AFTER takedown, my surgeon gave me a written 4 week diet plan of foods that can thicken up the stool as well as metamucil and imodium, and after applying all of those different things through trial and error, I found out what worked. And by doing those things I was told to do, I was able to thicken up the stool to an applesauce-like consistency. It will likely never be much thicker than that, and I also think it would not be healthy for it to be too thick as you could then have pouch evacuation issues that could lead to irritation and inflammation.

Applying all of this will result in a thickening of the stool after takedown. Don't go by what your ileostomy output looks like as you will be doing different things after takedown.

BTW, I read parts of your blog and you are very funny/have a good sense of humor. Especially the part about the facial hair and pics of the same. BTW I am partially of Eastern European heritage as well.

I've only had the loop It was higher up and my output from that was nothing like my j-pouch output, explained above. You probably won't like the loop as well as the one you have now. I remember passing an entire Norco pain pill out of my stoma into the bag! The visiting nurse was there and she said, "no wonder you are is such pain". I cut all of my medications, vitamins and supplements up with a pill cutter after that.

Good Luck with your upcoming surgeries!

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I've only had the loop It was higher up and my output from that was nothing like my j-pouch output, explained above. You probably won't like the loop as well as the one you have now.

Haha, I'm sure you're right... most of the time the output from my end ileo is better formed than anything that ever came out of me when I still had my colon! Sigh...

My output is not even remotely similar. With my ileostomy I had to measure my output because it was pure water and I couldn't stop passing out. It took me four days after takedown to enjoy a nice bowl of oatmeal and get completely constipated. Three years later, I still struggle with keeping my output runny enough to easily evacuate it.

Wow, Sallie, that is crazy! Has anyone ever suggested why that is? I guess I will stop over analyzing my ileo output now...

Nobody can figure out why I have such a difficult time, although I was plagued with constipation my whole life until I got UC. The upside is that I have never had much buttburn! I have experienced a little bit of uncomfortableness, but nothing like other people have described. I also have never had a problem with incontinence. However, I pass a significant amount of blood on a daily basis, which has led to iron infusions to combat anemia.

So just remember that everyone is completely different, and you have no idea what your individual body is going to do.

I had a 3-step and no, ostomy output was not like after-takedown output. And that loop ileo? That was just plain naughty. Hopefully, yours will be much more well-behaved.

kathy

I've had both an end and a loop ileo. I can say that the j-pouch output is most similar to the end ileo. It's nothing like the loop, which for me was pure liquid. Thank goodness for that!

One of the issues is that that small intestine adapts to removing more water from the stool over time. So a loop ileo not only involves less intestine it is also the bowel/body adapting to not having a colon. My J pouch output was similar to my now end ileo.

This was really a concern of mine pre-takedown because my output with my ileostomy was like having a gusher! I had trouble staying hydrated. Fortunately, after takedown my output remained liquidy (I prefer it that way) but nowhere near what it was prior to takedown. I don't take anything to thicken output except once in awhile I eat oatmeal. That helps me if I should experience butt burn!