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Need to know what "normal" output is like for the rest of you...

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Posted 1/24/2012 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter has Crohn's and an ileostomy. She has been in a pretty bad flare since September, actually needed a resection of about 6 inches from her ileum. Right after surgery when she was on a high dose of steroids her output was very very thick. we never seen it so thick and assumed it was because she was sick with crohns for months before it actually started hurting her. She is on Imuran (Aza.) and her blood tests came back great, inflammation is gone and the level of Imuran in her blood stream is perfect according to her doctor, however since the prednisone taper we've noticed that her stools are becoming more and more watery. Not necessarily diarrhea but much more liquid than before. She's pretty much off of the steroids now, (she's on 1ml every other day for the next 4 days and then she'll be off of it completely). I'm worried that the watery stools are a sign of her crohns and that the Imuran she's on isn't enough to sustain remission.
sorry if this doesn't make any sense or if I rambled a bit, but my overall question for you guys is...what is your output like on most days? Is is supposed to be thick?

thanks in advance,
Posted 1/24/2012 9:30 PM (GMT 0)

I have Crohn's Colitis and have had a permanent ileostomy for only 6-months.  I get the impression by the comments I have read here, and on other support group boards, that liquidy is actually pretty normal with an ileostomy.

However, mine is hardly ever liquidy/watery.  My output is normally the consistency of applesauce, sometimes thicker almost like brownie batter.   I think I like mine the way it is, other than the times I have had "pancaking'' which lead to leaks and ultimately lead me to using convex wafers.

Posted 1/24/2012 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Mine varies depending on what I eat and probably a whole host of other factors. I have gotten back into eating a lot of higher fiber foods like veggies and legumes, and when I eat those it's thicker.

It tends to be more watery in the morning, though.... presumably more bile in there, and then the amount of fluids matters too.

I don't know much about recognizing a flare post surgery, though. If her inflammatory markers are normal, then I would hope that means she isn't flaring...

Both constipation and diarrhea are listed as possible side effects of pred (how wonderful is that!). It makes sense to me that tapering off pred could affect the consistency of her stool just by not having a side effect anymore.

Really hope she's fine, and you're just doing your job being on the lookout for potential dangers..... you've both been through so much.
Posted 1/24/2012 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
ask her how does she like her output to be my doctor always tried to get mones to be thick BUT i liked ot liquidy if i ate a lot of starch it would me steak n shake ----shakes thicker it literly made me want to throw up because its harder to empty it espically in public. but thick out out is ok and liquid
Posted 1/24/2012 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Mine can be watery or pretty thick - it all depends on what I eat.
Posted 1/25/2012 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks,
Crohnie CJ - that's how my daughter's output was when she was on a high dose of steroids, thick like applesauce and sometimes like batter, and that's what her GI said was healthy..but now it's back to the way it was before her surgery...and tonight unfortunately when I changed her pouch I noticed a few white blisters on her stoma again. So it looks like I was right to be concerned..and I'm afraid we are headed down the same path.
Thanks Blueglass, I am still holding out that maybe this is all just from the pred. taper.
I will be calling her GI tomorrow though to run it by him. Maybe he'll want to do some more blood work.
poor girl, cannot catch a break.
Posted 1/25/2012 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, katiesmommy1, I do hope that the blisters on her stoma are not a recurrence.  I can certainly see why you are concerned.  I feel so very sorry for the children with Crohn's.  I was in my 50's before my Crohn's reared it's ugly head.   Katie [and mommy] will be in my prayers.
Posted 1/26/2012 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
I have an ileo due to a gut injury so no disease factor and my output definitely depends on what I eat. Starch like mac and cheese, potato, too much bread can REALLY thicken if you don't have enough liquid. A banana even with a TON of water can be like moving concrete. Sugar and light carbs like crackers, etc are thinners. Real thinners are grape juice, coconut juice, chocolate, liquor just about does a gut cleanse of the small intestine very nasty. Pickle juice, what can I say, I run bile after about 2 swallows of that stuff. Good luck. Rosemary
Posted 1/27/2012 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
thanks again for all of your responses.
I am thinking that it's the food because sometimes during the day it'll be thick as can be and then the next time I empty it it's like water. It's been over two years and I still cannot figure this crap out..; )

thanks again for all of your help.
oh as for the white spots they seem to come and go too, so we are just waiting and praying for now.
Posted 1/27/2012 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
I would bet it's her diet. I've had an ileo now for about 3 months and I have no doubt what i consume directly affects the output.

I tend to only drink water but if i drink almost anything else such as orange juice, it will just run through me. It seems that any sugar will do that to me.
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