UOAA Discussion Board

Before my colostomy I went once a day and often once every two or three days. With this I am having to empty the bag three and four times a day, day and night. It is not diarrhea but it is somewhat loose and a lot. Is there a way to get back to more normal?

Fogey:
If your colostomy surgery was fairly recent (say, within the last 6-7 months), it is not unusual to have intestinal hypermotility with frequent episodes of “dumping.”

Surgery and resection of a portion of intestine or rerouting of intestine and creation of a stoma is traumatic to the intestinal tract. Embedded in the walls of the intestine are specialized glial cells and receptors that interact with endocrine hormones (ex. Adrenalin, dopamine). Intestinal movement in the first 6-8 months after surgery can be varied and unpredictable.

Added sugar does aggravate stomach and intestinal dumping syndrome. Avoid sugar-ladened energy and sports drinks. Ex. Gatarode and regular PowerAide have significant added sugar and will add to dumping syndrome. Better is to hydrate with a 50-50 mix of fruit juice and water or use of any one of the low sugar electrolyte supplements that you add to water (Nunn’s Tablets, Ultima electrolyte packers, Emergen C).

Eating small portion sizes and grazing rather than consuming a full-sized meal is also helpful to minimize stomach and intestinal dumping. The key is to avoid overwhelming the intestinal tract with too much food volume.

I think you will find that your intestinal system and volume of liquidy output will ease in the weeks and months ahead. Continue to be gentle with food choices and portion sizes. Your intestine has been traumatized and is still in a degree of physiological “shock.” Be gentle to your intestines and to yourself while healing.
Karen

Thank you so much for your response. The surgery was about seven months ago and it has been so unpredictable regarding output. Again, thanks for your help.

Fogey,
Many people are irrigating so they have more control, That really cleans you out ..you can read on that here: viewforum.php?f=12

Again even that is a learning curve and it may take a lil time to master what works for you..
best of luck
sassie

Thank you.

I empty 3-4 times a day as well, but for me it's a positive change. A consideration is that with the lower portion of the colon removed, the reabsorption of fluid is reduced which reduced the number of bowel movements so my theory is shorter gut, more frequent output.

Thank you.

I second the advice of looking into irrigation. Like you, I was pretty regular with bowel movements pre colostomy. After the surgery, and I had almost all of my colon remaining (my cancer was very low in the rectum), it felt like my bowels were moving all day long! I didn't start irrigation until a year post surgery. My pre surgery bowel routines never returned. I've been irrigating daily ever since. It gave me back some control, improved the mild depression I was dealing with at the time, and SIGNIFICANTLY improved my quality of life. And, I couldn't have done it without the folks on these boards. They were very helpful. It might be something you want to investigate...

David

Thank you.

For me, cheese will bulk me up. Prior to my diagnoses, I did BM's once a day in the morning. Only time I had diarrhea was when I was sick. Since radiation, my new normal is to start out firm stool output only to be followed up with liquid output. When I have liquid, i know I am done for the day. Only time that may change is if I eat cheese (like on Friday night pizza) then I don't go for up to 24 hrs. Of if I eat salad greens, especially spinach, I will be going liquid within an hour. Like clockwork.

Please note, I was diagnosed in 2004 with stage IIIC rectal cancer. Radiation was very hard on me, and is the primary reason I have a colostomy bag today. That bag gave me my life back following radiation. Know that there have been a lot of advancements since my radiation (mine was like 3 generations ago)

Sometimes, it's just finding your new normal. Good luck,

Lee

Thank you for your response.

A quick note with caution. Some folks use Immodium to slow down output, especially ileostomates. I'll probably try this myself since I had my colostomy removed and had surgery for an ileostomy on Nov. 1 Things are still changing and I'm watching -- it's a process. Liquid Immodium can be titrated and you can experiment with the dose. But caution is necessary to avoid constipation or a blockage.

Good luck!

Diane C.

Thank you.

nickolas wrote: 2019-01-10 18:13:12 For me, cheese will bulk me up. Prior to my diagnoses, I did BM's once a day in the morning. Only time I had diarrhea was when I was sick. Since radiation, my new normal is to start out firm stool output only to be followed up with liquid output. When I have liquid, i know I am done for the day. Only time that may change is if I eat cheese (like on Friday night pizza) then I don't go for up to 24 hrs. Of if I eat salad greens, especially spinach, I will be going liquid within an hour. Like clockwork.

Please note, I was diagnosed in 2004 with stage IIIC rectal cancer. Radiation was very hard on me, and is the primary reason I have a colostomy bag today. That bag gave me my life back following radiation. Know that there have been a lot of advancements since my radiation (mine was like 3 generations ago)

Sometimes, it's just finding your new normal. Good luck,

Lee

Hey Lee are you still on this board? Would love to chat with you I had the same type of cancer

Spark plug:
You can find Lee on the Colon Club forum where she is a regular member. Lee is more active on the Colon Club then she is on this UOAA forum. Her username on the Colon Club is “Lee.”

www.colonclub.com