Is your output runny? Watch out for these so called "thickening recommendations"

[Shamrock4806]

Many times ileostomates are instructed when their output is too liquid, runny or excessive is to consume something very dry, or marshmallows or bananas to combat the diarrhea.

Unfortunately the digestive system can be quite lengthy and works in a linear fashion. So what is eaten now doesn't have an immediate effect. But what one is trying to do is reduce further diarrhea and return to a more pudding or soft paste like consistency.

Unfortunately dry things and bananas, because the digestive system is linear can absorb too much fluid and thus exit the stoma extremely thick which can push the wafer and break the barrier seal casing a leak.

A better option would be to consume regular unsweetened applesauce or a banana and fruit juice smoothie.

What this does is it pretty much keeps it's thick like consistency AND absorbs more liquid without clumping up and forcing the bag off.

Ideally it's best not to consume what caused the diarrhea in the first place but we all make mistakes or trying to learn.

So anyway I always now keep a store bought banana fruit juice smoothie in my refrigerator just in case I get diarrhea and need to drink half of it to get it to stop.

When I eat bananas and pealed apple slices it will just blow the wafer clean off. So if you have a similar problem then make the adjustment.


For ileostomies:

It’s not just which food thickens output — it’s whether that food carries enough water with it to reach the stoma in a smooth, sliding form.

[Mara]

Shamrock4806, What you posted is obviously your experience. I eat an apple - peeled - almost every day and have no problem.

[Shamrock4806]

Okay I had magnesium caused diarrhea and unfortunately the banana strawberry smoothie did not work and came out as runny as everything else.

ChatGPT warned me that it wouldn't work and it was correct.

So anyway I doubt eating plain bananas or pealed apple slices would have helped in the case of using a laxative like magnesium citrate supplements.

Yet another ileostomy caused mystery to solve.

[JerryNYC]

My own output may vary from pasty to watery. Each has its own issue. Too pasty can lead to "pancaking" around stoma area. Too watery can lead to a mess when emptying. For thickening, the most effective I've used is a powder named "Benefiber" mixed into a drink.

[Shamrock4806]

My own output may vary from pasty to watery. Each has its own issue. Too pasty can lead to "pancaking" around stoma area. Too watery can lead to a mess when emptying. For thickening, the most effective I've used is a powder named "Benefiber" mixed into a drink.

I'm doing better narrowing down the major culprits, one that caught me was salted ham slices that I didn't know had salt. So now I use low sodium sliced ham and no problems.