Recent Change of My Ileostomy's Output Color Change

Okay, this is a question - which has me scratching my head.

As most of you already know, I am unable to eat solid food, and I drink ready-made, nutritionally complete chocolate Fortisip.
Normally, I have only noticed a change of color is due to my drinking something with food coloring in it.

But the last few days, I have not drunk anything with a color in it, and my output has changed from a chocolate color to a dark green output, and I don't understand why.

Any thoughts?

Gracie

Hi Gracie Bella,

I'm sure you'll find plenty of support and advice from the large community here. Everyone is really helpful and understanding.

Regarding your question, a change in output color can sometimes be due to bile, which is naturally green. If your digestive system is processing things a bit faster than usual, it might not have time to change to the usual color. Stress or changes in your routine can also affect this. However, if you're concerned or if this continues, it might be a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider just to be safe.

Remember, there are thousands of members here. You can use the search feature to find others who might be nearby or around your age. It can be really comforting to connect with someone who understands what you're going through.

Grace,

{Perplexity has "this" to say} ...

I would consider a starter for six may suggest that:

 

"Green ileostomy output is typically caused by two main factors: Bile: When you haven't eaten for a while or have a stomach bug, bile from your stomach can come out through your stoma, resulting in green output. This is often a dark green color and is usually not a cause for concern. 
 Diet: Certain foods can change the color of your ileostomy output. Leafy green vegetables are common culprits for causing a looser, greener output.
It's important to note that green output is generally normal and not a cause for alarm. However, if you notice a bright green "Ghostbuster slime" colored output, it could indicate a C-Diff infection, which requires immediate medical attention."

 

 

Soooooooooooooooo Grace,

Given that you have not consumed an overdose of green veggies [which you won't have done] - just be sure to monitor ...

AND hopefully the green you mention is NOT A BRIGHT GREEN SLIME ...

BUT CARE ... for we do understand your immune system is delicate to say the least ...

 

Good luck -

Hope all is OK

 

 

 

BW

J

Thanks, Jayne,

Mmm. I wonder if it is my ESBL E. coli infection in my gut that has caused the change in color... I have let my stoma nurse know, as I have no idea how long I have to wait before I can start the Carbapenem antibiotics....
Having my gallbladder removed, I do sometimes get a lot of yellow bile, but I am used to that, usually it happens in the morning after I have fasted overnight.
But, I was a little bit confused about the color the last few days.

And I know about the weird green color, as I have had that after having long bowel surgeries. My bowel HATES being touched, and it usually takes a bit before it gets over its bad mood, and I stop vomiting... I have driven my specialist and nurses up the wall because I cannot stand a nasal gastric tube down my nose!
Frankly, I prefer to just vomit, rather than have one put in.

I was told by a doctor that dark green tinge was bile. You say you usually get yellow for bile but it's possible that this is either a higher or a lower amount than you've seen in the past. 

NG tubes are the worst. I've had it twice and hated it each time. The second time was done by a nurse who didn't know what she was doing and kept shoving the tube in, making me bleed. Then she told me a little bleeding was normal. But she still hadn't gotten the tube in. And then when she managed to get the tube in, she thought she'd gotten it in my lung and had to do an X-ray just to be sure, and told me in the meantime that it would be very bad and dangerous if it had gone in my lung. That did a lot for calming me down. Not.

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister

I had a 24-plus-hour surgery, and my specialist had put a nasogastric tube down my nose. He'd warned the nurses in the recovery room that I could not stand them—I don't think he meant for them to keep an eye on me the entire time. Anyway, apparently when I was still partially out of it, I pulled it out. The nurses were furious. However, my specialist had warned them because he thought I might do that. The nurses wanted to put another one in, and he said not to bother because he knew when he put the one in during surgery that this could happen.
I have very small septums, and having a tube put up there—nope, I prefer to vomit!