Hi Kas,
After being short-gutted, I started out on the 4 Loperamide and 4 Diphen-Atropine tablets 4 times a day thing, but over time have weaned myself down to just 2 and 2 in the morning. Long-term side effects of those meds aren't pretty, and I could probably stop taking them completely now, but it's become a force of habit at this point. So, something I'll be working on going forward.
I think you've been on here long enough to have seen my recommendations that every short-gutter read Carol Rees Parrish's book on the subject, as she's pretty spot on with a lot of helpful info. You can get a free copy of her book if you sign up on the SBS website, which I'll link below, or you can simply download it from UVa's site, also linked by part below. Among other things, it explains how to properly eat and drink to reduce your output, and really pertains to all ostomates to some extent. The third part is all about hydration, so also a good read for any ostomate. If you've already seen this stuff, please disregard. If not, it may help you get better control of your output and frequency, as it did for me.
;O)
https://www.shortbowelsyndrome.com/sign-up
Part 1: https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2014/06/Parrish-August-14.pdf
Part 2: https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2014/06/Parrish-October-14.pdf
Part 3: https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2014/06/Parrish_Feb_15.pdf
Part 4a: https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2014/06/Parrish-March-15.pdf
Part 4b: https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2014/06/Parrish-April-15.pdf