This topic is about someone who, three years after their ostomy surgery, is having trouble maintaining regular bowel movements without using stool softeners. They follow a mostly vegetarian diet, with all vegetables peeled and cooked, and have noticed that salads, which they used to tolerate well, are now causing issues. They are seeking advice from others who might have faced similar challenges.

Here are some helpful suggestions and insights:

1. Consider having diagnostic checks like a CT scan or colonoscopy to rule out any structural or disease-related issues. It's also important to confirm the type of ostomy you have, such as a colostomy, to get more specific advice.

2. Try increasing your total fluid intake, especially water, to help loosen your output. Dehydration can make stools thicker and harder to pass.

3. Limit or avoid foods that are known to thicken stool, such as peanut butter, very starchy foods, bananas, and marshmallows.

4. Increase your physical activity, as exercise can help promote gut motility and reduce constipation.

5. Consider using stool-softening products like Dulcoease (docusate sodium). Some people find they need to use it regularly, while others have had success after stopping it and adjusting their routine.

6. Ostomy irrigation might help improve the predictability of your output. However, results can vary, and stopping softeners might make the results less predictable.

7. As a natural laxative option, you might try drinking about 4 ounces of prune juice up to three times a week. One person found this was enough to stop using other softeners.