Managing Bile Output with an Ileostomy

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?

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

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

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

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

My Ostomy Journey: Ryan | Hollister

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

Thank you!

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.

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.

Totally 100% agree with Beth.

Regards, IGGIE