Is Stool Softener Safe to Use with an Ileostomy?

Is stool softener safe to use with an ileostomy? I've cut back on Imodium since yesterday due to constipation and issues passing gas (Gas-X has helped) and wondered if stool softener would help thicken output.

If you want to thin out your stool, I would try prune juice, coffee, etc. A stool softener "softens" the poop. If you have been constipated, you definitely need to stop with the Imodium.

I'm not quite sure I can help. Other than to be careful of those stool softeners and the hardeners. Usually, with an ileo, you have high liquid output, so you're taking something to bulk up, and apparently, that causes a problem. Now you want to take something to loosen it or soften it.

So I don't know how to respond to something like that, having no issue myself.

I think you should speak to a more qualified person. You will get people here who are obviously going through the same thing you are, and they will give you the pros and cons. I simply cannot do that. Sit tight, though.

I'm sorry I can't help you, but be careful when you're taking supplements like that. And also, if you eat properly and hydrate, you should not have too much of a problem. But I understand you've had issues with blockage, so there is that concern as well.

How much loperamide were you using? Personally, I found that 2 mg twice a day was too much for me. 2 mg with breakfast seems to be doing what I "need." With loperamide, starting with low doses is the best way, in my opinion.

If too thick right now, the stool softener may help. But I would turn to liquids such as what Morning Glory recommends. It won't take long for your ship to right itself and you can try again.

Daniel

I have been taking 8 mg of Imodium daily and doing fine (2 pills in the morning, 1 at noon, and 1 in the evening). My output is thinner now since I've cut down on Imodium (only had 2 mg since issues started yesterday). Output is actually more than usual now (likely because of less Imodium), but my stomach is not 100%, as if there is a gas buildup or something. I'm wondering if it was caused by some bad food from a restaurant on Thursday night (though I didn't feel any issues until after breakfast on Friday). My appetite has been okay today. I know it's not a blockage, but it's just different than I have felt with this ileostomy (only had it for 2 months). However, I often felt similarly before having an ostomy, and Gas-X and/or a stool softener would help. Thank you, everyone, for your ideas.

Hi there, with an ileostomy we don't take stool softeners or laxatives. To thin it out, you have to find what works best for you. It could be juice, some type of sugar, or coffee. We are all different in that aspect. There is something different that will thin each of us ileostomies out, as well as what thickens us up. You just have to find what yours is. Mine is apple juice, frosting, and Gatorade. Sometimes you have to go on an all-liquid diet.

I swear by black tea to thin it and rice, mashed potatoes, and my new favorite, boiled plantains, to thicken it. Always use good sea salt; get your salt in, particularly when trying to thin output. Pure leaf unsweetened black tea works for me to thin it. But I'm usually so focused on thickening it, it's strange to me that you would want to thin it with an ileostomy. I'm almost curious to know what you were eating to make it so thick?

Hi there, I always run thick. I have the complete opposite of what others have, and it doesn't matter what I eat or how much liquid I have. I have always run thick since day one; it's just how my body is. I purposefully stay away from bread and everything that they say will thin you, lol, doesn't touch me. I find ways and know what to stay away from. I am not written in the ostomy book, lol.

Wow, I am jealous. LOL. For me, the thinner it is, the more leaks and risk of acid burn.

While I appreciate everyone's zeal in offering their ideas, I do want to point out that I was trying to make my output thicker and not thinner. :)

Either way, having switched up the amount of Imodium (since no constipation today) with some Gas-X today, my appetite has been baseline and the past couple of hours my stomach has felt normal.

Being thick too, it happens the same with burning. I have to manually push it off from around my stoma, but I know where you are coming from and saying with the liquid. There's one spot during the day where my stomach pushes out all liquid and then thick comes after. I have gastroparesis as well, so the liquid comes out before any food. So I have to time drinking my liquids carefully.

I do really apologize. From reading, it sounded like you were trying to thin it. Have you found foods that work for you? Breads or potatoes? Peanut butter?

If you are taking Imodium and constipated, cutting back on Imodium is an excellent thing to do. You should be able to take a stool softener, but the best stool softener is drinking more fluids. That is the fastest way to get softer stools. Be careful with Metamucil, and Colace should be no problem. Another suggestion is messaging CrappyColonDiaries from Ohio, who might be able to give you some suggestions.

You're fine :)

I've been finding foods that seem to work fine but still dependent on Imodium, at least for now. Smaller meals and really chewing food have helped. Hopefully, I just had a random bad 1-2 days (since I wasn't doing anything differently).