Diahrea support

I've been on and off of this site so many times and I truly love it and love reading everyone's comments when I get a chance. I wish I would have known about this site when I had my first surgery-January 2011 (emergency surgery---colon perforated due to diverticulitis). I went through 3 surgeries last year (take down was the last one-Dec. 29, 2011) and for months I struggled with leaking bags, bleeding and oozing skin around the stoma, and I didn't have anyone else around that understood. I found this site right before my take down. I'm so glad I had the surgery BUT some days its so hard because I get diarrhea all the time, which I knew would happen. Many of you suggested the "white diet", rice, potatoes, bananas, white bread...etc. Which I do a lot but at least once or twice a week I will eat some Mexican food or a salad (stuff I shouldn't eat) and I get severe trots to the bathroom a LOT! I take Metamucil, 8 Imodium a day and another RX that's for Chlosteral but the side affect is constipation so that is why my surgeon put me on it was for it the side affect of constipation. It all helps a little but I drink a cup of coffee and I have the trots, I eat Ice Cream and I get the trots. Sometimes I know what causes them and sometimes I don't. Any suggestions out there? I can only hold my bowels for a very short time, I do kegal exercises too but I don't have very much of a reservoir the surgeon told me (since they removed my colon) so I'm constantly checking out where the bathrooms are. I know most of you have a different medical condition (J pouches etc) but is there anybody out there that has similar things to what I'm going through? If not, is there another site that can help. Just wondering, I get so discouraged sometimes. I had 2 accidents at work in the morning a couple of days ago and used up my back up underwear and pads and then had to go home, I wonder sometimes if it was really worth having the take down surgery. I see my Surgeon next week for a post-surgery check up. I also see my Oncologist for my Leukemia check up....busy week. I appreciate your prayers and comments.
Thanks.

Sounds like OP has a jpouch since they said that they had a takedown and their colon was removed.

Have you had a pouchoscopy? Maybe you have pouchitis and that is causing you to go to the bathroom a lot. You need to keep doing kegel exercises though. Your jpouch, while it starts out small, should begin to slowly stretch to hold more stool.

Thanks everyone for your comments....I'm just finally getting a chance to write back again.

I "do NOT" have a jpouch. I saw my Surgeon 2 weeks ago for post-op (which went pretty good). I asked her about the jpouch's and she said, "no you do NOT" have a jpouch. She said you have a much different and rare situation. She said we removed all of your colon due to the diverticulitus (and it had burst open months earlier---almost died).....anyway she said that I have a rectum and a little bit of the colon to which they connected the lower intestine to. She up'd the Cholestramine to twice a day to try and help me, Metamucil 3 times a day, Imodium 8 times a day and I am doing a little better but still have to run a lot to the bathroom over and over again. I'm up every 2 hours at night even though I'm on Ambien (good thing I guess I don't sleep through it...YULK). She said if it doesn't get any better then she can prescribe a Narcotic (pain RX) for me to take that will help bind me but she said I hate to give out pain prescriptions because they are VERY habit forming and once I start taking it then I will have to take it the rest of my life because it's very addicting. So we both decided I will do the extra Cholesetramine and stuff and try to watch what I eat. I was worried about a 5 hour flight I have next month to see my family in Arkansas (I'm in California). I told her that I am flying Southwest, so we can't pick our own seat in advance and I want to make sure I'm close to a bathroom. She gave me a letter to show the airlines that I have a serious medical condition and require a seat close to the restroom. So I will probably get priority seating (with the handicap and children first, so that's ok). One of you asked about my plumbing...I just explained it in the first part of this....no Colon....but a piece connected to the rectum directly connected to the small intestine.  Thanks for all your comments and help. You guys are great!

By the way I had my Leukemia check up too and my Oncologist gave me a thumbs up for now. I don't have to go back for 6 months but continue blood work every 3 months (which I have to do the rest of my life). So glad I have good medical insurance and an excellent Oncologist and Surgeon.

Blessings,

Linda