I try to keep bottled water everywhere and just drink throughout the day rather than all at once.

I have a J Pouch, not an ileostomy.  However since having a J Pouch I need to drink regularly to stay hydrated.  I drink 17 ounces of coffee in the morning with breakfast and then 12 ounces of Red Roobois tea every 2 hours during the day.  I always take bottled water with me when on the road.

It gets better with time, as your small bowel adapts to absorb more water and take on the role of the colon. But, it takes time; 6-12 months. Even an end ileostomy will eventually adapt to absorb more water.

But yes, the key is to sip throughout the day, not slam back large amounts of fluids. This is especially true in the first six months post op while you are adapting. Another suggestion is to not drink too much fliuds with your meals, so that your food will not "flush" out of your gut too soon. If you are drinking enough to keep your urine dilute, or require emptying of the bladder 3-6 times a day, it is enough.

Jan

It really varies. With a loop ileo, you'll find that things go straight through you regardless. My output with the loop was always very frequent and very watery. Prior to having the loop I had an end ileo for about 2 years. The output was much thicker and more infrequent. Nobody told me there'd be such a drastic difference! LOL

The point is, you do need to drink, even more so with the loop because you are potentially losing water through the ileo. You could keep a bottle with you and sip throughout the day. What you drink is also important. Avoid sugary  sports drinks as these could cause increased diarrhea. Same goes for caffeinated beverages. Even if you drink natural juice, it's still best to dilute it with water to cut down on the sugars. If you are still at wit's end, you may want to try taking a few imodium just to slow things down.