Illeostomy with ringing in the ears issue and solution
Posted: 2025-12-25 11:44:00
Ah so with the onslaught of heat to battle the rare cold us South Florida residents experience, I started suffering with intense ear ringing at night especially.
A bypassed of removed colon which is responsible for salt and water update after digestion obviously isn't in play with an illeostomy, yet many just rehydrate with plain water which without the right amount of salt (and other electrolytes usually food takes care of) can cause issues.
So after lots of back and forth with ChatGPT it's basically comes down to these questions.
Symptoms (pattern)
Bilateral ear ringing (steady hiss)
Worse at night / early morning
Often wakes me up when emptying ileostomy bag
Dry mouth at night
Improves during the day
Improves with cooler air + fluids
Improves with a little ORS
Not constant 24/7
What this likely rules OUT
Cancer (brain/ear/GI) – symptoms fluctuate and reverse with environment & hydration
Stroke or neurologic disease – bilateral, no deficits
Inner ear damage / Ménière’s – no vertigo, no hearing loss, not progressive
Kidney failure – normal urine output/color
(Serious causes do not turn on/off with humidity, temperature, or fluids.)
Most likely causes (can overlap)
Too little effective hydration overnight
Common with ileostomy
Can occur even with clear/light urine
Low sodium relative to fluid
Plain water alone doesn’t restore volume well
Dry indoor air at night (HVAC / AC / heat)
Dries nasal passages & Eustachian tubes
Triggers tinnitus, especially lying down
Back-sleeping + mild mouth breathing
Increases airway dryness
Worsens ear pressure regulation
What helps (in order to try)
Air first
Cooler room
Add humidity (humidifier or window if effective)
Avoid dry air blowing toward face
Then fluids
Small amount of water + sodium (ORS or lightly salted water)
Avoid chasing symptoms with large volumes
Prevention
Sodium-containing drink before bed
Adequate total fluid intake during day
Background noise at night (avoid silence)
Key takeaway
This pattern is physiologic and reversible, common in people with ileostomies, and driven by overnight fluid/sodium balance + dry air, not a dangerous medical condition. - ChatGPT
As always double check everything with your physician as AI responses can be wrong, not adequately informed or other medical issues or medications could be responsible.
A bypassed of removed colon which is responsible for salt and water update after digestion obviously isn't in play with an illeostomy, yet many just rehydrate with plain water which without the right amount of salt (and other electrolytes usually food takes care of) can cause issues.
So after lots of back and forth with ChatGPT it's basically comes down to these questions.
Symptoms (pattern)
Bilateral ear ringing (steady hiss)
Worse at night / early morning
Often wakes me up when emptying ileostomy bag
Dry mouth at night
Improves during the day
Improves with cooler air + fluids
Improves with a little ORS
Not constant 24/7
What this likely rules OUT
Cancer (brain/ear/GI) – symptoms fluctuate and reverse with environment & hydration Stroke or neurologic disease – bilateral, no deficits Inner ear damage / Ménière’s – no vertigo, no hearing loss, not progressive Kidney failure – normal urine output/color(Serious causes do not turn on/off with humidity, temperature, or fluids.)
Most likely causes (can overlap)
Too little effective hydration overnight
Common with ileostomy
Can occur even with clear/light urine
Low sodium relative to fluid
Plain water alone doesn’t restore volume well
Dry indoor air at night (HVAC / AC / heat)
Dries nasal passages & Eustachian tubes
Triggers tinnitus, especially lying down
Back-sleeping + mild mouth breathing
Increases airway dryness
Worsens ear pressure regulation
What helps (in order to try)
Air first
Cooler room
Add humidity (humidifier or window if effective)
Avoid dry air blowing toward face
Then fluids
Small amount of water + sodium (ORS or lightly salted water)
Avoid chasing symptoms with large volumes
Prevention
Sodium-containing drink before bed
Adequate total fluid intake during day
Background noise at night (avoid silence)
Key takeaway
This pattern is physiologic and reversible, common in people with ileostomies, and driven by overnight fluid/sodium balance + dry air, not a dangerous medical condition. - ChatGPT
As always double check everything with your physician as AI responses can be wrong, not adequately informed or other medical issues or medications could be responsible.