Slow Down Ileostomy Output to Change Bags?

[cosmo123]

I've had an ileostomy for 12 years and I'm a quadriplegic. I have about 50% use of my hands and I can manage to change my ileostomy bag every 2 days with just a little help. I find it easiest to change bags laying down on my back early in the morning. Do any of you smart people out there have any tricks to possibly to slow down, pause or stop the stool output for maybe 5-10 minutes while I change bags?

Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

[To Dream a Dream]

Hello Cosmo: I, too, have an ileo (with a surgically shortened bowel) making changes an unpredictable experience. I try to limit my diet to fairly low residue the evening before a scheduled change. Often taking a half of an Imodium tablet at bedtime. I wish I could provide more enlightened advice, but even after all these years I have yet to find a perfect solution. I also schedule my changes every two (if I dare risk it, three) days in the morning flat in the bathtub.
Good to hear from you.

[Mysticobra]

I've had mine a bit over six years.
Tried many things.
But this is what works for me now.
I eat a breakfast sandwich every morning.
So I paid attention to what it did afterwards for a period of time.
As soon as I eat I will discharge what was there before. I do also stop eating about 12 hours before a change.
I will wait an hour and empty a few more times and it would go dormant for a period of time.
So now during that period of time I go take it off and shower and reapply my stuff.
This is not a surefire thing for everyone of course. But 9 out of 10 times it works!
I am fortunate enough to only have to change once a week. If I don't spring a leak.
I do remember at the beginning drinking coffee and trying or doing a change and painting the walls.. Lol.
The way I do it is probably not for everyone. But it works for me.
I'm sorry your at a disadvantage. That certainly makes it more difficult to deal with.
I wish we could all make them last longer and not change as often.
My 2 cents.
Richard

[JohnCarr]

I don't know if it works, but I remember being told by my wound nurse when I got my ileostomy in 2006 that eating a couple of marsh mellows will stop output activity for a short while. Good luck to you.

[Mysticobra]

Peanut butter works too. Cheese too. Mashed potatoes.
I tried the marshmallow thing with no results.
I think different things work for different people.
The 3 I mentioned I usually stay away from because they alse slip under my wafer and leak.
I do miss mashed potatoes. I can eat them but it will cause a leak.
Richard.

[Stovegut]

It is an approved use in the Physicians Desk Reference (note I am not a doctor) Imodium or Loperamide will reduce discharge of an ileostomy. Loperamide slows the peristaltic contractions giving increased pass through, aiding absorption. The liquid version works faster. The website of a store that starts with a W, has bottles of two hundred for around thirty dollars. In addition peanuts in moderation sweet potato well chewed corn apples greens broccoli cabbage oranges in other words what we should be eating already. I offer no advice, but this works for me.

[To Dream a Dream]

Mysticobra, have you tried Hungry Jack instant potato flakes? You can control the thickness by how much liquid you add.
Stovegut, welcome to our Discussion Board. It's so nice to have new members posting, also.

[Mara]

cosmo123 - is there a particular reason why you change every two days? I also have an ileostomy and change once a week usually. I change first thing in the morning before I eat or drink anything and usually have no discharge. If I do it is usually minimal. Then again I am not doing it laying down like you do.

[Mysticobra]

Mysticobra, have you tried Hungry Jack instant potato flakes? You can control the thickness by how much liquid you add.
Stovegut, welcome to our Discussion Board. It's so nice to have new members posting, also.

Nope. Haven't tried those.
But the slightest bit slows me down.
What bothers me if it slows and gets thick it tends to go under the wafer and leak.
Especially cheese. I had two enchiladas the other day. My wife made them. She said there wasn't much cheese in them. But I didn't have a movement for over six hours!
I thought for sure it was gonna leak. I got lucky.
I'll have to try the dried potatoes thing.
I miss mashed potatoes. I was the king of making the mashed potatoes on holidays!
Not that it's difficult.
But I have to pass on anything that thickens. It won't block me. Just cause a leak.

Back to the topic.
Timing is everything. No matter what other issues are present.
Paying attention daily to when it's inactive will give you a good time to try changing..
Doing a change first thing surely is a good option.
Richard.