Do any of you take Immodium one in awhile?

So, last week wednesday my son and I went to Great America.  While I am ok on the remicade if I eat I have to use the bathroom with in a half hour. I will go with out eating sometimes but I couldn't this day because it is an all day and night thing.  I would be sick.   So in the morning I ate breakfast and when to the bathroom, took the Immodium and went to Great America it is about 45 min. to an hour from here and the freeway is under construction so I didn't want to have to go to the bathroom.  So, we got to Great America(and had to wait a half hour in the parking lot to park, with UC this is a nightmare) and went on a few rides and it was crowded so I didn't want to wait in line for an hour and have to leave the line to go to the bathroom.  We ate lunch around 1 and I took one more Immodium.  We stayed there all day and then went to rainforest cafe to eat and then went home.  I didn't go to the bathroom once all day.  It was so nice.  I only went in the morning before taking the Immodium.  This was my first time taking it and my GI doesn't really want me to take it because she said you get backed up.  Well, my mom was like just take it and I'm glad I did.  UC sucks exspecially when you want to go for walks and there are no bathroom or to Great America stuff like that.  People don't realize how often there aren't bathrooms around. So, next time I plan a trip like this or a walk around the lake front where there are no bathroom, etc. I will take it, not all the time but when I have to.  It is nice to know I have this option with out having to worry all day or having to cancel.  Sometimes UC interfers so much. Ugh.

My doctor okay'd Immodium. I'm sure it's different for everyone but I've never found that it blocks me up, just makes me normal for a while. I usually get a "free day" the next day where I don't go at all but don't feel constipated or anything.

I take one every morning and one every evening with my GI's approval. All three of my GI's that I've seen over the years have said it's okay as long as I don't take more than three in a day.

mom2panda said...
The problem with immodium is that if you are flaring, it can cause "toxic megacolon" which is life threatening, and usually requires immediate removal of the colon. Google it and you will see just how dangerous it is. I think it even says on the box not to take it with IBD?

My Dr said no for this reason, and I never take it (although I would LOVE to).

Glad I never followed that reasoning. I would never have made it as far as I have in my career.

I take one every morning during the week. You don't need a GI's approval to take immodium. It either helps or it doesn't. Just controls symptoms, like everything else we take.

I think the toxic megacolon fear is way overblown- though I agree that if in an outright flare then definitely stay away from it. The risk would be to someone who tries to block themselves up from multiple bloody Bms a day to one or none... then it could be dangerous. For simply normalizing fequency while not in a flare though, it is like anything else- a stool decelerator. I have actually found quite a few GI's recommend it just as they recommend librax or bentyl (sp.) by giving the gut more time to absord water. Plus, many with IbD have IBS as well. I would say the risk of TMC from immodium when not in a flare is zero.

Probiotic,

I didn't realize about it possibly leading to toxic megacolon.

I love your: stool decelerator.

That is priceless! lol

Love it! Love having it there when I need it- which ends up to be abnout 1x a week, if that. I only take it when I'm still running to the bathroom every 10 minutes & I have to leave for work in half-hour. Or if I have a big day out planned, & don't feel like being on high alert for the bathrooms all day. For exmple, tomorrow we are heading to Gettysburg PA for a week on vacation- a good 9 hour ride. You can bet if it's even closely resembling a rough morning, I'll be chugging it down! I use the liquid- I find it to work faster. My trusty bottle of generic Immodium is already packed. You know, my GI & I have only talked about it once, years ago- he suggested I give it a try. Common sense, I mean, if you find yourself taking it 2x a day for months on end, somethings got to give! But once in a while... that's what it's for!

Dr-A said...
Glad I never followed that reasoning. I would never have made it as far as I have in my career.

Hmmm...so you take it even in full flare?

I mentioned that toxic megacolon is a risk when flaring, not for occasional control.

For me, I have never not been flaring, except when on high dose prednisone, so it has always been a no-no for me.

I have been taking imodium from one year once daily in morning. Because of it i go to toilet only once per day and have strong stool. If i miss imodium any day my stool become watery.

1 imodium per day
Asacol 400mg per day

I think my colon is not healthy and i need to use some other medicine which can help me in better way.
Anyone have any suggestion that instead of asacol which new medicine should i try.

Occasional imodium is fine. I wouldn't take them like m&ms though. Treat the underlying problem with UC meds rather than relybon imodium longterm.

I take two Imodiums in the morning if I plan on leaving that day, and that gets me under control to go out. I don't think I'd ever be able to leave the house without it.

Note: I have yet to find a successful treatment since diagnosis, so this is a total bandaid that allows me to have some form of functionality on a day-to-day basis in the mean time.

Post Edited (Hayden) : 11/28/2017 9:17:35 PM (GMT-7)