Managing Bile Output with an Ileostomy

Replies
23
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238
ashtonilleo
Apr 11, 2025 7:18 am

Woke up this morning to my bag bursting and pumping yellow-looking bile out. I feel so drained and exhausted. Any advice on how to stop this bile?

Cheekymonkey111
Apr 11, 2025 7:59 am

Hope you get it sorted; no fun when stuff like this happens. Never had that issue myself, but I'm sure someone on here will be able to give some good advice.

Chin up; I'm sure it will be sorted and start behaving soon. x

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ashtonilleo
Apr 11, 2025 8:08 am
Reply to Cheekymonkey111

Thank you all. Fun and games, isn't it?

Mr Brightside
Apr 11, 2025 8:33 am

What did you eat yesterday? Could it be something that doesn't really digest well in the small intestine? I find my output is very watery if I have anything with dried fruit in it, very yellowish in color, etc.

Do you take loperamide? I find if my output goes watery, I eat a portion of chips or something with potato in it, as it's good at absorbing water.

Jelly babies are good too.

Hope you get sorted.

Mr B

IGGIE
Apr 11, 2025 8:35 am

G-Day,

Are you eating okay? I have noticed that if I don't eat enough, the bile in your belly has nothing to work on and can pump out just bile.

Check out your food level.

Regards, IGGIE

 

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ashtonilleo
Apr 11, 2025 8:56 am
Reply to IGGIE

I have been eating normally, but I have noticed that the food is coming out in lumps, undigested, amongst the bile. Sorry if that's a bit graphic.

ashtonilleo
Apr 11, 2025 8:57 am
Reply to Mr Brightside

I haven't eaten anything out of the ordinary, but I have noticed that what I ate for my tea last night is coming out undigested among the bile.

Mr Brightside
Apr 11, 2025 9:01 am
Reply to ashtonilleo

Nothing is too graphic for us on here; seen it all 😂

Personally, I think you need to take some loperamide to slow the function, eat something like white bread, anything that will break down completely.

Lower fluid intake a little; it's easy to overdo it with fluids with an ileostomy, but too much will make the output watery and dehydrate yourself.

Mr Brightside
Apr 11, 2025 9:01 am
Reply to ashtonilleo

Nothing is too graphic for us on here; seen it all 😂

Personally, I think you need to take some loperamide to slow the function, eat something like white bread, anything that will break down completely.

Lower fluid intake a little; it's easy to overdo it with fluids with an ileostomy, but too much will make the output watery and dehydrate yourself.

Axl
Apr 11, 2025 11:56 am

I have only seen bile, green in color, in the morning if I haven't eaten much the night before. Of course, a few things do go through undigested, but if you have eaten it before without issue, it should be okay. There have been times when I have drunk or eaten things that I haven't had before, and some of it just flew through me. One was a fermented lemon drink; I don't even know where it came from, but that just fell straight through without stopping. Could you have some sort of stomach bug?

eefyjig
Apr 11, 2025 12:05 pm

Your bag may have burst from the force of your stoma working so hard. Is it possible that you had a partial blockage?

Beth22
Apr 11, 2025 12:23 pm
Reply to ashtonilleo

Hey, chew, chew, chew, and then chew some more for the undigested stuff that is coming out, and as far as the yellow bile goes, it happens to me often—too much acid in the stomach. Then again, I also have GERD.

ashtonilleo
Apr 11, 2025 1:32 pm
Reply to eefyjig

This is what I'm wondering: my output has now turned really watery and black.

IGGIE
Apr 11, 2025 1:44 pm
Reply to ashtonilleo

Why don't you have a word with your ostomy nurse and let her check it out to be on the safe side? Good luck.

IGGIE

infinitycastle52777
Apr 11, 2025 2:01 pm

It might be the foods that you are eating. You said you are eating normally, but with an ileostomy, sometimes you can't eat what you normally would have eaten before your ileostomy. So look at what foods you are eating. If they are coming out whole in your bag, that means they are not digesting well. Maybe you need to change your diet. Also, if it is okay with your doctor, then yes, I agree with the above advice to take some Imodium. It will slow down your digestion and thicken up your output. I am sorry your bag burst on you. That is never any fun. But it's not your fault. These things just happen sometimes.

Mr Brightside
Apr 11, 2025 2:11 pm

Yes, I've been told so many times by my GP, my surgeon, and my stoma nurse to avoid food with skins like baked beans and green vegetables because of the high fiber, nuts, and seeds, as they can cause watery output, blockages, and skin irritation around the stoma.

Root vegetables (carrots, beetroot) are good if they are soft, potato-based foods, white bread, and white rice for energy. Bananas are pretty good; they thicken output and provide slow-release energy. Peanut butter, but only the smooth type, is also good. Salty snacks are good to soak up water, etc.

Do not drink with food because it waters down your stomach acid and stops it from digesting as effectively.

Mr Brightside
Apr 11, 2025 2:11 pm

Yes, I've been told so many times by my GP, my surgeon, and my stoma nurse to avoid food with skins like baked beans and green vegetables because of the high fiber, nuts, and seeds, as they can cause watery output, blockages, and skin irritation around the stoma.

Root vegetables (carrots, beetroot) are good if they are soft, potato-based foods, white bread, and white rice for energy. Bananas are pretty good; they thicken output and provide slow-release energy. Peanut butter, but only the smooth type, is also good. Salty snacks are good to soak up water, etc.

Do not drink with food because it waters down your stomach acid and stops it from digesting as effectively.

ashtonilleo
Apr 11, 2025 2:32 pm
Reply to infinitycastle52777

No, I mean I'm normal. What am I allowed to eat? I had my ileostomy a year ago.

infinitycastle52777
Apr 11, 2025 9:13 pm

I am not sure what the trouble could be then. Have you tried Imodium to slow down digestion and give things a chance to thicken up?

Beth22
Apr 11, 2025 10:52 pm
Reply to ashtonilleo

Hey there! From what you said about having undigested chunks of food and now being all liquid, it sounds like a partial blockage. Don't eat anything; switch to an all-liquid diet: chicken broth, water, juice, jello, and nutrition drinks. Liquids.

ashtonilleo
Apr 12, 2025 8:06 am
Reply to Beth22

Thank you!

Mr Brightside
Apr 12, 2025 8:15 am

It's also worth asking your GP to put loperamide on your repeat prescription. Buying Imodium is fine, but it adds up.

If you notice your output is loose, take two initially and then one each time it's loose until it thickens up. Also, while it's loose, slow down with fluid intake and eat something salty or something with gelatin in, like jelly babies or marshmallows. It will help you stop being dehydrated. When it's normal again, you can resume higher fluids to replace fluids lost while your output is watery.

Beth22
Apr 12, 2025 12:22 pm
Reply to Mr Brightside

Brightside, you don't want to take Imodium if you are partially blocked. You have to let the blockage pass. The only time you take Imodium is when you're constantly liquid and can't thicken it up with food. But in no case at all should you take it if you have any type of blockage.

IGGIE
Apr 12, 2025 12:58 pm
Reply to Beth22

Totally 100% agree with Beth.

Regards, IGGIE