Imodium vs Pepto Bismol and Bentyl

Rocket,

Levisin and Betyl are anti-spasmodics that are used to counteract excessive motility issues. Imodium and PB are anti-diarrheals.

If your problems are frequent stools after eating meals then you can take the anti-spasmodics 30-45 minutes before meals. In my early days I would take 1 anti-spasmodic and 1 imodium 30-45 minutes before meals and that would really slow things down.

If you do not feel like you are emptying fully that, to me, is a sign of pouchitis and none of these drugs are going to help with that. If it is pouchitis that you have, you need antibiotics in all likelihood.

Thanks DJ for explaining that to me. Yes I do currently have a bad case of Pouchitis.

Rocket,

If you have not tried a squirt bottle( similar to a bidget), I find it really helps FULLY empty my pouch when I am struggling with pouchitis. Believe it or not I got one of those plastic condiment bottles like they use for ketchup/mustard at a picnic and it has helped me incredibly in keeping the area clean and helping fully empty the pouch.

Since my pouchitis is mainly in my distal area (lower level of pouch), it is very important to try and fully empty the pouch to avoid worsening of my pouchitis symptoms. If you just squeeze the bottle near your back area, the pressure of the water will come out in a jet and will help release whatever little may be retained in the bottom of your pouch. Hope this helps.

kjeane, I never knew that. So after your are done with a BM basically, you are giving yourself an enema. So if I understand this correctly, a bidet or the way you use a bottle is it shoots warm water up through your anus to help empty the pouch? In that situation though, wouldnt more stool come out? In my case it would.

So if I ever bought a bidet, once the water is in me, I would need to go back on the toilet to further empty the pouch.

Sorry, I don't understand how this works

Rocket,

Do not leave the toilet. Just squirt the warm water up against your rear (not actually into the pouch), but some of it may enter the rectal cuff a bit. What this does for me is seem to stimulate the anal area/cuff and more or less lessen or relax it to allow any residual stool (which is often a not a lot), to further empty from my pouch. This may work for me as my anastomosis may be tighter and more narrow than others. I am not sure, but my pouch never really fully empties without my doing this.

Discuss this with your surgeon first to get his take on it, but I have been doing it for months with no issues and my GI/surgeon is aware of the process.

Best of Luck.

kjeane,

I have an appt with my GI tomorrow. I will ask him. Basically, I want to make sure I understand you and I apologize for my ignorance, but you use a plastic bottle and fill it with warm water and squezze it into your backside and I assume backside means you would insert that into your rectum?


Is that right?

Rocket

Rocket...I messaged you. Good luck.

kheane,

I recevied your PM. Thank you.

Rocket