The Colon Club

Hello all
Is there any advice on how to get my bowels to come all at once and not a turd every 30 minutes all day long??? I am doing the Kegels but it just feels like as soon as there is a little bit, I gotta go! I also have hemorrhoids which might add to the intense need. Advice??
Maria

Immodium.

Even if you don't have loose stools immodium will deal with the frequency. I get exactly this too. I rarely to never have loose or watery stools but I have periods like you where every half an hour a small stool comes along. Popping two immodiums generally sets me up for the next few hours (in fact sometimes just taking one calms things down enough) .

If that doesn't appeal or doesn't work, there is a bowel training program from one of the big hospitals which uses a combination of immodium and gentle laxatives to "train" the bowels to be more regular. I get by without this, but many have reported good results.

If nothing else, its important to reduce frequency to reduce irritation. Do you have a good zinc cream?

I'm doing 2 doses of Metamucil (one morning one evening). My surgeon told my it could help form bulk in the stool and it seems to be pretty effective for me. With my two doses I average 2 poops a day, without like 4. One thing I've found though, is I have to keep well hydrated otherwise the poop slows down to much and I start getting constipated.

I hate when that happens! it's irritating and frustrating. For me, I can use Imodium to slow down diarrhea, but if I use it to slow things down when I'm passing formed stools then it can constipate me later. I find the using Lomotil works better for that situation--it stops things cold, but when the drug wears off, things continue as normal. My oncologist says that it's different for everyone, so YMMV, but that's what works for me. I agree that hydration is very important--if I don't get enough water, it often causes constipation.

Good luck,
Cj

Thank you all! Great tips. Going to try Metamucil first and see what happens!

I found that drinking warm liquids, such as tea, or cup a soup helps. I hate when u go and u get a tiny poop and then end up back later. Though on the other hand it is better than the unexpected and diarrhea dash issue.....

Hi all
I am doing the 2 doses off Metamucil -one after breakfast and 1 after supper. I am still experiencing an average of 7-8 turds a day. Should I continue the Metamucil protocol of up to4 doses daily? Or should I try something different?

pog451 wrote:Immodium.

Even if you don't have loose stools immodium will deal with the frequency. I get exactly this too. I rarely to never have loose or watery stools but I have periods like you where every half an hour a small stool comes along. Popping two immodiums generally sets me up for the next few hours (in fact sometimes just taking one calms things down enough) .

If that doesn't appeal or doesn't work, there is a bowel training program from one of the big hospitals which uses a combination of immodium and gentle laxatives to "train" the bowels to be more regular. I get by without this, but many have reported good results.

If nothing else, its important to reduce frequency to reduce irritation. Do you have a good zinc cream?

Many people relate Immodium only for diarrhea, but I use it daily for frequency control. Also, as I lost most of my rectum and sigmoid colon, I avoid breakfast to get through my workday without tying up the restroom from my co-workers
Regards,
Michael

I take Metamucil every day, but for those occasions when I have too many urges to 'go', I take 2 Immodium and usually some tea also. My urges to go seem to relate to producing excess gas, rather than due to solid feces. So for a few days I may eliminate those foods that are major gas producers-beans,onions,broccoli, etc..