The best drinks for a stoma (especially an ileostomy) are water, electrolyte solutions (like Hydralyte), and diluted juices, aiming for 2+ litres daily, while limiting sugary, caffeinated, or carbonated drinks which can increase output and dehydration; isotonic sports drinks (like Gatorade) and salty snacks help replace lost electrolytes. Focus on hydration, especially after surgery, by sipping fluids between meals rather than gulping.
If have part of your bowel or bladder removed for medical reasons, your surgeon may need to form a stoma. This is an opening in your abdomen (tummy area) to the outside of your body. The stoma is used to remove body waste — faeces (poo) or urine (wee) into a small collection bag that is placed outside your body.
Answer: Based on the forum discussions, it is generally considered safe for individuals with a colostomy to consume fizzy drinks like Coca-Cola, but there are some considerations to keep in mind: - Gas Production: Carbonated beverages can cause increased gas, leading to the colostomy bag ballooning.
Aim to drink 8 glasses/mugs of fluid a day (preferably water). Other helpful ways to stay hydrated include: isotonic or full sugar fizzy drinks (allowed to go flat), sucking on ice chips and eating lollies made from juices.
Sports drinks, such as Lucozade and Gatorade, are better choices as they don't cause an increase in your stoma output. They also contain electrolytes, which are lost through your stoma. To maximize fluid absorption, try to avoid drinking at mealtimes (leave a 20-minute gap) and sip rather than gulping fluids.
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.
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.
Tips for eating with a stoma
Foods Not to Eat with an Ileostomy or Colostomy
Hard to digest vegetables, including beans like butter beans or green/runner beans, sweetcorn, peas, mushrooms, cabbage, brussel sprouts, spinach, kale and spring greens.
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.
Most people with an ileostomy use drainable stoma bags that you empty down the toilet. You empty them when they are less than half full. This is usually around 4 to 6 times a day. You often need to empty them during the night too.
Sleep on top of an incontinence sheet, puppy pad or dark towel. (Some people fold a puppy training pad and tuck it between their pants, ensuring that it covers the stoma bag – if you do have a leak, it then goes onto the pad, rather than your clothes.) Use a waterproof mattress cover.
Skin irritation around your stoma is usually caused by leakage from your ostomy pouch and the output from your stoma getting underneath the adhesive and onto your skin. It is uncomfortable and can stop your pouch from working well. The skin around your stoma should look similar to the skin on the rest of your body.
Once you feel confident, you can experiment with different foods to achieve a diverse diet. Include one of the following at each meal; bread, breakfast cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, noodles, crackers, crisp-bread or couscous.
The most common early complication of an ileostomy is skin irritation. Regardless of how well the area is cared for, itching, sores, and even infections can occur. Careful cleaning and drying before attaching a new bag can help prevent irritation.
Having diarrhoea will often mean that the stoma bag needs to be changed much more regularly than usual. This can mean that you go through supplies much quicker and also lead to irritation of the peristomal skin.
A warm bath may help relax the muscles surrounding the stoma. Experiment with movement and positions, such as bringing your knee to your chest, to potentially dislodge the blockage. Gently massage the area around your stoma and abdomen. Drawing your knees to your chest can increase pressure behind the blockage.
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.
Most people change their pouching system about every three to four days because the adhesive starts to wear at that time. So you should expect to change your pouch about twice a week. And remember, if you're emptying your pouch, when it's a third to a half full, which could be several times a day, about four to six.
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.
Ensuring protein rich foods are included at each meal to aid healing these include meat, fish, cheese, milk, yoghurts and vegetarian alternatives such as Quorn, Tofu and tempeh. Including high calorie snacks such as biscuits, cakes, crisps, cheese and biscuits, yoghurts, mousses, milk puddings.
When you are first discharged from hospital after your stoma surgery, you will feel tired and find everyday tasks such as having a shower exhausting. This is normal and will improve over time.