Since I got my ileo 4 years ago, I always had a problem with high liquid output from my stoma, which resulted in dropping 10-15 pounds at a time and having to go back to the hospital and spending a day or two getting an IV to put the water back in. And this has happened at least a dozen times around the world. I always used the excuse it was the food I was eating in those places. After this last time 2 weeks ago, and I spent 4 days this time, my doc was asking me more questions about what I was eating. They served me breakfast one day and I noticed a packet of Metamucil on the tray. I asked the doc what that was for and he said, "Don't you take it everyday?" And I said, "No, I never have." About an hour later, I got a scolding from the top doc at the naval hospital here in San Diego. He says to me, "Greg, you were supposed to be taking Metamucil twice a day for the last 4 years." I just sat there a little stunned and said I was never told that. Well, for the last two weeks I have, twice a day, and the output is thick like a real turd and the water output is gone and I'm retaining water and man, it makes a difference. Instead of dumping every hour, it's like twice a day and I'm sleeping the whole night without dumping. I used to get up every 2 hours, now I sleep 5-7 hours without getting up and I'm still eating like a cockroach. I hope this keeps up long term as my regular doctor is pushing for a reversal because of the high water output. She gets back this week and I hope this new trend with taking the Metamucil will keep me away from the carving knife.
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Hollister
We sat down with two influential people in the ostomy community, to find out how they cope during challenging times.
Read what they had to say.
Read what they had to say.