Mr. Immodium

This weekend I went camping in Idyllwild, California, in the San Bernardino Mountains. We went with another couple, and we had a lovely, relaxed time visiting amidst the tall Sugar and Jeffrey pines. We baked stuffed potatoes over the fire, drank beer, and with a near-guarantee of a rainless night, we slept without a fly on our tent. We had to shield our eyes from the spotlight of the full moon, but it was worth it. On Saturday after breakfast we headed to a trail that began at around 6,000 feet and went up. We hiked four miles and ascended 2,000 feet in about two and a half hours, finally arriving at an old firehouse on Tahquitz peak at 8,000 feet. We enjoyed our snacks overlooking a spectacular view, then made our way back down the mountain.

Behind the scenes, in Emily’s ostomy world, Immodium really helped to make it a wonderful weekend. You’re not supposed to take more than 4 in a 24-hour period, and I wouldn’t even take that many on a regular basis. But for a camping weekend, I do max out. I take 2 before I go to bed at night, which usually allows me to sleep a full night, and I take two before a long hike like the one we did Saturday. No guarantees, but this usually means I can go on a long hike without having to empty my pouch, provided that I eat lightly. Don’t get me wrong – if I have to get up in the night, or if I have to empty my pouch on a hike, it’s not a big deal. But it’s awfully nice when you can get through without having to! In addition to the Immodium, for a hike I eat lightly, and I wear my Flexees underwear, which provides more support and evens out a bulging pouch. In my pack, in addition to my emergency kit in case I have a serious snafu, I carry a poop shovel and a ziploc back. My first choice is to bury it, and pack the tp out. My second choice, in case there are more people around and I want to be more discreet, is to empty it into a ziploc bag, double bag that into a plastic bag, and pack it out. Back in the campground, I try to eat my supper by six so that I’ve had some hours of digestion before I turn in.

In the end, I think the most important thing is to relax about it. I admit, sometimes I get all wound up worrying about how to avoid emptying my pouch – especially on a hike with friends! – or wondering how it will go if I do have to. But I’ve done it before, and it always worked out. So when I catch myself getting crazy, I try to shake it out and remember that it will be fine, no matter what. I’m so glad to be out enjoying nature like this again. To think that I can ascend 2000 feet over 4 miles in 2 1/2 hours! Or eat camping food and drink beer! Or sleep under the stars with the love of my life! Life is good, and sometimes, Immodium makes it even a little better.