Question for Imodium Users

Thank you for the infor. I just happen to have some benefiber in my pantry. I put some in my protein hot chocolate last night and this morning my poo was WAY firmer. I had some this morning too. I will use it twice today and see what happens. Maybe this morning was a fluke but I am hoping it was from the benefiber and this stuff is going to help me. Thank you for the input. I have been trying to go gluten free as much as possible BUT IT IS SOOOO HARD! lol. I am conscious of it though when I shop and try for gluten free. =) I really hope this benefiber works. 

Glad to hear you have some! :)  My son has struggled with various bowel disorders since birth (he's a college kid now) - and it's totally changed his life as well.  It's been 90+ days and no sign of either of us going back to our struggles.  Ya, the gluten thing is hard for sure.  But I feel SO much better - in loads of other ways too. I was just sensitive I guess.  Now I'm working on healing my gut. Best wishes to you!

Hi Irish. 

Sorry to hear the bathroom issues are still a battle.  I also had the diarrhea/pudding issues for the first year.  I have not been able to eat veggies or fruit to any degree for 1.5 years because of the bathroom issues. 

I did use the liquid Immodium, and that helped for work.  I have a co-worker who sits right outside the bathroom door and I can't use that bathroom for any bowel movements because (as we all know) the smell just can't be killed no matter what you spray on it. 

The last 4 months I've been working on this issue hard.  I did break up my calcium into 1200mg batches - now 6 times a day.  I cut the pills in half - I get more out of them.  I also found a cheap iron from the drug store (ferrous fumarate) that I found constipates me.  I use it as a binding agent.  I kept trying different types of calciums and irons till I found ones that constipate-and I take them with food/coffee, etc because I'm looking for the poop binding only.  No more pudding poo for me. 

Eating cleanly doesn't do a thing for me on this issue.  I've eaten nothing but protein and less than 20 carbs per day and not seen any benefit in pudding poo.  I do see that my body is adjusting more and many digestive issues are calming down lately.  Maybe it's a phase we go through.

Hoping you get this licked.  I understand how miserable back end issues can make your day.  Good luck.

Yeah, I started on Saturday taking 800mg of calcium 3 times a day. I read somewhere that too much calcium can actually cause diarrhea. I was taking 1200mg twice a day.  I also started taking benefiber three times a day. Three teaspoons rather than two. Like you, eating clean and under 20 carbs a day does not help the pudding. I have been on the benefiber and new calcium regimen for two days. This morning I woke up and had a MORE normal BM than I have had in MONTHS. It was not quite pudding and not quite formed either. I only went once this morning and it was not acidic. No hemorrhoid pain this AM. The day has been great. So I am hoping this benefiber and calcium change will make a huge difference in my bowel habits. I hope you are doing okay Jash! Glad to hear your pudding poo is being fixed. =D

RE: Ferrous Fumarate -

It may work for your bowel issues, but in terms of iron needs, it's not gong to do  anything.

We need heme iron.  Try Proferrin.  Expensive, but worth it to minimize/eliminate periodic iron infusions.

Take your iron with Vitamin C to help absorption.  I use a 1:1 ratio.

Thanks, Jazzy. I will look into this. 

"I have a co-worker who sits right outside the bathroom door and I can't use that bathroom for any bowel movements because (as we all know) the smell just can't be killed no matter what you spray on it. "

Try Ozium.  You can usually find it in the auto supply section, with the car deodorizers.  Online, I was able to find a 14.5 oz can to use at home. I cant remember which catalog, or if it was on Amazon.  It will wipe out any odor, anywhere, anytime!

Take 2 teaspoons of Citrucel sugar-free powder in 8 ounces of water twice a day.  It will produce firm BM's and you will have no gas from taking it.  They sell it as Smart Fiber and that sums it up. 

 Saturday and Sunday,  I took three tsps three times a day and per another ladies advice and changed my calcium to more times per day and less mg per dose. I am hoping this makes a difference. 

Oddly enough this topic has been one I have had concerns about and hopefully what I share can help?

My BM's have been consistently very soft/loose/runny. I'm still in early stages of learning what helps.  I have had concerns about anal fissures- last year saw colorectal surgeon and just made a new appt. again because I started getting pain for 30 mins or more after a bm.

I was told that acidic foods can exacerbate the problem (I eat a lot of  tomato-based meals).  I increased Calcium- that seemed to start helping- make sure you take the correct form of calcium (no magnesium- or it can cause looser bowels).  I upped potassium too- helpful for some firming.  That has helped as well.  I just bought chia seeds because it has been suggested as a nice natural way to get fiber-bulking stuff to your guts. 

I have not done elimination diet so much because the vites were the quickest way to see if things could help.