This topic is about managing sudden watery output for someone with Crohn’s disease who has a permanent ileostomy. The person is experiencing unexpected changes in their output despite following a strict diet and medication regimen. They are seeking to understand if this is a common occurrence for others in similar situations. Here are some helpful insights and advice:

- Sudden watery output is quite common for many people with an ileostomy or colostomy. It can last from a day to a week and might happen every few weeks, even when using medications like Imodium.
- Doctors often consider this typical behavior for an ileostomy and usually, it doesn't indicate a problem with the stoma itself.
- To thicken output, consider consuming:
- Bananas (one a day is often enough)
- The BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast
- Foods like jelly or Jell-O, custard, mashed potatoes, rice, creamy peanut butter sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheesies, and marshmallows (some keep these handy at their bedside or workplace).
- Foods and drinks that might loosen output include:
- Coffee, tea, high-volume fluids, and some fruit or vegetable juices.
- Medications that can help slow down output:
- Over-the-counter Imodium (loperamide).
- Prescription Lomotil (diphenoxylate/atropine), which some take once in the morning and up to three times a day if needed.
- Kaopectate tablets, sometimes used with Lomotil.
- Gas-X soft-gel (simethicone) can help reduce gas build-up or "ballooning."
- Practical tips for managing your pouch:
- Be careful when emptying to avoid splashing if the pouch is filled with watery output.
- Expect more frequent gas build-up and plan to release gas about 3-4 times a day.
- Individual experiences vary:
- Some people feel better with thinner output, as thicker, paste-like stool can make them feel sluggish or cause headaches.
- Others find watery output bothersome but accept it as part of life with a stoma, adjusting their bags more frequently as needed.