HELP. Ileostomy needs emptying once an hour :(

I had the same problem with my loop ileo. It just ran like a faucet 24/7. It was worse right after surgery but it did get somewhat better as the weeks passed. It's the nature of the loop. . I asked my doc if taking Imodium was ok and he said I could but it turned my output to paste and made it very difficult to empty the bag. I never tried them but I hear eating Metamucil wafers may help.

I had to use Imodium and Lomotil (prescription strength Imodium) st Mac doses - 2 pills at each meal and bedtime, plus Metamucil 2x a day. I was still outputting 1500+ daily, so they added tincture of Opium, which is hard to get. Even with all that, it was still pretty liquid, and the doc had to remove about 3/4 inch ring of macerated skin at takedown. Some people just really struggle with a loop. Curious as to why they gave you a loop in stage 1 of 3. Most people have an end ileo in step 1, then a loop in step 2 ...

Oh thank goodness, I'm glad to hear you're still in. I was sent home with high output and it was a pretty rough time trying to get it under control and keep myself hydrated.

Absolutely ask about Imodium. Also, if you're still in the hospital you should be RESTING, not worrying about emptying your bag constantly. Either ask for a bed bag (a drainable urostomy pouch can be attached to your wafer, then drained with a tube into a larger bag, similar to a foley bag for urine) or ask your night nurse to empty your bag while you're sleeping. This is 100% within your rights. Don't let them turn some BS back at you about how you have to "learn how to empty your bag" -- your body needs rest, and you've already emptied your bag more times than most new ostomates do in a month.

Do NOT let them deny you drugs and tell you your body will "naturally" adapt and output will decrease. It might, but that is a change that happens over the first few WEEKS, not in a few days. Imodium is extremely benign.

What are you eating by mouth? Are they giving you juice by any chance? Sugar will increase output a lot, so stick to water or a rehydration drink like Pedialyte. Gatorade diluted 1:1 with water will also do in a pinch.

Pluot posted great stuff. Pedialyte, asusming it's available in your neck of the woods, is going to be better than water because it will replace electrolytes, but like she said, gatorade diluted in half with water will work in a crunch too though it has more sugar and less electrolytes than pedialyte. And I am sure you've been told to sip sip sip and never drink alot in one go but take a sip every few minutes... But at the rate you are emptying it sounds like you should be on IV saline, which shouldnt affect output sinceit goes right into your blood. As for immodium, inrease it gradually because it can have a delayed affect, but it definitely is warranted by the symptoms you describe. Best wishes.

So I seem my surgeon today and he denied me from taking any immodium. Said it wouldn't do anything and that this is normal. Do you think it's a bad idea if I just take some?

definitely a doc may not want to prescribe immodium yet. You are just out off surgery and your body is still adjusting.

HOWEVER, you CAN control output significantly with diet, even with hospital food. So - stop eating chemically junk. You may need to have to ask someone to bring proper food in for you, but nothing wrong with that.

Mashed pototas are good if they are real and without much butter or milk. Avoid all sugar. Crisps.. bad. You need to eat "thickening" foods. Also avoid drinking plain water. Drink a true WHO solution - in US.. pedialyte is often available at hospitals if you request it. Don't drink anything but a proper electroylyte beverage - no coffee, no juices, no soda, no milk.

There are lots of posts on here about thickening foods- peanut butter, real oatmeal, bananas, rice, etc.. But really you need to focus on that.

I'm with your doc on this. Too soon for immodium.. you sure don't want to cause yourself a blockage.