Composition of Waste

After 10 months since sigmoid colostomy, I still have trouble identifying some foods that cause not only rapid transit but stools that seem too soft and sticky; hence, they are difficult to clean out from my 2-piece Hollister and require multiple bag changes after dinner, which is exhausting. Normally, I have avoided all alcohol, but the last few times, though very infrequent, seem to cause these problems. Before early dinner last night, I had just a very small amount of scotch, an average dinner, and lactose-free ice cream with a small amount of chocolate syrup.

So, my question to all is: have you had experiences with either or both foods causing these results? I have lactose-free milk in the morning cereal without issue, so I'm thinking it's the alcohol. Of course, I can experiment, but I'm wondering if alcohol is really the ultimate cause.

Normally, I'm very careful to avoid all the inappropriate foods, though I'm faced with short transit time regardless. I take Metamucil daily per Gastro Dr, so I don't have to have another CT, which he recommended, plus a colonoscopy to further determine other causes of this rapid transit.

Any and all comments are very much appreciated!

G-Day OJ,

When you say you change your bag multiple times after dinner, don't you just empty the bag and not completely change it?

Regards, IGGIE

If you have rapid transit that will be causing most of the problems, are you losing weight? .....easier to do when you're at home. Could you use drainable bags, and when needed, use a small bottle of water to rinse the bag out instead of changing it so often?

Hi!

I am 16 months out from colostomy surgery.

I do have a transverse colostomy, though, so it's a bit different from yours. Cereal, milk (lactose-free or not), as well as ice cream, cause significant output for me and are very thick.

I tried keeping a food diary for a while but gave up due to different results from eating/drinking the same foods and liquids.

Alcohol (liquor), if consumed on an empty tummy, will cause liquid output fairly quickly, but after meals, it does not affect output. The same goes for wine. I do not drink beer.

Have you tried Imodium to slow output? There are several members on this site who use this and have good results. I have tried this and had varying results.

Multiple bag changes are exhausting, especially at night when you're trying to relax.

I use warm water to rinse my bag as I empty it. I carry an empty small water bottle when I go out so I can use that when away from home.

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Doesn't Metamucil make you poop? Add in something new to your diet, the alcohol in this case, and poof… a lot of poop. What are the “inappropriate foods”? Hopefully, you're not talking about that dumb generic list that we all get when we first get an ostomy because it's about 99% wrong on what you can and can't eat. Are you lactose intolerant? If not, why use lactose-free foods?

I assume you are using closed-end bags, which is why you are changing bags frequently and you are not changing your appliance.

You might find it less exhausting to use drainable bags, though I understand a preference for the closed-end bags and use them myself.

I also have a sigmoid colostomy and frequent watery diarrhea. Alcohol and coffee are reliable causes of faster transit for me. But I still tend toward fast transit without those sources. I've tried completely eliminating milk products, and it did not help. Sorry I can't help more; I haven't been able to solve my problem either.

Alcohol won't cause rapid transit, but it does increase the output, as reported by many. Combined with the other things you had, it might just cause rapid transit as well. Check to see if the same thing happens with scotch and other items that you eat. Best wishes.

Thanks