New ileostomy diarhea

[Cari1975]

Hello all. I just had my surgery on dec 6th. I went from a jpouch to a permanent ileostomy. I am now on week 4, and trying to avoid using Imodium because I try to do the more natural way. Any suggestions for cutting down the diarhea naturally?

[Button]

Carie:
Many individuals find that their digestive system exhibits a state of unsettled transition during the first 4-6 months after ileostomy surgery. Including one or other of the following:
A. Watery output; runny, liquid consistency
B. High energy or explosive stoma output; rapid dumping after even minimal intake of food
C. Unpredictable stoma output; “calm before the storm,” a wildly erupting stoma that is disruptive

The use of Imodium can be immensely helpful in quieting and soothing an overly disruptive small intestine and stoma output. Imodium can be used safely without concern for long-term effects. That is, Imodium will not adversely affect the regaining or re-establishing of the end-goal of a more physiological normal intestinal function.

My small intestine was hyper-reactive and temperamental for the first 8-10 months after my initial perforation and surgery. In a nutshell, my ileostomy was high maintenance. Daily care and maintenance (care for the parastomal skin, checking on placement and security of a wafer against leaks or complete water failures; emptying of the pouch; scheduled and unscheduled changing of wafer+pouch) was time intensive and often on its own need/necessity as circumstances popped up. It was like caring for a newly adopted puppy.

Imodium became a good friend. Imodium at bedtime allowed me to sleep for a block of 3-4 hours without overt concern that I would have a major wafer blow-out or volume of stoma output that would overwhelm the capacity of the pouch. Imodium allowed to eat without fear that a rolling wave of intestine contractions would follow with gastric dumping. Imodium gave me a chance to pause and breath.

All to say . . . Do not feel that you have to shy away from Imodium as you are recovering. You need not avoid Imodium in your desire to be true to natural/holistic approaches for your health and self-care.

I did find that liquid Imodium was far more effective for me than the more familiar and more readily available Imodium caplets. Liquid Imodium also made it easier for me to dose with small amounts in trying to avoid using too much Imodium, that is finding the “sweet spot” of use/dose of Imodium that was just right for me. Not too much, not too little = just right.

Another option is to use a soluble fiber supplement such as Metamucil (powdered form). As you have an ileostomy and not a colostomy, error on the side of less than more. Ex. Take 1/2 teaspoon of Metamucil/Citracel dissolved in a full 8-12 oz. of clear liquid, twice a day. Metamucil/Citracel acts like sand sprinkled on a spill of truck oil on a roadway.

The early months of healing and recovery can be overwhelming. But I can happily attest that my originally irritable digestive tract and liquify, high output was a temporary right of passage. By the 10 month/one year point post operative my stoma and output was finding it equilibrium point. Well-behaved (for the most part) and fairly routine/easy to care for. My stoma has become a natural part of me. No longer a strange or alien being.

Welcome to this forum. It’s a nice group of people, always willing to extend a helping hand. Above all, feel welcomed and at home here.
Karen

[oliveoyl]

I take two immodium tablets every day. It's important to keep the output slowed down when you have an ileostomy. I haven't had any bad effects from it.

[ot dave]

As a colostomate, I irrigate daily to control my output. That said, there are times that I like to slow down the transit time of the output. I looked into using immodium, and was concerned about long term use (as you should with any medication). My doctors could not cite any information on harmful effects, and I could not find any research that indicated long term use caused any issues. So, I frequently use immodium to help regulate my bowels for quality of life situations. Now in Arkansas, the government is limiting the number of immodium you can buy at any one time. Apparently it's being abused and used like a narcotic...I'm not sure how well that works or how many you have to take, but having a slow/non-moving bowel might cut down on the desire for the "munchies" afterward! I say all that to relieve any concerns you might have about using immodium. And, I concur that using a liquid is more likely to provide an ilesostomate with better results. You can chew up the immodium pills for faster absorption in a pinch, but have plenty of water on hand, it's very bitter!

David

[Cari1975]

Thank you all for your assistance and input. I have been taking fiber and it helps some and does cut it down and thicken it up. I might try some Imodium for now to help. I do feel like I eat frequently never thought about it being due to frequency of going.