Doctor call?

[hastings]

After nine years of consistency, about two weeks ago output changed from thick and formed, to all liquid. Also changed from 1-2 times daily to very infrequent. No change in diet or exercise (daily walk with dogs 1-2 miles).
Would like your opinion on whether this calls for a physcian (do not regularly go) or is it just another part of the aging process.

[To Dream a Dream]

I have an ileo which tends to be very liquid. If you have a GI doctor or ostomy nurse you might let them know & they can advise you.

[Diane C]

I had a urogyn infection and after surgery, I had diarrhea for a while. It turned out I was trying to hydrate SO much, I was OD'ing on caffeinated tea. I know tea usually has less than coffee but was having many ounces. However, you say, hastings, that your diet hasn't really changed. Bacteria (or ugh -- a virus) can cause diarrhea. So I also think if this goes on a while, it's worth it to get a test to check for a bacterial infection. If you're at risk of dehydration, maybe take a drink with electrolytes -- a sports drink like Gatorade -- or costly Pedialyte. But your doctor may want to see you first before you add this to the mix unless you're light-headed and dizzy. Hope it's nothing serious. These days with the pandemic, it can be caused by stress and anxiety. I do take Immodium every morning and usually at night but it hasn't been working so well in decreasing liquid output as much as I had hoped.

Good luck and report back. Not so ez to GET a doctor's appmt these days so I hope you can soon.

[steiconi]

Maybe I read the op wrong, but it sounds like constipation, not diarrhea.

Maybe something is constricting the bowel, so only liquid get through? Scar tissue, hernia, some sticky wad of something, regular constipation?

If there's no pain, I'd drink lots of extra water and hope to flush out the problem.

[hastings]

Many thanks for your replies snd thoughts, I spoke to an OCN who had no solutions , other than to suggest a visit to one of the surgions for a check. Considering my advanced age I probably will skip it. Other than the change, I feel ridiculously healthy, other than what one might expect at 83.

She did say that as long as gas was getting through, there was probably no blockage. I have detected a very faint odor, which might indicate gas passing through liquid before escaping. This is new as the filters have always worked (Convatec wafer).
New - now going several days without output.

[sassie]

maybe you could think about using water to loosen things up, just a idea"irragate" when i had a colostomy i used to do that, sometimes a glob would come out and things would go back to normal...

[hastings]

All clear - apparently an equipment problem. Sorry to have troubled everyone!