Problems

When my stricture and cuffitus or pouchitis act up I get all of these symptoms. Since you were just dilated I am not sure it is from the stricture but the constant urge to go alwsys occurs for me w cuffitus and/or pouchitis. With cuffitus I also have a hard time fully emptying and need to make repeat successive trips to the bathroom. Possibly the dilation also disturbed your cuff a bit causing these symptoms?

Perhaps the stricture formed again? I had a stricture that I had to have dilated 5x before it finally stayed open. Your symptoms are reminiscent of a stricture.

First of all, I'd stop the lomotil. You should not take it unless you are having frequent, watery stools. Even if your having frequent urges, if your stool is solid, you should not take lomotil. If you have inflammation in there, lomotil does nothing to treat that. All it does is slow the gut.

What you describe sounds very much like a partial obstruction, so do the same things you'd ordinarily do for that. I get them from time to time and I just increase fluids and back off on hard to digest foods until it passes.

It is possible for the stricture to reform, although 3 weeks seems pretty soon.

Jan

Thank you very much
I cut back on the lomital from 4 to 2 3 days ago but I will stop completely.
I have stopped stuff I should not eat two days ago.
Of course I was not going overboard with anything but I do love chocolate which I stopped yesterday to see if that was the culprit...I hope not.
I love chocolate and would hate to give up the only indulgence.
But I will if it gets better.
I do not have any infections of any sort...no blood or anything.
Again thank you very much. I will be back in a few days to report if the stopping of lomital works.
Two things....if it is the lomital and I return to watery BM S should I go back to taking it at a smaller dose? I am required to take it four times a day.
I do not take it now but should i take a powder called Cholestyramine?
Ps..I was digitally checked 6 days ago and I am sure if it was restricted again. She would have said something but she said it was all ok.
Richard.

just wondering why you are required to take anything? I was having a lot of problems you described and quitting lomotil helped...
when I get in a "crappy" pattern like one you describe the best thing is to take it easy on any foods that cause irritation on backside(greasy and sugary foods) and keep the area clean and dry. A and D ointment helps the butt burn while using a handheld sprayer in the shower helps a ton. I try to not eat too much just simple things that I know pass easy while little burn. everyone is different but I like pita bread and lemon fiber one bars and cheeze its...
hope this helps...

Sugar may be my culprit.
I am in the process of finding out.
I do keep it as clean as possible no doubt.
I was just told by my surgeon to take it every six hours. Lomital.
But I am going to try without.
I hope it works.
These last few days have wore me out.
I have to also go back to work in a week and I definitely have to get this figured out before then. A very short period of time to do it.
Thank you for the suggestions.

I believe there was a misunderstanding. Lomotil is prescribed as an "as needed" drug. When it says every 6 hours, it should also have "as needed" added. This means don't take more than every six hours. The only time you should take it as a routine medication is once it is established that you do need it as a daily medication. But even then, you should try drug "holidays" to take a break and see how much you really need it.

I have been taking Imodium since my j-pouch surgery in 1995, but have reduced it over time from 8 a day to 1 a day. Sometimes I don't take any at all, if things are getting too thick.

You can really get yourself in a pickle if you are not careful.

Jan

Hello Jan.
I was just going by what my surgeon said and followed instructions.
I am taking a holiday from it.
Things have calmed some and I hope it continues to calm down but it has a ways to go.
it has only been 24 hours and there is a difference.
Now as for the powder.
Do you think I should use it now or wait?
Richard.

Seems like a reasonable misunderstanding. Seems that your surgeon was not clear enough.

I would definitely wait on the cholestramine. It is for thickening the stool. It's primary use is to lower cholesterol, but a side effect is constipation. So, just like the lomotil, if you do not have diarrhea, do not take it.

As for the chocolate, it would not cause thick stools, but could cause the opposite if you eat too much. I love chocolate too, but limit myself to a few small squares a day, and only dark chocolate. Doesn't cause problems for me that way.

Jan

Hello Jan.
I appreciate all the information.
I am not taking the lomital as of now and it has been a little more than 24 hours and the frequency of bm s has slowed already.
As for the chocolate. ..I will take that advice too.
If I do start having diarrhea problems I will take a lomital.
As needed.
Thank you very much for your advice.
If I would have called the surgeon I am certain she would have kept me on the lomital.
Richard.
PS...I eat a lot of apple sauce....would that be a problem?
Just wondering.

Apples contain pectin, which thickens stool, similar to other forms of soluble fiber (like metamucil). It should not constipate though, because of the natural sugars and insoluble fiber.

It is possible that along with too much lomotil, it could be adding to your troubles, but I doubt it, because it mostly adds bulk and does not slow the gut. The main thing is that it does not promote diarrhea.

Jan

Thank goodness!!
I love apple sauce and eat it everyday.
Again...Thank You Jan. You are very informative and helpful.
I will keep you updated in the next few days if things subside.
Richard.