Sleeping Through the Night with an Ileostomy - Tips?

Dear sassy222

Thanks for your advice. I will look into a bag with a spout and try out some samples with the overnight bag. I would really love to get back my sleep at night.

Avoiding heavy carbs helps me (e.g., rice, pasta, bread, potatoes). Protein seems to result in less output for me, so I try not to eat a big dinner and make sure there is lots of protein to fill me up (and not just meat). If I eat by 7 PM, with the last toilet trip at 9 PM before bed, I can make it to 6 AM (although I wake up with a full bag at that point!). It's taken a while to learn the impact of all different foods and the output they result in, so it is a journey figuring out what works for me. I always think even waking up once for a wee is a good night's sleep too, so I focus on that being a positive too.
Hope you find something that works for you.

I have had nights where I slept for 8 hours, but I always wake up with a tight balloon along with output from gas, and it's so tight that it makes my stoma hurt. I walk ever so carefully to the bathroom as it feels like it's ready to burst, and of course, I have to pee really bad, so I'm dancing as I'm emptying, trying not to pee myself, lol! Every night is different for me as my stoma has a mind of its own. Some nights I get up twice. Some nights more often.

I am laughing, thinking of you tiptoeing down the hall trying not to have a pee or cover the walls with Ostomy Soup. Next time, try and get it on video. Regards, IGGIE

I have those nights also. I need to pee first, but I don't. I've had my ileostomy for 50 years last month.

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister