It will be pink or red, moist, and a little shiny. Stool that comes from your ileostomy is thin or thick liquid, or it may be pasty. It is not solid like the stool that comes from your colon. Foods you eat, medicines you take, and other things may change how thin or thick your stool is.
What should an ileostomy look like?
A stoma should be a beefy red or pink color. The tissue that makes a stoma is the lining of the intestine and should be moist and shiny. It is very similar in appearance to the inside of your mouth along your cheek.
Diarrhea. Stool output from an ileostomy is usually liquid in texture therefore, diarrhea is usually considered to be more than 1000 ml of loose, liquid stool per day. Diarrhea in individuals with colostomies is usually defined as frequent, watery stools.
Stool typically stays loose and liquid during its passage through the upper colon. There, water is absorbed from it, so the stool gets firmer as it nears the rectum. The ascending colon goes up the right side of your body. The stool here is liquid and somewhat acidic, and it contains digestive enzymes.
How do you know if you have diarrhea with an ileostomy?
If you have a colostomy or ileostomy, its possible that you may have episodes of diarrhoea. Loose, watery stools may cause you to change or empty your stoma bag more often than usual. Diarrhoea may be caused by illness, tummy upset, or even food poisoning.
Can you gain weight with an ileostomy?
Try not to gain weight unless you are underweight because of your surgery or any other illness. Excess weight is not healthy for you, and it may change how your ostomy works or fits.
Do you lose weight after an ileostomy?
Losing weight after having an ileostomy involves consuming fewer calories than one burns in a day. However, cutting back on dietary intake can be difficult for a person who has had an ileostomy, as they have to be careful to ensure that they get enough vitamins and minerals.