This topic is about managing dehydration issues for someone with an ileostomy after they stopped taking Loperamide, a medication used to slow down bowel output. The person in question had been on continuous tube feeding and switched back to a normal diet, which led to dehydration concerns. Here are some helpful tips and insights shared by others who have faced similar situations:

1. Consider restarting an antidiarrheal medication like Loperamide or Imodium. These medications help thicken the output and reduce fluid loss. It's important to find the right dosage through trial and error, ideally under a doctor's guidance.

2. Measure the actual stoma output using a jug to get an accurate idea of the volume. Simply counting how often the bag is emptied can be misleading. Share these measurements with your healthcare team for personalized advice.

3. Keep your medical team informed, especially if low blood pressure or kidney issues persist. They might suggest additional medications like codeine phosphate or Lomotil for very high output.

4. Focus on the quality of hydration, not just the quantity:
- Use electrolyte drinks instead of plain water. Options include Gatorade Fit and homemade oral rehydration solutions (ORS) from hospitals.
- In cases of severe dehydration, adding extra salt to drinks like Gatorade can help with sodium retention, but this isn't necessary for regular intake.
- Some commercial ORS options are CeraLyte, DripDrop, Hydralyte, Liquid I.V., Pedialyte, and others.

5. Adjust your diet to help slow down output. Foods that can thicken stool include cheese, cheesecake, smooth nut butters, pretzels, white rice, tapioca, and bananas. Gradually introduce soluble-fiber foods like oatmeal, oat bran, and peeled legumes to further thicken output. Avoid foods and drinks that speed up flow, such as apple juice, fried foods, and sugar-free candies with sorbitol or mannitol.

6. Keep a food and output diary. This can be a paper log or apps like "mySymptoms" and "My Ostomy Journey" to track which foods or drinks affect output volume and consistency.

7. Maintain a varied fluid intake throughout the day, even if you're using antidiarrheal medications, as dehydration risk remains high for those with an ileostomy.

8. Consider adding moderate amounts of dietary salt, if it's not contraindicated, to make up for sodium lost in liquid output.