loop ileostomy & VSL3

Gee, with the loop ileo, chances are slim to none that any will reach your pouch. I'd hold off until take down of your ostomy.

Jan

Welcome to the site! I had dehydration and overflowing bags with my loop ileo too. I feel for you. If I were you I'd cut out alcohol as it is very dehydrating. Also I don't think I've heard of anyone taking probiotics while having an ostomy. Some that take them after getting their j-pouches say that probiotics give them gas or runny BMs (I forget which or both sorry.)

My doctor said to take a maximum of 8 Imodium per day. I don't think taking anymore helps. Have you tried marshmallows? I didn't find out until after I'd had my j-pouch for over a year but I take prescription Imodium, called Loperamide in the U.S. I think it works better as it gets in my system faster as it is in capsule form and dissolves faster.

Are you sure your Imodium is dissolving before it floats out of your stoma? I had a problem of keeping medications in me long enough to dissolve! If it is like in the U.S. you can break it in half. The visiting nurse was here once when I was complaining about pain and she said "no wonder, look your Norco (like vicodin) just went out into your bag". I ended up cutting a lot of vitamins and norco in half and taking them a little bit apart from each other.

I hope your take down is soon! Take care

Thanks very much. I'll give the probiotics a miss until after takedown, I thought as much. The Lopermide seems to help later in the day, first thing in the morning it must be floating out. Not tried marshmallows but Jelly
Out of interest my surgeon in Barcelona is an American lady with tons of experience with Pouches, she makes me feel very positive unlike the uncommunicative Spanish ones.
Paul

Your Imodium taken in the morning may not be working until the afternoon so if I were you I'd still take them in the morning. I still take Loperamide (Imodium) 4 times a day. Sorry if I wasn't clear in my prior post. 1) There is a possibility your Imodium could be floating through your stoma to your bag and 2) IMO the prescription form gets in my system or dissolves sooner. I've found there is a lag time in how it works and I need to have a steady schedule of how I take it.

I'm glad you have such an experienced American surgeon there!