors.  I just can't afford the medication.  I will try something else, and I will look.  Thank you for responding to my inquiry.  I'm sorry MEMA 1 that you're having such a hard time.  I hope you will be able to get your problem under control.  I remember when I first got my j-pouch, I was afraid to move for fear that I would have to use the restroom.....when my rear end was soooo very sore.  I use to live on Imodium AM 24-7, so I know your pain.  But do try the Imodium because it works.  Please try to calm down and stop thinking the worse.  Stop eating at about 6:30 pm so you can get a good nights sleep and make sure to use the Imodium it will help you. That way your trips to the restroom will be very limited.  You may have to adjust the time you have your last meal of the day until you get your situation under control.

excuse me.... I meant to say Imodium AD, not Imodium AM.  Sorry for the over site.

MEMA 1. I hope your feeling better today.  And I hope things will be better for you soon.  

If you are having a difficult time with drinking the metamucil try mixing it in applesauce.  You just use enough to mix it in, like 2 tablespoons. 

MEMA 1......You might want to take a close look at what you may be eating....sometimes when we think all is well our bodies take a left turn somewhere along the Rout and it forgot to let us know it just took a left turn.  Could it be that you may have just introduced something new into your diet?  Is that possible?   

I'm just asking.  There are times when I might introduce a new food because I was simply wanting it without thinking of what might occur if I eat this.  Which I might say is honestly on my mind 24-7.   I just made a simple dish the other day which was string beans and ground turkey, with simple seasoning, simple to me but not to my intestines.....It gave me a little problem.  I could feel the gas building and then the gas, which of course was strange to me, but yet I ate it again the next day without any issues whatsoever.  Strange right?  Well, sometimes your intestines get a little confused and do the most damn things.  And sometimes we can't win for losing

Our intestines are just so sensitive at times that they make us sick.  So go figure.  So I've just learned in order for me to live with this J-Pouch I must treat it as if it's a new baby and I treat it with careful thought.  That's what works for me.  Like I drink cinnamon tea, green tea, and with or without honey.  I'm careful with the seasonings  I use on my food as well, I only buy fresh veggies, and I never eat beef....my intestines won't tolerate it.  I'm very careful and that's what works for me.   

I would love to eat beans again.  But with that said I at times can eat black beans without any problems.  Maybe my intestines like the color black...LOL.  Ok, I just made a funny regarding MY intestines.  So, I'm just saying and or asking, have you maybe introduced a new food?  So, but anyway, how are you feeling today?  How did you sleep last night?  Any better? 

Sincerely, I do hope it's nothing serious and you're able to get this worked out.  It's bad enough we must live under the circumstances we live with.  Let alone to add another problem.  I sincerely feel for you.  We all have issues to deal with.  But there are times when we don't need another ticket added to the one we already are holding.  MEMA 1, I do hope you have a much better day.   

I have the same problem and will see my surgeon tomorrow.  But I want to mention that I stir Metamucil into about a 1/3 cup of applesauce or yogurt and it  is less distasteful to me than if in water.   What quantities and numbers of Metamucil doses work for you all, and how soon before meals do you take it?

Despite various trials to cure my incontinence, it persists. Most recently, the accidents have increased and I have nausea and  burping for several hours at a time.  If any of you have thoughts on this, I'd appreciate your sharing.  Thanks!

Hi

TCM....how you doing?  I don't take Metamucil or anything other than Gas-X for whenever I have gas.  And I don't have those issues and I thank God that I don't. However, like I mentioned to MEMA 1 I watch very closely everything that goes into my mouth.  That's important to me.  I believe that's what's been helping me.  I don't eat bread but I make a soft taco from sweet potatoes and flour.  I'm sorry that you likewise having difficulty.  Whenever I know I have to go out for whatever reason, I usually don't eat before leaving the house and I will take 3 Imodium tablets just to be on the safe side.  Normally, I don't eat out either.  That's what works for me.  

I would start off taken it easy with whatever your eating to start to process whatever could be the cause.  I would eat boiled eggs, oatmeal, or a hot cereal for breakfast, eat an easy lunch like a sweet potato or white potato with chicken and a veggie lightly seasoned and maybe try eating some applesauce.  And of course water.  I would take it easy for at least a few days to see how everything works out.  Use the process of elimination for a while just to see if there are any changes. 

Again, I'm sorry your having issues as well as MEMA 1.  Take care my dear and have a fantastic day.  

Jan Dollar posted:

Cipro is in the same antibiotic class as leviquin, so if it was not helpful, Cipro probably would not help either. Rifaximin was not as effective for pouchitis for me as Flagyl or Cipro. If you have not tried Imodium, it is worth a try. It is known to improve muscle tone of the rectal sphincters, along with slowing the gut. You may need up to 16mg/day (8 doses). 

Benefiber and Metamucil have different fiber sources. Metamucil is psyllium and Benefiber contains wheat dextrin. If you are gluten sensitive, Benefiber is not a good choice. Citrucel is more inert, containing methylcellulose.

Jan

I've been using fiber pills for at least two months and have noticed a change for the better, do you think that I still should start using citrucel? Also do I take the Imodicum everyday darned spell check! My pc is down and don't do well on My tablet.