Diarrhea in individuals with colostomies is usually defined as frequent, watery stools. The following may help to relieve diarrhea: Increase you fluid intake to 2 ½ litres (10 cups) per day. Take foods that may thicken stool like apple sauce, bananas, yogurt, rice and oatmeal.
Traditional etiologies of diarrhea remain applicable to the ileostomy patient, including infections, osmotic diarrhea from ingestion of poorly absorbable substrates, celiac disease, and medications. The presentation is simply more dramatic due to the inability to compensate for the fluid loss by colonic absorption.
Diarrhoea can occur from time to time with ostomates, whether you have a colostomy or an ileostomy.
Do stick with bland foods. One tried-and-true diet for diarrhea is the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Low in fiber, bland, and starchy, these foods can help replace lost nutrients and firm up your stools.
The well-known BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—fits the bill nicely. Other foods recommended on a diarrhea diet include soft-cooked eggs, low-fat yogurt, clear soups and broths, plain pasta, and soda crackers, like Saltines. Avoid foods that are high in fiber, acidic, or high in fat.
They recommend continuing the use of high dose loperamide (more than 16mg daily) since there is a greater risk associated with an untreated high stoma or fistula output than the risk of loperamide causing cardiac arrhythmias, but suggest that the total daily dose should be less than 80mg.
Loperamide may be used for long-lasting diarrhoea and by people who have a colostomy (stoma) if their doctor prescribes it.
Certain foods may make your stoma output more liquid especially if eaten in large quantities e.g. fibrous foods (wholemeal bread, wholegrain cereals, pulses, leafy green vegetables, raw vegetables, sweet corn, fruits and nuts), spicy foods, alcohol, drinks containing caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea, cola), fruit juices and ...
Most people with stomas may have to go through a stoma infection. However, it is a possibility that anyone with a stoma should know about it. The first sign of a stoma infection may be a pus-like discharge, unusual swelling, increasing redness, or color changes.
Take time to eat slowly and chew your food well. Smaller meals with frequent snacks and nourishing drinks between meals. Regular intake of food and fluids to help achieve optimal colostomy function. Minimise high intakes of caffeine from tea, coffee, and fizzy drinks, and alcohol.
Keeping hydrated with an ileostomy, colostomy and urostomy
Keeping hydrated is an important aspect of living with a stoma. For many people it is just making sure you are drinking plenty throughout the day. You should try to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day along with any other drinks such as tea or coffee.
Since diarrhea is your body's way of getting rid of toxins, it is best to let it run its course.
Drink plenty of liquids, including water, broths and juices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as your bowel movements return to normal. Try soda crackers, toast, eggs, rice or chicken.
Most people only need to take Imodium for a day or two. Longer-lasting diarrhea or diarrhea that consistently comes and goes might mean you have an underlying medical condition, so you should talk to your doctor.
Over-the-counter options include Imodium (loperamide) and Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate (bismuth subsalicylate).
If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days it may mean you have a more serious problem.
The key to bulking up your stool (and preventing endless wiping) is fiber. If you want to prevent the never-ending wipe, you need more fiber in your diet.
Dietary fiber increases the weight and size of your stool and softens it. A bulky stool is easier to pass, decreasing your chance of constipation. If you have loose, watery stools, fiber may help to solidify the stool because it absorbs water and adds bulk to stool.
The most common causes of a loose poop are things like viruses, food allergies and medication side effects. Some chronic conditions can, too: Crohn's disease. Ulcerative colitis.