Common concerns if you have a high-output stoma

This section gives guidance about common concerns if you have a high-output stoma.

After your surgery, you may have problems with a high-output stoma. This is when the stoma output is more than 1 litre each day. Having a high output means that:

• food and drink pass quickly through your bowel
• your body may not take in (absorb) nutrients, fluids and salts well

Eating spicy foods

Spicy foods, such as chilli and curry, may upset your stoma at first. We suggest that you avoid these foods in the first few weeks.

After this, you can introduce more spicy foods in your diet. However, it is a good idea to do this gradually to make sure that you can tolerate them.

Trapped wind or bloating

At first, your stoma may produce more wind than usual. This soon reduces, especially when you start to eat a more varied and regular diet.

Wind is produced naturally during digestion. It can be increased by eating some types of food or swallowing a lot of air when eating. Here are some tips to reduce trapped wind caused by swallowed air:

Foods and drinks that may increase trapped wind include:

• baked beans, lentils, peas, onions, garlic, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli
• beer, lager and fizzy drinks

Thickening your stoma output

Some people report that these foods may help to thicken the stoma output:

• apple sauce
• bananas
• buttermilk
• cheese
• marshmallows
• noodles
• smooth peanut butter
• rice
• tapioca pudding
• toast
• yoghurt

What to do if your stoma output increases

An increase in your stoma output can be caused by a variety of things. Examples include a stomach bug, stress, antibiotics or spicy foods.

If your stoma output increases, you will need to:

• continue with your fluid restriction and oral rehydration solution 
• add salt to your diet and eat salty foods
• have salty drinks, such as Bovril® or Oxo®, if you do not want to eat
• have foods that may thicken your stoma output 

Seeing food particles and tablets in your bag

It is common to see food particles and tablets in your collection bag because they sometimes pass through undigested. To help reduce this, you need to:

• chew your food properly
• take your medicines and oral rehydration solution 

Constipation

Constipation does not happen if you have a high-output stoma.

Preventing smelly stoma output

Some foods can make your stoma output smellier than others. The following types of food may cause a problem for some people:

• foods that contain fibre 
• eggs
• fish
• garlic
• peanut butter
• some spices
• strong cheeses

You may want to try to avoid these foods and see if this reduces the problem. However, remember that you can only smell the poo when you change or empty your appliance.

If you add vinegar to fish dishes, this will help to get rid of the fishy smell. Parsley may also help to reduce the smell. 

Otherwise, you could try using ostomy deodorant sprays and drops that help to hide or get rid of smells. You can ask your stoma care nurse for advice about these products.

Risk of food poisoning on holiday

If you have a stoma, this will not increase your risk of food poisoning when on holiday abroad. You are no more at risk of food poisoning than a person without a stoma. 

However, you need to follow the food hygiene guidelines for the country that you are visiting and drink bottled water. It may also be useful to take a few extra stoma supplies.