I have a silly question....my doctor said I could take up to 8 Imodium tablets a day. I was taking two pills at a time every few hours. Do you guys take them one at a time, but more often?
Thanks!
Katie
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Katie
I took 2 at a time.
I found that often 2 a day were enough and I never took more than 4. Taking more made me feel worse. I have seen other posts saying the same thing. I suggest you try taking up to 8 a day and let your system guide you as to the dosage that works for you. (I also found Lomotil worked better for me. It is essentially the prescription form of Immodium).
Best of luck.
Lew
I took 2 at a time.
I found that often 2 a day were enough and I never took more than 4. Taking more made me feel worse. I have seen other posts saying the same thing. I suggest you try taking up to 8 a day and let your system guide you as to the dosage that works for you. (I also found Lomotil worked better for me. It is essentially the prescription form of Immodium).
Best of luck.
Lew
Lomotil isn't the prescription form of Imodium. They are both bowel slowers, though, and some people find one works better than the other. I prefer Lomotil.
Some folks have gotten in trouble by overdoing these. Work your way up to the maximum dosage, if you think you need it.
Some folks have gotten in trouble by overdoing these. Work your way up to the maximum dosage, if you think you need it.
Thanks, I took 6 yesterday but I think I'll knock it down to 5 today. I don't want to get stopped up. I see in other posts that it's important to be consistent about when you take them and not change the dosage often while looking for the magic number.
Katie
Katie
I tried using Imodium with my j-pouch and it provided no relief for me. I use lomotil strictly and it has worked for 28 years. I take four in the morning because I have no bathroom access for 6-8 hours, then a couple before bed. On some days I get away with six and others require 10. Going out for some unusual food take a couple with you. Generic lomotil is generally cheaper than OTC meds if you have a drug plan. Others can provide solutions that might better fit your needs but this is my experience
I'm not sure consistency in timing is necessarily so critical. It is important to get a feel for how your body reacts. I usually take Lomotil just at bedtime. If I'm going somewhere where a bathroom is inconvenient or impossible (e.g. scuba diving) I'll take a couple of Lomotil before that. Harlean's strategy of taking four at once is a bit risky - the atropine in Lomotil is much more likely to start to cause unpleasant side effects at that dose. If you need to extend the effect you could put a couple of extra ones in your pocket and take them a few hours later.
With Immodium, the timing is less important than the daily dose, because it has a long half life. This means that some carries over from day to day and it takes a few days for the blood level to build up. While there is a pretty quick effect, for chronic use, you want a consistent daily dose.
That said, like others, I do bump up my dose or bring extra when I travel, because my needs and daily routine change.
Jan
That said, like others, I do bump up my dose or bring extra when I travel, because my needs and daily routine change.
Jan
I take the prescription form of Imodium, Loperamide, which is in capsule form and like it better. I think it works faster. I was over doing it some days when taking OTC Imodium. In other words I am taking less since switching to the prescription form. I generally take 2 in the morning and 1 before bed but more when having a frequency problem with IPS or cuffitis. The max is 8 per day, which I have never taken.
If I feel I need something else because my stools are too watery I'd rather take a few Metamucil capsules as they don't slow the bowel down but make the BM's more firm. If I get my system slowed down too much then it causes pain as everything gets "backed up". I'm also taking pain medication daily which slows everything down. Without it I would be taking more Loperamide.
If I feel I need something else because my stools are too watery I'd rather take a few Metamucil capsules as they don't slow the bowel down but make the BM's more firm. If I get my system slowed down too much then it causes pain as everything gets "backed up". I'm also taking pain medication daily which slows everything down. Without it I would be taking more Loperamide.
Sigh. I really feel like I have no clue what I'm doing, still having 15 plus bms a day. I feel like I can't figure this out.
Katie
Katie
I still feel like that 3 years out. But I've had continuing problems. You are not going to have problems. At this stage of the game in your recovery things are changing fast so you will constantly be changing. My surgeon had me taking both Imodium and Metamucil after take down. He had me on a schedule of Imodium 4 times a day and Metamucil 3 times a day. I took both with breakfast, lunch and dinner and an Imodium before bed. He changed the schedule at every follow up visit after discussing how I was doing. It's upsetting to me that your doctor just turned you loose to figure this all out for your self! I bought the Metamucil capsules as I can't stand drinking the stuff mixed with water. I eventually took 3 capsules 3 times a day. 6 capsule = one dose therefore I was taking 1.5 doses daily. Also we are to drink less water with Metamucil at the time we take it, so it will absorb water in our system like our colons did. I forget how many Imodium I took but if I were you wouldn't take more than 4 a day.
I really wish you had someone on your end, like your surgeon, to help you with this!
I really wish you had someone on your end, like your surgeon, to help you with this!
Just to add what my Dr. recommends- actually his nurse is who does most of this support, recommends taking Imodium AD half hour before eating? Hard to time it sometimes, but worth a try. She too says 8 day max but slowly work way up and only if needed. 2 before bed, and 2 could be used if going out to eat or for linger time. Hope it's better soon.
LJZ
LJZ
Bebekspor posted:Sigh. I really feel like I have no clue what I'm doing, still having 15 plus bms a day. I feel like I can't figure this out.
Katie
ARE YOU STILL HAVING 15BMS + PER DAY BECAUSE ITS BEEN 4.5 MONTHS THAT I HAD MY TAKE DOWN AND IM HAVING 10-20 BMS PER DAY. VERY DISCOURAGED
My dr. prescribed 2 caps 4 x a day. I would never take all at once. I adjust the amount I take depending on how much bathroom time have. Sometimes I am down to only 2 a day. I think taking too much interferes with the gut and can make bathroom time painful and a lot of pressure. The sad fact is that it's not just one thing. It takes adjusted eating habits and we all are different. U must keep your core strength up and your immunity. I find it's a constant battle. I'm thankful for the good days. Thank GOD for good days.
So sorry for those having 15 plus a day - I went through that and it did get better over time. I never could use immodium or lomotil as it stopped me up - it seemed as years went on my small bowel learned to adjust and I generally have about 10 a day and night now...more or less. Some days good with maybe 6. Some days worse. Truthfully, I can always go every single time I urinate - but I choose not to when out and about. I travelled a lot and did well with that, but stopped travelling about 5 years ago as it just got to be too much. I just need a lot of privacy - but that's just me. I am so sorry for any of you who are suffering and I hope you experiment and find ways to make it better. In my younger years, I coped by not eating all day -maybe a tiny little something - that was the only way I was going to be able to work. It worked for me as I was a really high energy person and my body just could do it. I'm past 50 now and that plan does not work anymore, but served me well for years. I was also stubborn and determined and yes, I exercised and did those pelvic floor things, etc. like crazy. I wish I was as motivated now as I was then! Hang in there to all. Keep us posted and we are here to listen to you - we care.
Bebekspor posted:Sigh. I really feel like I have no clue what I'm doing, still having 15 plus bms a day. I feel like I can't figure this out.
Katie
I'm totally with you here I'm clueless
since my last post my bms have dropped ( thanks jan for your always encouraging words) im now 7.5 months out and im down to 8-10 bms per day. I still have the odd "20 day" thing but very rare. I saw my surgenon and I told himl that i sometimes go 5 times in a row and he asked me if my stools were spaghetti like. I answered him absolutely. Next week im having my first endoscopy where under sedation and my gastroentologist will dilate if needed. the surgeon has advised if the dilation is two important he would rather do it. Apparrently a dilation can lower BMS drastically if that was the cause; Can any one confirm this?
Yes. If you have a stricture, it prevents complete emptying. Dilation opens theanal canal so you can more fully empty. A stricture is easily diagnosed by a digital exam. If the examiner cannot pass his figner past the suture line, you have a stricture.
Jan 
Jan Dollar posted:Yes. If you have a stricture, it prevents complete emptying. Dilation opens theanal canal so you can more fully empty. A stricture is easily diagnosed by a digital exam. If the examiner cannot pass his figner past the suture line, you have a stricture.
Jan
How is a dilation performed and how do you know if you need it ?
Dilation can be by stretching using the examiner's finger, or by balloon.
You may suspect you need a dilation if you are unable to empty your pouch. But, this symptom can occur with pouchitis, cuffitis, fissures, and pouch structural defects. An anal stricture is easily diagnosed by digital exam. A stricture that is mid pouch or higher can only be found on endoscopy or imaging.
Jan