Hydration Tips for Ileostomy Patients

Morning all ~

I have an ileostomy and would like to know how much water intake I should have each day? They talk about dehydration with having an ileostomy and I wonder how much everyone is drinking.

Thank you

Susan M

Hi Susan:

Yes, hydration is crucial if you have an ileostomy. I was told that I needed to drink about 2 L (about 68 oz.) of fluids (water, juice, milk, etc.). So I pretty much have a water bottle near me at all times and take a sip or three when it occurs to me. If your output is particularly watery, you might want to drink a bit more to accommodate.

Too much water is not good. Try OstoAI from the Forum menu.

You do need to keep hydrated, but as Xnine says, too much can be a problem too. You need electrolytes with that water, including sodium, or all that water will just flush nutrients from your body. There are lots of different hydration drinks and solutions. I use a powder called Vega Sport Hydration that I mix with water. It's OK to just drink plain water, but not exclusively. Everything you drink throughout the day counts, so coffee, tea, juices, etc. It's a good idea to have your doctor test you for micronutrients occasionally to make sure you aren't being depleted.

Terry

G-Day Susan,

Google hydration and learn all you can about the amount of water, but even more important is to learn about electrolytes.

Regards, IggIe

My Ostomy Journey: Keyla | Hollister

Hi Susan, welcome to the site. Water is the least of what I drink. Like others said, drink a combination of different fluids, and everyone is different in how much you need depending on your lifestyle. I drink a powder mix called Liquid IV, also Gatorade from a powder, as well as coffee, milk, tea, and occasionally V-8 juice.

Thank you for the info.~

Much appreciated!

Thank you, and I will do AI ~

Thank you, and I will ask Dr. to check micro nutrients on my next visit.

I've noticed many indicating electrolytes ~ will look into that for sure ~ TY

Thank you for the info, and I will look into this liquid IV and electrolytes everyone is mentioning. I appreciate the advice!

Ileostomies do require liquid monitoring. My husband and I watched carefully how much he was drinking initially because his sodium would drop if he drank too much. After 3 years, he was pretty much drinking fluids normally. So, of course, now his kidney function labs were a tad off. Like others said, if the output is really liquid, drink a little more. Also, sometimes my husband likes a third cup of coffee. If he does that, he will drink extra water. It can be a crazy roller coaster.

Terry, best advice on this thread. Before surgery, I would dehydrate all the time, UC Crohn's. I couldn't drink enough water. Developed stones in both kidneys. The dietician put me on a hydration mix, and it works! You can make it on your stove or pay a lot of money. I mix 1/3 Gatorade to 2/3 water, $6 for an 8-pack of 20 oz bottles. Gives me 32 16 oz bottles. I've seen Caitlin drink orange. I like Fierce Grape.

I was told to drink G Zeros; it's better for you, keeps you hydrated, and has fewer leaks! Cheers 🥂

Thank you all for the great input! My doctor suggested starting with Litholyte, 3 packets a day. I'll have everything checked out in 3 months, but right now I am feeling good. I wonder sometimes if I would realize that I'm not drinking enough? I'll have to look into the signs just to be safe.

Everyone have a great Sunday!

My doctor said 62 oz a day. I'm a hot tea drinker, and as long as it's caffeine-free, it counts. Don't ask me why.

My ostomy nurse told me to drink 8 oz of water every time I emptied my pouch, plus drink a bottle of Powerade once a day so I don't dehydrate.

I use Drip Drop in my water; it's the best-tasting hydration mix I have found. Sip on it all day and night. Just plain water is okay to a point, but we need electrolytes.

I was told to drink 8-10 glasses of water each day. I drink coffee, hot tea, plain filtered water, filtered water with Liquid IV, as well as Costco's Kirkland chicken bone broth to increase my protein intake. All liquids count towards that 8-10 glasses. Broth-based soups count, too!

If my output is more liquid, I'll drink at least the equivalent of 10 glasses.

I never leave the house without a 20 oz. bottle of water, with or without electrolyte powder, and that bottle is always empty by the time I get home from my shopping or other excursions.

Hello Susan

From the other side of the Atlantic, we are told to drink no more than 2L a day; all fluid intake counts, and if your output is very watery, we take a tablet called "Imodium," which contains Loperamide.

No one told me that only water was bad, and that's what I drink other than a cup or two of coffee in the morning, and maybe a glass of pop at lunch. Other than that, I take water with me everywhere I go and drink it. And I take 2 Imodiums before each meal and 2 before bed; that's 8 per day per my doctor. My output is usually very liquid.

G-Day Dyan,

You will get away with water alone for some time, but water alone washes the electrolytes out of your body, and you will end up very dehydrated. Dyan, read up about electrolytes and start taking some.

Regards, IGGIE

Just passed a year with an ileostomy and luckily haven't had problems with hydration. I drink 2 cups of tea each morning and then water during the day. When I am more active, playing pickleball, I drink a bottle of coconut water after I play to replenish electrolytes. I like the Bao brand.

As a sports mom, I always hated all the sports drinks that my boys and their teams drank; they all tasted the same to me.🥺

I drink Gfit a lot. It's low-cal, low-sugar, and has electrolytes in it. You can even get a version with vitamins in it too. Gfit is for Gatorade Fit. It's not the same as regular Gatorade. It's a better-for-you version. It has 10 to 15 calories per bottle.

G-Day Dyan,

So what are you drinking to replenish your electrolytes?

IGGIE