High Output Stoma

Managing a high output stoma can be one of the uphill tasks for an ostomate. The volume of the output depends on the complexity of the surgery and how distal the stoma is from the end of the ileum. The output can also be high if the stoma is on the end of the ileum. People who have colostomies do not usually have high-output stomas.

A high-output stoma is, sometimes, a temporary problem. It usually happens due to a stomach bug. You are also more likely to have a high-output stoma if you are receiving chemotherapy. There may be an increased amount of output for a few weeks or months after surgery. Your body will adapt to the stoma eventually, and the frequency and amount of the output will normalize. Some people may require additional surgery to improve absorption. Some people have to live with it permanently.

For many people, the amounts of stool they pass out vary every day. It is mainly because of their food and beverage intake, medications, and many other factors. A high-output stoma is defined as one that passes out one liter of stomal output in 24 hours. If your stoma produces an output significantly higher than this amount, you are at the risk of becoming dehydrated, malnourished, and depleted of essential salts, including magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

There are many ways you can measure your stomal output to see whether or not you have a high-output stoma. You can do it by noticing the number of times you empty your ostomy pouch during the day. You can discuss it in detail with your ostomy care nurse.

If you notice a high output from your stoma, you can make changes to your food and fluids intake to prevent dehydration and loss of salts and other minerals from your body.

The amount of fluid you take daily can have a significant impact on the amount of the stomal output. Water and all normal drinks bring salts from your bloodstream into your bowel, meaning that the more you drink, the more salts you lose. It can worsen your situation if you do not do something about it. If you have a high-output stoma, you have to have fluids that prevent the loss of salts from your body. You can discuss with your doctor which drinks are right for you.

You can also add salts to your foods to make up for the loss of salts from your body. You can add this salt while cooking and right before eating. Foods that contain starchy carbohydrates tend to thicken your stools and slow your bowels. It allows your GI tract to absorb more nutrients and salts. These foods include potatoes, maize, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, and other foods with low fiber.

Another way to fix the high output stoma is medication. Every person is different, so it is highly recommended not to go for any medication without the approval of the doctor. There are over-the-counter medicines available to slow bowels, but having an ostomy makes you more vulnerable. Discussing with your doctor which medicines might be safe for you can help prevent bowel complications.