With a stoma bag, especially an ileostomy, you need to drink extra fluids, aiming for at least 2 liters (8-10 glasses) of liquids daily, plus more in hot weather or with high output, to replace lost water and electrolytes, using water, sports drinks, or rehydration solutions, and avoiding large amounts with meals to improve absorption.
If your stoma output is less than 1 litre in 24 hours drink freely but do not exceed 2 litres of fluid a day. Avoid drinking large amounts of plain water. If you have a high stoma output, more than 1.5 litres per 24 hours you will need to speak with a healthcare professional.
Dehydration. Having an ileostomy makes it harder to stay hydrated. If you notice signs of dehydration such as fatigue, dry mouth or lots of poo coming out of your stoma, speak to your stoma nurse or another healthcare professional to get advice.
If the bag fills unexpectedly then it could be down to a change in diet, a stomach upset or even something like nerves and stress can affect your output.
A normal, mature ileostomy should only make about 1200mL of output each day (Table 4). Jejunostomies can initially put out up to 6 L, but this too will decrease with the help of medication. On the other hand, colostomies usually only put out 200-600mL/day.
If your stoma produces more than 1 litre of fluid per day, then it is considered to have a high output and you may be at risk of becoming dehydrated. As well as obtaining nutrients from food, the bowel has an important role in absorbing fluid and electrolytes (salts).
Bags are not drainable Usual use: 1-3 bags per day. Flushable bags only to be used on advice of bowel/stoma nurse. Colostomy bags (two piece systems) 30-90 bags + 15 flanges Bag – remove and discard after use. Flange – change every 2-3 days.
If you allow it to get too full, the weight of the stool may pull the pouch away from the skin. A person with an ileostomy will need to empty the pouch about five or six times in a 24-hour period. If you have a colostomy, you will need to empty the pouch two or three times in a 24-hour period.
Foods that are reported to help thicken the stoma output include apple sauce, bananas, buttermilk, cheese, marshmallows, jelly babies, (boiled) milk, noodles, smooth creamy peanut butter, rice, tapioca pudding, toast, potatoes and yoghurt.
The best position to sleep in when you have a stoma is on your back, or on your side. If you prefer to sleep on your stomach, this will be fine at the beginning of the night but increases the chances of leaks as the night progresses and your bag fills.
Tips for eating with a stoma
After a colostomy, the bottom part of the bowel no longer has poo passing through it, but it still produces mucus. Dead cells from the lower bowel or rectum may be mixed in with the mucus. The mucus may leak out of the anus, or you may feel the urge to go to the toilet.
Some people find that smaller, regular meals suit them better and prefer not to eat late at night. People living with a stoma should eat regularly (at least 3 times per day) as this helps to ensure the stoma functions efficiently and helps avoid wind. Always chew food well and eat slowly: this helps digestion.
If you don't drink enough water after surgery, you can feel tired and weak. Dehydration can also slow down wound healing, make your skin dry, and increase the risk of blood clots. Drinking enough fluids helps prevent these issues and keeps your recovery on track.
Nuts, sweet-corn, celery, mixed peel, coconut, popcorn and stringy processed cheese, or any food swallowed whole can block the stoma. If you do have these foods, make sure you chew them very well. With a well–fitting pouch there should be no odour except when changing the pouch.
Drinking too much “ordinary fluids” (eg. water, fruit juice, tea, and coffee) can increase your stoma output, making you more thirsty and more dehydrated: Limiting those drinks and replacing them with oral rehydration solutions (eg.
Weight gain
If your stoma has increased in size, it may be worth considering whether you have gained weight recently? If so, this is the most likely reason your stoma has become larger.
The opening is also known as a stoma. You wear a colostomy bag that sticks onto the skin over the stoma to collect your poo. You wear a bag because you can't control when the stoma will work. It doesn't work in the same way as your back passage.
The pouch will need to be drained when it becomes half full to prevent it leakage, this is usually between 4-6 times in 24 hours. Always drain your pouch last thing before going to bed and first thing in the morning.
YEP you absolutely can still fart with a stoma bag. Nothing has changed other than I don't pass it like I could before out my bum as that's not there anymore 🙅🏼♀️ Instead I pass it through my stoma. The only difference is normally the bowel is inside you but mine is on the outside poking through my abdomen!
You may want to avoid certain foods that are difficult to digest and may cause blockages, such as nuts, fruit and vegetable skins and corn. Most people can return to their normal diet. If you have any concerns, speak with your doctor or stomal therapy nurse and they can refer you to a dietitian.
Choose a time of day when there is less stool output from your stoma. Early in the morning before you eat or drink anything (or at least 1 hour after a meal) is best. You may need to change your pouch more often if: You have been sweating more than usual from hot weather or exercise.