new ileostomy and salt

[crazed_aquarius]

I am new to having an ileostomy, since the beginning of March, at first i was dehydrating, so i was told to increase salt, and I did, added sodium tablets, and that helped, come to now, a week ago, i decided to see what happens if i stop the increased salt intake, and, to my surprise, nothing, I am not dehydrating at all, infact, urine is still almost crystal clear, anyone else with an ileostomy have this happen? is it normal for the small intestines to just absorb water like the large used to??

[Button]

Hi Crazed Aquarius:
Your on-line name made me chuckle. It’s great when people can find unique expression in an on-line name designation.

That’s both amazing and encouraging that you have not been troubled by dehydration. Give yourself credit for hydrating with quality fluids and adding table salt, as you are, and for monitoring your urine output. High Five ! Well done! Good job!

I had no real issues with dehydration when my ileostomy was new. But dehydration can be a serious concern for many others, with low blood pressure, episodes of fainting, and kidney damage as possible concerning effects.

I would caution long-term indiscriminate salt intact, as salt will act to highten blood pressure and risk of stroke.

For anyone interested in an electrolyte replacement, I recommend Cera Lyte. It was my “go-to” electrolyte replacement option during my initial recovery and one that I continue to keep on hand for use when I feel a bit rundown.

Cera Lyte is available in several formulations. Cera-Lyte 70 is the formulation designed for ostomates. CeraLyte is available on Amazon as well as through the Cera Lyte homepage.

www.ceraproductsinc.com

I hope you continue to have a smooth recovery and continue to feel well.
Karen

[theRabbit]

crazed_aquarius

The small intestine does pick up SOME of the work of the large intestine on absorbing water. However you still need to make sure you drink plenty of liquid everyday since we can become dehydrated easily. I have had my illeostomy for 5 1/2 years now and have never been told anything about salt and an ilieostomy.

[agichk]

i am noting that my BP, which was never abnormal, is running much lower than normal for me. I had it 75/25, 86/31 on R arm than 77/40 on Left last week when IP for wound debridement and vac placement. I got up and walked so it went to 104/50. today it was 108/64 at wound clinic and seldom over 110 systolic now.
I am not used to putting salt on my food and i know sodium was like 135-136 last week, so low end of normal. It is hard to put salt on food as i don't like it if too much. I am not a salt person but will put on sometimes when I remember. I put it in the palm of my hand than on my food, so probably much less than they may want but I do not like taste of it. I found after not being able to eat for 3 months and dietary confirmed this, that food tastes more salty to me than before, so that doesn't help either.

I do not feel dehydrated but I guess my doctors think i am at times based on labs. I have had dry mouth for years, so i am used to it though I have had some days where it is relentless since my surgery on 4th of March. I have to constantly take small sip from bottle lots of the time every 5 min to keep moist. other days, no issues. I carry a 700ml bottle I fill up at water fountain when needed if out and i drink it all. My husband has told them that I drink way more water than before surgery as i would drink when i got thirtsy.

I have found ORS watermelon flavor on amazon as i was sent lemon and berry flavors but I am picky flavor person. I did the berry flavor ensure clear in hospital but on ice and drank fast or it was not going down. I know the hospital and the ileostomy packet they gave me had some hydration formulas but I have never tried them yet.

I have not had a colon for 9 years though I know that I am still having absorption issues since I resumed eating 6 weeks ago (never has been back to pre removal of colon days). I make sure 2 bottles of high protein boost due to wound vac now compared to 1 prior to surgery. My weight is about the same for 6 weeks post hospital discharge though I did lose 11# since ileostomy surgery.

good luck with your recovery also.
Kathleen

[retired tracye]

So happy for you and I must say, reading your post...I'm just a little jealous... three years ago I lost 90% of my intestines, I technically have a jujenostomy... I am stuck on an IV about five hours every day... two liters of sodium chloride (saline) plus magnesium... plus liquid potassium, iron, etc.. I'm experimenting with vitamin patches used for bariatric patients right now... and I'm on a high salt diet...I even have to salt my fruit... LOL
I draw blood from my port twice a week to drop off at the lab, they post my results online and I adjust what I need based on that...
Hang in there, be sure to follow the docs orders... you will get use to the salt, and please don't let your bp get that low... watch for headaches and nausea also, sure signs I'm dehydrated because I'm always thirsty.
Let me know if I can help you with anything, I'm getting pretty good at this stuff...

[ron in mich.]

Hi all I had resection and moved my stoma for my ilieostomy last year and after the surgery my blood pressure was noticibly lower than when I entered the hosp. for surgery so my surgeon and primary care doc. told me to increase my salt intake, and to this day they don't know why its lower than before.

[agichk]

Retired Traceye:

I found on a whim a site called PatchMD. they have lots of patches for lots of stuff. i really like the sleep ones and work majority of the time. I had to stop using when had ileostomy surgery on 3/4/19 as not sure what they would say if had on, so I haven't used again.
the Focus factor did not really help me before my surgery as take adhd meds but my husband said he has success as not on stimulant.

I am interested to know where getting patches as I really need some vitamins and electrolytes that I have not found in form either I can take or the taste of chewables is just gross.

I wish you all the best going forward.

[JerryNYC]

Dear crazed, I am also an aquarius but not yet crazed (although I seem to be getting closer every day). Regarding your question ("is it normal for the small intestines to just absorb water like the large used to??"), the simple answer is yes and it happens gradually after a colectomy/ileostomy. The problem after surgery is not only the loss of water but more importantly the loss of electrolytes. When this surgery was being perfected in the 1940s and 50s, the chief cause of post-surgical mortality was the loss of electrolytes. There were great improvements in survival when it became possible to monitor blood levels of electrolytes several time a day and normalize these levels with intravenous addition of fluids with electrolytes to keep them balanced. At some point, varying from days to weeks, the body's regulatory systems kick in so that the small bowel takes over this job from the colon. There are physical changes in the small bowel, as well. I had my colectomy/ileostomy (for UC) in 1963. In 1969, I had another surgery to deal with a peristomal hernia and my stoma was moved from the right side of my abdomen to the left side. My surgeon told me that the pathologist who examined the removed tissues was amazed that the final portion of the small bowel (the ileum) had an appearance that looked more like colon than small bowel. The back-up control systems of our bodies are wonderful; else we would all be dead.