Really fast transit time

So I've been having really fast transit time. If I drink coke it comes out in a few minutes. If I go out to eat and eat a cheeseburger I have to go about 4 times in an hour. Just about everything I eat including mashed potatoes, apple sauce etc... things that should thicken it up and slow it down, still come out in less than an hour or two. My output is also the consistancy of water. I feel dehydrated all the time. I have been working with my doctor to try and fix this issue for the past year, but it's not working. They are throwing everything at me that like Immodium, lamotil, tincture of opium etc.. Nothing helps. I am pretty much tied to the bathroom. I am always stopping at gas stations when I go out.
I have an ileostomy and have had a revision and they took 12" out. They said that I should not have short bowl syndrome. Has anybody had this issue and have they found a way to fix it? The only thing that helped for about a week was flucanazole. It thickened up my output, slowed it down and it didn't smell. I tried a second round a month later but that didn't work.
I don't know what to do because this everything is centered around my ostomy.

Is this is a new thing or has it been going on a while? Did you have any small bowel removed when the ileostomy was first created?

More to the point have you had any small bowel tests recently? What you are going through doesn't sound normal: the only time I had diarrhoea as bad as you are describing is when I had norovirus.

NiceCupOfTea said...
Is this is a new thing or has it been going on a while? Did you have any small bowel removed when the ileostomy was first created?

More to the point have you had any small bowel tests recently? What you are going through doesn't sound normal: the only time I had diarrhoea as bad as you are describing is when I had norovirus.

It's been going on for quite a while. The thing I don't get is sometimes it is thick but most of the time it is watery. I've tested different things that should thicken the output, but it doesn't. It's just kind of random.
I always have to go at night and then I will have a full bag in the morning too. I wake up exhausted every day.

I don't think I had any small bowel removed when I first got my ostomy. I might have to see if they can go through my records.

I've had a ton of tests. Last year I had a ileoscopy which showed nothing out of the ordinary. No active inflamation. I've had tons of bloodwork and some stool tests. The only thing that was different is it showed I had "Many yeast". That's when I started taking the flucanozole. It worked the first time but didn't work the second time. It was nice to be able to burp my bag and not have an aweful smell that lingers for 30 minutes. I just wish it stayed that way.

Kind of a side note... I saw a psychic who is supposed to be really good. All he knew about me was my name and he ended up keep saying there is something wrong in the abdominal area. I just ignored it and he kept bringing it up so finally I told him I had crohns disease. He didn't know exactly what it was. I explained my situation about going to the bathroom quite frequently and he said that I need to check my surgery records and that something happened during surgery. Not quite sure what, but I don't know how to bring that up to my doctor without sounding crazy lol

Brian84~you mentioned smell...have you been tested for c-diff?

I'm sorry you are going through such a difficult time. Have you tried removing sugar (and the fake stuff, too) to see if that helps? It doesn't surprise me that a coke would go through quickly...it does for me, too...but maybe your body cannot tolerate the amounts in normal processed foods/drinks.

You can google the WHO electrolyte solution recipe and try that. There is significantly lower amounts of sugar in that than production drinks. Personally, I do not use them and find eating food (like already mentioned) with salt helps me.

Do you keep a food diary? Log EVERY items that you consume AND how it effects you...you might see a trend.

Last thought would be a second opinion? Keep us posted!

With J-pouches sometimes they prescribe a pancreatic enzyme to thicken the output; I can't remember the name of it right now.

Are you using a magnum bag? I had to use a magnum size bag with my loop ileo because my output was so high and the same meds that you tried didn't work for me either. My loop ileo was only temporary so I didn't live with it too long but I can sure sympathize with you after living through 3 months of it.

Equestrian Mom said...
Brian84~you mentioned smell...have you been tested for c-diff?

I'm sorry you are going through such a difficult time. Have you tried removing sugar (and the fake stuff, too) to see if that helps? It doesn't surprise me that a coke would go through quickly...it does for me, too...but maybe your body cannot tolerate the amounts in normal processed foods/drinks.

You can google the WHO electrolyte solution recipe and try that. There is significantly lower amounts of sugar in that than production drinks. Personally, I do not use them and find eating food (like already mentioned) with salt helps me.

Do you keep a food diary? Log EVERY items that you consume AND how it effects you...you might see a trend.

Last thought would be a second opinion? Keep us posted!

I have been tested for C-diff with negative results. I "Try" to not eat sugar or things with a lot of sugar (candy, soda etc) but there is sugar in almost everything. I do not keep a food diary but I should.

AnnaIvy said...
What doses of Imodium and Lomotil have you been taking? I don't need them now I have my ileostomy, but before I would well over the recommended amounts for both along with codeine. Bigger doses have stronger effects, and they're safe meds so my doctors didn't mind me taking lots, you might find a doctor who will up your doses. You need to be careful with codeine as it's addictive though.

2mg, 2 pills 3 times per day or 4 times. and 2.5mg of lamotil 3x per day

ks1905 said...
With J-pouches sometimes they prescribe a pancreatic enzyme to thicken the output; I can't remember the name of it right now.

Are you using a magnum bag? I had to use a magnum size bag with my loop ileo because my output was so high and the same meds that you tried didn't work for me either. My loop ileo was only temporary so I didn't live with it too long but I can sure sympathize with you after living through 3 months of it.

No. I use the 10inch bags. I have to empty all the time because I don't want to walk around with a huge bulge in my shirt