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I'm 10 weeks post takedown and I've been eating pretty much everything I can get my hands on!  It doesn't all agree with me and my BMs range from 6-12/day.  But, I'm trying everything and keeping a food/BM journal in the Notes section on my iPhone so that I can figure out what works and what doesn't.  I tried sticking with super bland, low fiber foods but that was hard to do.  It's so boring.  I love food and don't want to be so limited.  So, I'm trying stuff and figuring it out as I go.  

I just joined this site today and so far I have gained a lot of insight into what works for others that I can try for myself.  I haven't tried Meta Wafers yet but I'll be picking them up today and testing out what times of day are best to take them for me.  I'm also going to try and cut way back on sugary and spicy foods.  I have a HUGE sweet tooth and love putting hot sauce on pretty much everything so this will be hard.  But, if it's between eating candy or hot wings and going to the bathroom 10 times a day OR not eating candy or hot wings and going 5 times, I'm choosing no candy/hot wings every time.  But that doesn't mean no candy or hot wings ever.  Just limiting it to sometimes.  I'm also going to try and eat 5-6 smaller meals instead of 3 big meals.  See if that works. 

One thing that I know works for me is taking two Imodium and eating a banana before each meal.  I buy 5-6 yellow bananas and 5-6 green ones each week.  Then I have some for the whole week and don't have to worry about them going bad.  By the time I finish the yellow ones the green ones have turned yellow and are ready to eat.  I keep some at home and some at work so I always have one available.  I also like to add apple sauce to that regiment if I have it handy.  Then I eat what I want and update my food/BM journal and see how I feel.  

Like many people on this site say, it's all about trial and error.  I know it can really stink having to go to the bathroom 10+ times a day and dealing with gas and butt burn.  But, in the long run you'll know what works for you and be able to eat a much larger range of foods.  So, keep the flushable moist wipes and Calmoseptine close and eat away!  

P.S. 

If you are fresh out from your take down, flushable moist wipes and Calmoseptine should be your best friend.  You can find flushable moist wipes in almost any store near the toilet paper.  Calmoseptine is an ointment that you apply around your bung hole post-wiping.  A little bit can go a long way to helping with soreness from wiping and itchiness from your BMs.  Make sure the "area" is dry before applying.  I recommend using a flushable wipe and then gently cleaning up/drying up with toilet paper. 

Also, if you are having issues with leakage try putting pads in your underwear.   The same pads woman use for their monthly visitor.  Being a guy, I had no idea the selection available for pads.  My wife really opened my eyes.  I've found that the thinner pads work fine and don't bother me as much when I'm sleeping.  Using the pads has saved me from so much extra laundry.  

Thanks for listening!  I hope some/all of this info helps!  

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You seem to have a good attitude and outlook on things. I also used bananas and Imodium in my immediate post takedown months. I like bananas but I find that their ripeness window comes and goes very quickly as I like my bananas firm and not all mushy like they get when they ripen too much. But it's like 2 days or less they go from not ripe to too ripe so I don't buy them as much as I do fruit that refrigerates and has a longer shelf life, like apples and raspberries and pineapple.

Sugary foods can also create a problem over time and like you, I have had to fight a natural propensity for sweet foods. I also like spicy foods and don't find that they increase my output that much.

Regarding Imodium, the dosages you need without antibiotics will be a lot more than the dosages you need if you are on antibiotics as I have been for 20 plus years. Hopefully you never have to go down this road but if you do, antibiotics will thicken up your stool considerably and taking too much Imodium will result in constipation or even partial blockages, so be careful with it.

Other than that I think your post shows you get it and have read some posts here- it's all trial and error and a journal is a really great idea, but things may change over time especially when you get to the 1 year mark. I am way more tolerant of acidic and spicy foods now than I was in the year after takedown. 

Good luck!

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