Controlling stoma output

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I had a hospital appointment in town today so have been fasting since yesterday in the hope my bag would not fill up while I was out and about. Doing that has worked before but today it's not made any difference. The bag suddenly filled up to almost bursting point while I was on the tube platform to go home. I managed to find a loo in the adjacent overland station and the day was saved.

I found it sort of traumatic being jostled about by crowds of travellers while all the time hoping my bag would not burst on me. Has anyone got a magic formula I can use to make things more predictable?

Kareno62 over 5 years ago

Hi AEC and sorry to hear about your stressful situation. The only thing that I can think of may be the amount or type of fluid that you were having? I’m not suggesting that you include fluids in your fasting (definately not) but I used to find that my first couple of cups of tea a day were ok and after that they seemed to go through into the bag as quickly as I was drinking them.? My friend also found that orange juice/squash gave her a very liquid output.

Its hard to strike a balance sometimes isn’t it and I remember frantically searching for a toilet in Italy as I surreptitiously supported my bag under my coat. I’m tagging in our resident expert to see if he can offer any advice.

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

FormerMember over 5 years ago

AEC

There is nothing worse than finding yourself in place with no visible toilets and a full bag.

I'm not sure if fasting is an answer, I was in hospital last week and was nil by mouth for two days and over these days my stoma was as active as ever and when I started to eat again for about a day my stoma was active but produced very little output.

But as we are all different it could be that your stoma reduces output immediately.

I make it a practice to always visit the loo immediately before leaving home, as soon as I reach my destination and if sitting in a hospital or doctors waiting room visit the loo and again after the appointment. It's so long since I've been on the tube I can't remember if the stations have toilets or not, I don't think I would relish a tube journey these days.

Have you considered on future similar days that you take some immodium to slow the process down.

Apart from the above I'm afraid the magic formula eludes me.

Ian

AEC over 5 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Thanks Karen. Thanks Ian. I only drink water really. Does water go into the bag? I'm assuming it's passed as urine. I'm seeing the dietician next week and will ask what she thinks.

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to AEC

AEC

Yes your assumption is correct most fluids do end up as urine but some fluid is diverted to the bowel and colon so that it can be absorbed into the food waste and help it make it easier to pass through.

It's also why we are told to drink between 1½ to 2 litres per day to make sure that we don't lose too much fluids and electrolytes through our stoma and become dehydrated especially ileostomates.

Ian