Ileostomy thick output

Help, my output is so thick! It's hard to empty and I feel dirty. How can this be with a Ileo? I'm not on any meds, trying grape juice tonight? 10 days out of surgery. I thought it should be liquidy.

Yes 7 to 8 cups of water.

I would also suggest taking in more water, or some other fluid that doesn't have caffeine or a lot of sugar. 7-8 cups a day is on the low end of recommended water intake for a person who has all of their intestines. The large intestine is responsible for absorbing most of the water we take in, so not having one means we lose a lot more of the water/fluid that is taken in. At the very least I try to drink 10-12 cups a day, and get more than that if I am very active, sweating a lot or just feel I need the extra hydration.

Hey susan I too had very thick output with my ileostomy. Juice or sugary soda will thin it out without having to drink a lot. I had a small box of apple juice with every meal for the first few weeks.

Another option is to use a squirt bottle of water to 'rinse' out your bag when you empty. There's no need to do so (your ostomy bag is always going to be 'dirty' inside) but if it makes you feel better to get more stuff out that's another thing you can do.

Ugg, hate coffee! Sometimes it's like mash potatoes sometimes a little less. Thanks

Coffee does thin output for some people, but also keep in mind that caffeine is dehydrating....so, ultimately you should take in more water to counteract that dehydration.

If you find a solution I'd like to hear it! I have to eat a lot because I'm extremely underweight. I had no problems with my stoma output until I started eating more. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat. I've even tried laxatives and they work for a few days but then I become tolerant and the output thickens again, and I don't want to be continually increasing laxatives. I've also tried squirting water into the bag to wash it out but it still gets yucky. I tried lubricants too. And drinking a lot of liquid.

I have an ileostomy and don't even have all my small bowel so I don't understand how I can be constipated.

If u use a two piece can u remove the old one, put in a new one, wash out the old and reuse? Or does that weaken them? Also, if you only take the bag off to shower and the area around the flange and stoma gets wet do you have to air or blow dry that before u put in a new bag? Will that affect leakage? So confused!

I haven't had luck with coloplast and a ring, maybe if I tried a convex - I really don't prefer the coloplast wafers, they are so stiff. I Have had luck with convatec convex and a ring but I also had luck without the ring so I am trying to get it out of the equation.

I have heard people say they leave the wafer on and shower without the bag but I've heard others say it can cause the wafer to be less sticky. I have always wanted to try it but i am only 4 weeks out and I change quite frequently so I usually shower without anything and put on new after. I hope I can change less often and at that point, i will want to try showering with the wafer and place a new bag after. I will let you know if I do it :)

You can definitely use a ring with flat. I have done it but i've always had a leak because my stoma isn't very long (probably about .5 inch). I find that the wafer sits 2mm+ off (depending on the thickness of the barrier ring) and without convex pushing me down, my stoma will come just to the top of the wafer so it's very easy to end up with output under.

I put plastic wrap over my bag and tape around to keep dry. I'm not comfortable with showering with nothing on or removing the bag yet. Only 2 weeks out.
Just need to get leaks under control.

Susans53, funny you should ask. Went for a 2 mile walk Sunday mid morning; came home; had lunch and then took a 20 minute snooze. Seems to be the pattern. I am back to my daily routine (client work, grocery shopping, housekeeping etc.) . But I invariably need to take a power nap sometime in the afternoon.

I am in the 7th week of recovery. During the fourth week, I felt I was finally convalescing less and performing more of the activities of daily living. Exercise helps; walking in particular; and I have resumed some weight work. I have no pain at this point................just fatigue. Be curious to see how I will feel at the three month mark. That said, I experienced daily fatigue with UC for 6 years; this current fatigue is not as severe; the body is simply recovering from surgery; not at war with a toxic beast (AKA "my colon").

As an aside, last week I went to a museum show in SF and commuted 3 days in traffic to UCSF Hospital to spend many hours with one my kids who being treated for a daily persistent headache. Took my daily after noon nap at the hospital, but pretty much everything else was full steam ahead. Hell, enjoy the rest!!!!!!!!

mine has been thickening up on it's own since my surgery on October 14th without any meds. I was taking Imodium and Lomotil for a little bit. I do still get some watery output if I only drink liquids or if I drink a lot while I eat. I try to drink little when I eat my meals and drink more liquids in between. My doc initially suggested 3 liters due to me dealing with dehydration issues which have now settled down. When I empty my bag, I have a cup or two of water with me and I pour some into my bag after emptying and slosh it around and empty it out / repeat till it's coming out of my bag clear.