How Does an Ileostomy React to Food Poisoning?

Hi,

How does the ileostomy function if you have food poisoning? Is it all liquid and nonstop output like a water faucet?

Interesting question - thanks for posting. I have wondered this myself, being an ileo… Fortunately, I have not experienced food poisoning or any type of stomach flu in the 4 years I have been an osty, but it crosses my mind a lot. I will be watching for replies… Thanks… jb

Yes, good topic. It is easy to get dehydrated. Sports drinks or Pedialyte are good things to take for liquids when that is occurring. A couple of years ago, I was vomiting, had lots of output, and was getting dizzy when I would stand up. I spent Christmas Eve in the ER with an IV to rehydrate me. What happened to me is not always necessary, but be aware you can quickly lose electrolytes and get dehydrated with a stoma, especially an ileostomy.

I might add I have never visited that Italian restaurant since that happened.

The dizziness is from low blood pressure. Been there. Had that.

Common with dehydration. Never knew that or was warned about it.

Yes, you're not far off how the output is; my mom gave me food poisoning a few weeks after having my ileostomy. She really loves me, lol. The first thing you do is increase fluid intake... the worst should be over in a few hours. You will feel very weak. If you start having blackouts, you would need to go to A&E. The difference between food poisoning and a bug is that with food poisoning, you should take something like loperamide/codeine to try and slow the output down.

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If you stop drinking for hours or days, you will be dead from dehydration. You have to drink more if you have diarrhea. No wonder you ended up in the ER. Regards, IGGIE

Hi all, on a weekend trip a few years ago, we stopped at a hole-in-the-wall burger joint and ate burgers and fries. That evening, it started non-stop filling the pouch. I couldn't get any sleep that night going to the bathroom to empty and trying to keep drinking fluids and taking loperamide. So, we cut the trip short and my wife drove home, and in a couple of days, I started to feel better.

So, I ended up getting salmonella right after my bag in November of 2020. It was horrible. I have severe output normally. However, as some have said, it only takes a few hours to get dangerously dehydrated. Also, to top it off, when folks with G.I. issues have major diarrhea or output, you're at severe risk for C. diff. Yep. And if you guessed right, I had to deal with that right after the salmonella. Vancomycin followed right after Cipro. Recommendations: Don't eat anywhere questionable, or eggnog. I blame eggnog, lol.

I spent two and a half weeks in the hospital. Severe diarrhea. I was hooked up to two IV's. Finally it cleared up.

Ciprofloxacin gives me dreadful diarrhoea- both before I had my ileo and since. It's the only antibiotic that does so I know now to ask for an alternative if possible.