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Gaining Weight With An Ileostomy?

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Posted 9/24/2014 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello.... I'm new to this chat room. I was wondering if anyone out there has problems gaining weight with an ileostomy? If so, how do you stop all the watery output and normalize the bathroom visits without becoming completely dehydrated



Edited to add a title... Shaz

Post Edited By Moderator (Shaz032) : 9/25/2014 7:14:41 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/25/2014 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SkeeterP...I don't post much but i read all the time.  I had the first step of the 3 step J-Pouch surgery in June.  I have an end ileostomy.  I lost 100 pounds in a year due to severe pancolitis/ulcerative colitis (initially misdiagnosed Crohns).  Since I left the hospital in June I have gained 30 pounds.  I was basically on a low residue diet for 6 weeks after surgery but now I have found I can eat pretty much anything I want to and not have any problems.  I am getting ready to have the second step at the end of October if my nutrition is where it should be.  I was severely malnourished and dehydrated when I had the first surgery.  At first, my output was thinner but it does make a difference in what you are eating.  Make sure you are drinking alot of fluids as you definitely don't want to get dehydrated. I have had that so much I know what to look for now.  I try to drink 3 Liters a day.  If you are having watery output you should consider eating things that will thicken it- bananas, rice, applesauce, oatmeal, potatoes, etc.  If you are doing these things and it's not helping you need to talk to your dr.  My surgeon is very particular about eating and drinking.  How long have you had your ileostomy?  What typo of ileostomy do you have a loop or end? Good luck and take care of yourself.
Posted 9/25/2014 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
For me they key was getting the output to be firm. I have only managed to do this with prescription drugs, codeine and loperamide. Taking a large amount of these and output is good. After that I am eating high calorie stuff - only a few veg, but that's because I'm terrified of a blockage, so bulking up on protein and carbs.

I can tell you, after 8 months of not being able to eat because of my bowel cancer, I'm now pigging out on some "bad" stuff ... and it's great :)
Posted 9/25/2014 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon has me on 4 Imodium a day and it has helped with thickening output. I've gained 32 pounds in 5 months.
Posted 9/27/2014 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have had my Ileostomy for 14 years now and wish I could lose some weight.
I have found in my case, that alcohol, especially wine causes a straight liquid discharge.
Also carbonated drinks and coffee go through almost immediately as liquid only so you might monitor your beverage intake to see if that is the cause.
Other than having to empty the pouch a little more frequently it does not affect my health. Good luck.
Posted 9/28/2014 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
I had no problem gaining weight after my ileostomy as it was the first time in years that I could actually eat food without an issue.

My diet is mostly starch-based, which will thicken output and slow things down, allowing the body to absorb as much as possible. Have you tried any dietary modifications? Have you spoken to a dietitian?
Posted 9/28/2014 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
Forgot to say, my fluid intake is also limited to 2 litres a day - any more than that and it comes straight out of the hole.

Other things that automatically make output watery, which you don't want, are alcohol abd spicy food for a start. I can tell you from experience, 20 minutes sfter eating a curry and my bag is filling up with watery output - I can fill a bag in 15 minutes, but a good curry and it can be worth it !
Posted 9/29/2014 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
I've had my ileostomy 8 years and, for the life of me, I don't understand why some people are concerned with "watery" output. I drink two 5 oz glasses of red wine every night just to make sure that my output "IS WATERY". I avoid all foods that could possibly cause an obstruction. My weight is stable.
Posted 9/29/2014 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Well, watery output will fill up a pouch faster / more frequently so that is one reason to try and avoid it... But if one is not out and about doing things then it is really no big deal, I agree. If one has watery output a lot, it will reduce wear time between wafer changes, since it attacks the barrier ring more and is more prone to weeping in under the barrier ring. I do t really have leak issues wit my setup but I have noticed the difference in wear times between changes. And watery output is more dehydrating on the body, so there are some sound reasons to not constantly eat and drink atuff that makes for a watery outout. No reason to avoid a varied diet and indulge in things as treats though. Interestingly, i notice that whereas processed sweets like chocolates and cookies, not healthy to eat in large quantities anyway, will produce watery output if eaten with abandon, but by contrast if I eat relatively "healthy" sweets like apples or bananas, say, the fiber in there compensates fir the sugar and the outout, at least in my case, stays ideal for me, which is like oatmeal.

PS like christine below I eat pretty much everything with no issues, and I too have gained weight-- prob about 5 lbs heavier than I would like to be (even accounting for muscle gain) vs 10 lbs too light before surgery, thanks to enjoying so much good food now lol.

Post Edited (Probiotic) : 9/29/2014 2:41:59 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/29/2014 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
     Heck, I wish I could LOSE some weight!  I had my end ileostomy in June of 2010 and have gained 20 lbs since then.  Mind you, I was a bit underweight at the time of my surgery, like mostly all of us here, but never had a problem gaining the weight back.  My husband is puzzled by this, he says..."How can you gain a pound when you poop it all out?" Well, guess what...something must stick and it is sticking to my hips and thighs.  My output is pretty consistant.  I eat everything and I mean everything!  At first I was scared to eat salads, but after about six months or so, I started to devour them.  Life is good even with the pesky skin tag which still stick out of my anus (which is still there) tongue !
Posted 9/29/2014 11:03 PM (GMT 0)

Tom1 said...
I've had my ileostomy 8 years and, for the life of me, I don't understand why some people are concerned with "watery" output. I drink two 5 oz glasses of red wine every night just to make sure that my output "IS WATERY". I avoid all foods that could possibly cause an obstruction. My weight is stable.

Yeah, same here.

Well, I don't drink red wine at all, but I prefer watery output over thick output, particularly when out and about. Trying to squeeze lumpy output the consistency of toothpaste out of the bag in a public toilet is a nightmare, particularly in conjunction with the world's thinnest toilet paper. Rinse and repeat a few times in a day, and it becomes a no-brainer: give me watery output which drains in seconds and doesn't filthy up the tab.

Christine1946 said...
Heck, I wish I could LOSE some weight!

Indeed. I haven't lost an ounce since surgery. All the steroid weight went to my stomach and breasts and is still there.

I didn't lose weight that readily with highly active Crohn's though. I did eventually, but it took years for the weight loss to become noticeable. Never was one of those people to drop 30lb in a month or whatever; never.
Posted 9/30/2014 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
I just had surgery for a permanent ileo 13 days ago & since being discharged from the hospital I've gained 4 lbs!!! So happy to be able to EAT again without all the pain & suffering from crohn's!
Posted 10/4/2014 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
The first 2 months after my loop ileo, I couldn't gain weight - I ate so much, but didn't gain a pound. After 2 months, that sure changed! Now, I have to watch what I eat a little more so I do not gain too much weight. I found that after 2 months things really stabilized with the output and I was able to predict what foods were going to make things watery (salads, fruits, sugar) and what would bulk it up (crackers, potatoes, rice, cereal).
Posted 10/5/2014 9:50 AM (GMT 0)

Tom1 said...
I've had my ileostomy 8 years and, for the life of me, I don't understand why some people are concerned with "watery" output. I drink two 5 oz glasses of red wine every night just to make sure that my output "IS WATERY". I avoid all foods that could possibly cause an obstruction. My weight is stable.

Watery output increases the chance of leaks and the bag fills up much quicker, but the most important thing is the possibility of dehydration. I have been hospitalised once for dehydration exactly because my output had been watery.

This was spotted with me because I have to do dialysis and I was so dehydrated they couldn't dialyse me and while I was at the hospital for this my sugar levels dropped dangerously, I collapsed and for a while I was surrounded by worried medics. They operated the next day and all was fine really, but was warned not to get dehydrated again and if I have watery output too long then get to a doctor.

Part of this is due to my circumstances, but was told it was a general rule, and people with stomas should not drink more than 2 litres a day, as backward as it sounds, drinking more increases the chances of dehydration.
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