Diarrhea with a stoma means watery output, requiring more frequent pouch changes, risking dehydration (especially with ileostomies) and skin irritation, and necessitates increased fluids/electrolytes (broth, bananas, crackers) and thickening foods (rice, pretzels, marshmallows) while avoiding high-fiber/spicy items, with urgent medical contact if severe or persistent (over 24 hrs) to prevent complications like dehydration or blockage.
This is normal. You may have very loose stools in your colostomy bag for a while. In time your stools may become firmer, but they will be less solid than before your surgery. You may also have a lot of gas pass into your colostomy bag in the weeks after surgery.
Some instances of diarrhea can be expected during detox or gut healing- especially as the body works to clear out harmful substances. But chronic or prolonged diarrhea, lasting more than a few days, can lead to certain issues.
Yes. You may be able to take loperamide / Imodium to reduce the amount of stool that your ileostomy produces. After your surgery, this should be started by your GP, your stoma nurse or the ward.
The most common signs of a peristomal skin infection include:
you have lots of blood coming from your stoma, or in your stoma bag. you have signs of dehydration. poo has not come out of your stoma for much longer than is normal for you, or you feel uncomfortable. you have severe tummy pain.
Signs and symptoms of an infection
Drink plenty of liquids, including water, broths and juices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as your stool returns to what's typical for you. Try soda crackers, toast, eggs, rice or chicken.
It's Best To Treat It Early
Although acute diarrhea usually resolves on its own within a few days, you can get relief faster with IMODIUM® products. IMODIUM® products contain an active ingredient called Loperamide which works to help restore your body's natural rhythm so you can start to feel like yourself again.
Red flags for diarrhea needing immediate medical attention include blood or black, tarry stools, severe abdominal/rectal pain, high fever, signs of severe dehydration (dizziness, little/no urine, extreme thirst), confusion, or diarrhea lasting more than a couple of days. For children, also watch for no wet diapers for 3+ hours, no tears when crying, sunken eyes, or unusual sleepiness, while adults should see a doctor for nighttime diarrhea or worsening symptoms.
If you have diarrhea, you can use at-home remedies to help get rid of it. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, drinks with electrolytes, tea, and even nonfat chicken broth. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these can dehydrate you more. Eat the BRAT diet, which includes bananas, (white) rice, applesauce and toast.
Schedule a doctor's visit for an adult with these symptoms:
Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration.
Rectal discharge with faeces
If you have a loop stoma, a small amount of faeces can pass into the non-functioning part of your bowel and out through the anus, instead of entering the pouch. This is more likely to occur if you have high output or are experiencing diarrhoea.
How to reduce stoma output
Having a colostomy does not exclude you from suffering from gastro-enteritis. If your gut does not like a food-stuff, it will attempt to get rid of it as quickly as possible.
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.
Foods that may cause constipation or blockage:
Vegetables with skins or stalks such as celery, peas or sweetcorn. Fruit with skins, seeds, pips. Wholegrain cereal such as All Bran, Weetabix, porridge or muesli. Wholegrain or granary bread.
Spicy foods, alcohol, drinks with caffeine like coffee, tea and cola, fruit juices and fried foods can also have this effect. If you eat a lot of these foods and notice your output is too liquid, you might want to try eating less of them to see if it helps thicken your stoma output.
To stop diarrhea fast, focus on rehydrating with water, broths, and electrolyte-balanced drinks (like oral rehydration solutions or diluted sports drinks) while avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and dairy, and gradually introducing bland foods like bananas, rice, and toast (BRAT diet) to help firm stools.
Watery diarrhea is when you pass loose, liquid stool. It often occurs due to a viral or bacterial stomach infection. It can also be from food intolerances, medication side effects, and gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Severe diarrhea means having more than 10 loose, watery stools in a single day (24 hours). Moderate diarrhea means having more than a few but not more than 10 diarrhea stools in a day. Mild diarrhea means having a few diarrhea stools in a day.
Signs and symptoms of an infection
Once a healthcare provider diagnoses your bacterial gastroenteritis, it is easy to treat. Antibiotics work to cure some forms of bacterial gastroenteritis within a few days. You may need additional treatment to replace the fluids and electrolytes in your body. This will depend on the severity of your illness.
Symptoms of bacterial infections may include fever, fatigue and feeling generally unwell. Serious bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, but misuse can lead to antibiotic resistance. You can reduce your chance of bacterial infections by using handwashing and safe food practices.