Managing Diarrhea with a Stoma

Most people will experience an episode of diarrhea in their lives, and that isn’t a fun time for anyone. For those with an ileostomy or colostomy, this is no exception. Loss of fluids and electrolytes is common for those with an ostomy, and having diarrhea with a stoma can be dangerous since this leads to dehydration. In this blog post, we will discuss common causes of diarrhea, how your diet can impact diarrhea, and possible ways to treat diarrhea.

Diarrhea is characterized by sudden loose or watery bowel movements and can be accompanied by abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, and even a fever. If you have a colostomy or ileostomy, episodes of diarrhea with a stoma are possible. Some people with an ileostomy have watery or loose stool most of the time.  There are many possible causes for diarrhea, but there are several ways to help manage diarrhea with an ostomy, so that’s the good news!

Diarrhea can pose some complications for those with an ileostomy or colostomy such as:

• Diarrhea can clog ostomy pouch filters.
• Diarrhea can cause more leaks, odors, embarrassing noises, and gases to release.
• Diarrhea erodes the wafer, resulting in frequent wafer changes.
• Diarrhea can cause you to empty or change your ostomy pouch more often, which can be unpleasant and messy.
• Diarrhea could lead to dehydration since nutrients are not being properly absorbed.

Diarrhea can be caused by several different factors. It is important to take note of your diet, medications, stress levels, and overall health to determine what the culprit could be. Then, with some simple adjustments, you can hopefully gain control of producing more regular bowel movements.

Here are a few of the more common causes of diarrhea with an ileostomy or colostomy:

Diet

The consistency of your stoma’s output can be drastically changed by the foods and beverages you consume. Usually, within an hour or two after consumption of certain foods, you will be able to identify what it was that set off your symptoms. Often, the foods and beverages that are identified as the cause of your diarrhea are not actually needed for a healthy diet and can be eliminated.  You might find other benefits from cutting out these unnecessary culprits. We’ll discuss diet in further detail later.

Medications and Supplements

Some medications or supplements can cause diarrhea with a stoma for various reasons. Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria in the body, and some of that can be the healthy bacteria that help with digestion. Any over-the-counter medicine that contains magnesium or calcium can also cause diarrhea since these minerals work to relax the digestive tract and neutralize stomach acids. For those that may be undergoing cancer treatment, chemotherapy disrupts how the small intestine breaks down food, which may also cause diarrhea. 

Blockage

When you aren’t seeing much movement from your stoma or it appears larger than normal, you might be experiencing an obstruction or blockage. When the body attempts to flush out the blockage, sometimes a watery or liquid stool is experienced. As the intestines continuously try to push contents through the blockage, symptoms usually follow such as abdominal pain, nausea, and possibly vomiting. Note: If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Most of the time, by simply modifying your diet, you can start managing your diarrhea. Drinking enough fluids throughout the day and paying attention to the meals you eat can help. Since diarrhea is watery, you’ll want to incorporate some foods that will thicken up your output from your ileostomy or colostomy.

The following foods are suggested to thicken ileostomy or colostomy output:

• Starchy foods like noodles, white rice, potatoes, and white bread
• Crackers and pretzels
• Marshmallows
• Applesauce
• Under-ripe bananas
• Nut butters (peanut, almond, etc)
• Yogurt
• Oatmeal

It is also important to remind yourself that fluid intake is critical. Replacing electrolytes that are lost when you have diarrhea with a stoma is essential for proper hydration. Drinking beverages such as Pedialyte or Sqwincher products can be a great way to get ahead of potential dehydration.

If you suspect food poisoning or another bacterial cause of your diarrhea, you’ll want to contact a medical professional.

If you consume certain foods and beverages and then notice a dramatic change in your output’s consistency, you’ll want to take note of them and avoid or cut them out of your diet altogether.

Some of the foods and beverages that are suggested to avoid to prevent diarrhea are:

Sometimes a bit of trial and error is needed to find out what works for you. High fiber foods can cause blockage, and the skins of some fruits and vegetables can be difficult to digest. To get the nutrition needed from these types of foods and beverages, there are alternatives that are easier to digest offered by Thick-It, Nestle, and Abbott Nutrition.

Gelling Agents

Specifically designed to absorb ostomy pouch contents, gelling agents such as Gel-Plus Deodorizer or Securi-T Lubricating Gel Deodorant are popular choices for those with an ileostomy or colostomy. These are typically a packet of granules that is dropped into a new or clean ostomy pouch. As the pouch fills with output, the packet dissolves, and the granules form a thick gel that stays at the bottom of the pouch and away from the stoma. These gelling agents can come in granules, tablets, powder, or capsules, but they all work in the same fashion.

Another gelling and odor control product to consider for those with liquid output or an ileostomy are Diamonds by ConvaTec. Diamonds Gelling and Odor Control Sachets are a patented product that comes in an easy-to-open jar containing 100 dissolvable sachets.  Diamonds sachets solidify liquid contents in the ostomy pouch and help reduce excess gas. The result will be a more discreet ostomy pouch because of less gas buildup. And, by using Diamonds Gelling and Odor Control Sachets, users have reported better sleep due to less leakage and not needing to get up during the night to drain their ostomy pouch.

Diamonds FAQs

Nutritional Supplements

There are several nutritional supplements on the market today that are formulated to deliver the vitamins and minerals needed without dairy and sugar. Novasource Renal Nutritional Support Formula contains optimized electrolyte content and is an excellent nutritionally complete product that is also lactose- and gluten-free. The Hormel FiberBasics line of beverages contains 3 grams of fiber to promote bowel regularity and are another great option to help manage diarrhea with a stoma. Just be careful with the amount of fiber intake as you do not want to end up with a blockage.

Consider a High Output Ostomy Pouch

High output ostomy pouches are designed to better manage liquid output and are able to hold larger capacities of stoma output. The SUR-FIT Natura Two-Piece Ostomy System by ConvaTec is a perfect example of a simple design that features a removable filter to reduce pouch ballooning while neutralizing odor and an anti-reflux valve that decreases liquid output backflow. This high output ostomy pouch easily drains high liquid output and users can change the pouch quickly without the need to remove the skin barrier.

Barrier Strips to Secure Your Wafer

Barrier strips such as the ConvaTec ease Strips, help keep your skin barrier in place. These thin and flexible barrier strips overlap over the edges of the skin barrier and can be used with any ostomy system. ease Strips are also water-resistant to allow the user to confidently swim and bath.

Adhesives to Secure Your Skin Barrier

To achieve a better and more secure seal, using an ostomy adhesive such as Nu-Hope Ostomy Cement Adhesive with Applicator can be an excellent option. This adhesive helps protect the peristomal skin from urine if the ostomy pouch opening is larger than the stoma size. Nu-Hope Ostomy Cement Adhesive forms a strong bond when a thin coat is applied and allows for a longer wear-time of an ostomy pouching system.

Along with adhesives to help prevent leaks, don’t forget about adhesive removers and wipes to cleanse the sensitive peristomal skin. We offer a wide variety of skin barrier wipes and sprays, gentle adhesive removers, and dry wipes to care for your peristomal skin and keep it clean and healthy.

Managing diarrhea with a stoma is possible, and there are options. Although we offer suggestions on how to treat diarrhea, it is always a good idea to speak to your physician to determine what the best treatment plan is for you.

For any questions related to the products we have mentioned or any other home delivery medical supplies we carry, give us a call. One of our Personally Delivered Product Experts will be happy to speak to you.

M9 Odor Deodorizers

Fiber-Stat Oral Fiber Supplement

ConvaTec Esteem + One-Piece Drainable Pouch

Hollister Adapt Stoma Powder

 

Disclaimer: Important Notice Regarding Medical Advice

The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.