Are Snacks Essential After an Ileostomy?

Hello everyone,

I had an experience today, and I am wondering if anyone else had it…

I normally do not snack during the day. I have a late breakfast and then eat dinner.

Today, dinner was coming a bit later than normal, so I expected to feel hungry. It is the first time since getting my ileostomy that I have not had my dinner at the regular time.

The hunger pangs I experienced were debilitating. I could barely walk into the house. I could not sit or stand; I was twisted in knots on the floor. Luckily, I happened to be visiting with my parents, so my mom grabbed me a piece of bread to nosh on until dinner was ready.

My question to all of you: do you feel your “empty stomach” cramping is more intense since you got your ileostomy/colostomy? Or is this just my own quirk?

Hubz says no, but he has three regular meals throughout the day. Sounds like the piece of bread did the trick!

I guess I will need to carry snacks with me from now on. I don't want to get caught if I happen to be out.

I think carrying snacks is a good idea. I'd expect that with a potentially faster digestion, you would be more prone to hypoglycemia. A protein bar or two would provide peace of mind.

Think of it like this:

If your output is high (as with an ileostomy) and your input is low, then you best be snacking in between meals.

My hunger has increased; rather, my input has increased due to high output. The new norm.

If you're on the floor due to hunger pains, eat something light and nutritious to hold you over.

My Ostomy Journey: Keyla | Hollister

I agree with what SusanT said; it sounds like hypoglycemia. If you carry snacks around with you, then you can avoid that issue in the future. Also, you should try to eat 3 meals or 5 small meals a day so that you are getting nutrition throughout the day. If you have hypoglycemia, you really do need to have snacks with you. Talk to your doctor about it. I think there is a way to diagnose that. I have known people with hypoglycemia before. They have a snack with them at all times.

Snickers 🍫

My digestion was so slow for my entire life and progressively got slower and slower that I was not ready for how things are now. I think I'm still slower than most people with an ileostomy, but compared to where I was before… my digestion is now at warp speed.

Adjustments will need to be made.

Thank you, everyone…

Susan T, I am so grateful that you're in my life; you answer questions before I even verbalize them! Thank you so much.

I used to get very bad hunger pangs, but not to the point of my stomach hurting. I couldn't feel satiated no matter what I ate. I found that Ultra Berberine 500 MG twice a day has really helped, and now I don't feel as hungry. I do, however, try to eat a little something about 110 - 150 calories every couple of hours to prevent going into a hunger craze because then, once I get hungry, I can't help eating too much.

Eat protein, especially. Even a protein drink.

I was wondering if anyone else has been experiencing this, and now I know. Most of the time, if I just drink a lot of water until I get some food, it helps.

The key is variety: drinks, snacks, fruits, so one doesn't get bored.

I always carry a cereal bar with me in my bag and in the car - for me, anything with oats in it is brilliant (slow release energy and also helps slow my output a little).

Here in the UK, we have Graze bars in the supermarket, and they are a perfect pocket size!

When I was first diagnosed with Crohn's, if a meal was delayed, I would get severe stomach pains.

Over the last few years, since my ileostomy, I have settled into a routine where I have regular meal times, and that problem doesn't usually happen. I do have a snack (biscuits with my mid-afternoon cup of tea) to tide me over to my evening meal.

If I get an occasion where a meal is going to be very late, I will snack.

My husband has never complained about feeling hungry or having cramping. He doesn't eat on a regular schedule. Usually, it's a late breakfast, a snack in the afternoon, and an early dinner.

My problem is I'm never hungry. I have to force myself to eat 3 meals. I don't eat anything after 6 p.m. But I have found a snack bar that I keep in my car just in case.

We "preach" (teach) 6 small meals a day for ileostomates. This helps reduce hunger and "dumping," where pouches can overfill and output comes down as a large volume due to the huge bolus meal. Also, sometimes our bodies misinterpret our signals for thirst as hunger. Sometimes you may be dehydrated or on the verge of dehydration and feel a sense of hunger. You can try an electrolyte beverage to help alleviate those hunger pains.

Post-op, Mayo gave me a pile of booklets to read. Having a short bowel and no colon, you cannot retain nutrition and water. Eat several small meals and drink 8 glasses a day. My surgeon would say, "PBJ, every day." I eat 4 times a day. If I don't hydrate while hiking, I get dizzy and weak, which causes kidney stones.

If you're caught by the snack police, explain the situation. 🤭🤣

I always bring snacks with me. I have an ileostomy; snacks for me are a must. Give it a try. My colorectal surgeon told me to snack throughout the day. Hope this helps.

Hi Lollidolly, though I know dehydration is a thing with ileostomy, it is not in my case. I have been living with pain for nearly 40 years and take meds that dry out my mouth. Therefore, I am always drinking something. I am not used to eating frequently or a lot when I do eat. So it was pretty clear I was ravenous. 😆

Hey Lollidolly, can you expand on this “dumping” phenomenon? I am having my first visit with the stoma nurse on Wednesday, and now I wonder if I am “dumping.” 😳 If I am, I want to be sure to mention it to the nurse.

Power bars are better if you want to watch your sugar and health. I shoot for 20 mg of protein.

Hey Rocks! Yes, dumping syndrome is marked by cramps or pains after eating. And the Mayo resource shares this explanation. Hope this helps!

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dumping-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20371915

Lollidolly, thanks for the dumping data.

I will give it a review tomorrow.

Lollidolly, I'm not dumping… I guess it's just how I evacuated 🤷🏻‍♀️