When you have an ostomy, it's natural to notice changes in the color of your output and wonder if it's something to be concerned about. Let's explore this topic and see what others have experienced and what advice they have to offer.

- It's quite normal for the color of your ostomy output to vary. This can happen with both ileostomies and colostomies, and you might notice changes from day to day or even within the same pouch emptying.

- The main reason for these color changes is your diet. Different foods and drinks can cause your output to take on a variety of colors. For example:
1. Eating a blueberry muffin or foods with red dye, like red cake, can change the color.
2. Beets, watermelon, and carrots can also affect the color.
3. Drinks like grape juice, "red slush," and Tropical Punch Gatorade can lead to red, orange, black, green, blue, sea-green, yellow, or even multi-colored swirls in your output.

- If you notice your stool is dark, tar-like, or black, it might be a sign of bleeding. It's a good idea to consult a doctor if you see this, especially if you can't link it to something you've eaten or drunk.

- Many people with ostomies don't worry about harmless color changes as long as they feel well and can connect the color to something they've recently consumed.

- A helpful rule of thumb shared by one person is: "A bag of many colors… whatever colors go in the pie-hole transform on the way out." This means that the colors of the foods and drinks you consume will often show up in your output.