I can sympathize. I've had a total of 18in. of small bowel and my gallbladder removed and the diarrhea is a real nusance. I have found that probiotics help a lot. None of the Rx's have ever worked for me. Also, have you tried taking soluble fiber? Psyllium can tend to cause gas and bloating, but if you look for one that doesn't have psyllium as the main ingredient it might help. Look for things with apple pectin, senna...hope that helps.

Hi I so sympathize too, its a pain in the.....like you I suffer with the runs, but over time they do seem to be getting better! I found that after the op which was last October I was going up to 15 times a day, it got me down and I felt I didnt want to go out of the house at all for fear of been cut short, but as the months have gone by im down to around 4-5 times a day- I do take imodium like you but only when I am going out, I just hate taking medication all of the time and hate to think that my bowels have to rely on it all the time. When did you have your op? As for the depression, I have suffered with it for years, I dont know weather its due to the CD which i have appertly had years and just kept getting fobbed off or what, I also tire very easily. Well I hope you get sorted, take care

Thanks for the replies, I am 51 now and have had CD since I was 15. I have only been really depressed since this past year. I think I am so tired of the CD, the pain, the big D, weight loss, gas and being tired all the time. I for sure do not want to take any medicine for my depression. I am sick of all the RX stuff I have been taking. I do eat soluble fiber foods. I will look into Psyllium some more. Thanks.

I never really found that anything helped with the diarrhea after my surgery. I tried Imodium a few times when I had to travel, but it made me horribly bloated and crampy. The good new is that it eventually calmed down on its own. I only get the galloping runs now when I eat something I know I shouldn't.

I know diet is very important. Certain Spices are a no no for me and milk is not nice to me either. This new medicine called Paregoric Liquid has been showing signs of promise. Its the worst tasting medicine you can ever imagine but I am keep my finger crossed it will work.

I have a friend who has had a similiar amount of gut removed- and has found peragoric to give the best success- still goes several times a day- but not hte 15-20 she was going before. I've only had a small amount removed and do well with Citrucel twice a day, Questran- up to three packets a day (if I eat fat, I need 3)- and hyomax before meals and bed. I think the fact that you've gone this long with out getting depressed is a miracle- you may need to cut yourself some slack and allow yourself to be mad/sad/angry for a bit. -- hugs and good luck!

I purely sympathize with your problem. I too have crohns,had a re-section and the diarrhea never seems to end. I did find at one point that the diarrhea eased when the doctor put me on Cymbalta. It helped my overall well being and slowed down the stools.
The only draw back for me was that it made my liver counts go up so if you are able to try it just make sure they keep an eye on that for you.
I am curious though when you say your diet is correct, what do you mean? I would be interested to know what you may be doing differently than I am.
Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.

Husband uses Metamucil, sugar free, no psyllium, to try and bulk up the stools. usually use for constipation in helps with his crohns!

Before my last operation in November 1 scoop of Questran is all I needed with each meal. That was the same since my first operation in 1975. So I have been taking Questran for a long time now. Since I am older maybe I need more time for my intestines to relearn. I have used Questran packets but now I get the generic Questran power in 378G cans. Each company has a different taste. I get my power from a company called PAR. It is the same company that makes the Questran brand name so the taste is the same. The Questran from Teva has a bad taste to it and I never liked the orange flavoring. For travel i put the scoops of powder in small pill containers. The cost is a lot cheaper with the cans. I don't know why but I have only been depressed since my last operation in November. I guess everything is building up now. My friends and family have been supportive.

When I say my diet is correct. I mean I stay away from milk, nuts, spices, raw vegetables and fruit, soy, popcorn, fried foods, soda, beans, fructose. tomato sauce, hot peppers. I do my best but sometimes I will stray depending on how I feel. For example I know when my body can handle a slice of pizza or some ice cream. This will only happen a few times a month.

My conscern with taking the questran with meals is that it blocks absorption of some other meds. Typically they say take it one hour after meds and/or 4-6 hours before meds. For me, I can't take it with meals or it ends up too close to other meds. You say you don't want totake meds for depression- I get not wanteing to add to the existing pile! I was pretty depressed when I started here- this helped. In the past, I've also seen a counselor here and there- sometimes just to sound off. I also know that when I was on Pred. I was depressed- but truly that was more sleep deprivation than anything else.. I did take a pill to help with sleep till I got off the Pred- and felt better after a just a few nights of sleep.

The last time I was on Pred was in Oct of last year. When I started at 60mg I would take Ambien to help with sleep. I only used it a few times. I have to take my Questran within 30 min of a meal. I had experimented over the years and that is what worked best for me. Except for the big D I am lucky in the sense that my CD comes back in the same spot and has not spread to other parts of my intestine. I wish the general public would understand how painful this disease is. I believe Social Security does not think that CD is a disability? I own my own business which is the only way I can work. I could never have a 9-5 job. Nobody would hire me knowing I would miss so many days.

Before I was DXd I was taking Charcoal Tablets for teh diarrhea. My mother told me about that helpful hint. My parents didnt have the money to run us to the Drs often so we learned many other ways to treat some minor stuff. But after I was finally DXd (& now married) I mainly used Imodium AD. When it gets too bad my Dr sometimes gives me that wonderful script for Prednisone for a week or so. Love it but cannot have much since I am also on Tysabri for my MS & steroids are a pretty big 'no-no' while on that stuff.
Hope things get better for you!
-J

I was watching a TV show and they showed the military teaching survival techniques. I believe they told the soldiers to swallow charcoal from a camp fire to help with diarrhea in the field.

Yahoo..... guess my mom knew what she was talking about.....

Last week my neighbor called to say that she was fighting acid reflux (or heart burn) & then she said "I just read about someting to take for this & you will NEVER believe what it is" To which I replied "vinegar" & she said "Oh, you read that too?" "Nope, my parents always used vinegar for many minor things such as heart burn, cold sores, sore throat, sunburn, etc" so I guess I learned early on to use their home remedies..
Hope you feel better very quickly...
-J