Gastroenteritis and loop ileostomy ?

My output is normally thick without loperamide but I take upto eight per day, kind of as and when required to slow down the output rather than thicken it.

Inbetween these episodes of dehydration I've been recovering well.

It begins with nauseating stomach spasms, which is very uncomfortable, creating a shiver through my body as I feel the colostomy bag fill and as I'm expelling more fluids than I can replenish, I dehydrate very quickly, which results with an admission to hospital.

The probiotics was suggested to balance the bacteria in the gut, no more has been mentioned about it since and it was initially suggested by the Gastro medical team.

My Stoma output is not continuously watery, most of the time I'm well, even since the creation of the j pouch, I've been recovering very well.

My stoma output is normally of a milky porridge like consistency.

On 3 occassion I've developed mild stomach spasms, which are very uncomfortable and gradually become more servere with the Stoma output; there's no pain.

This occurs within 4 to 5 hours and I eventually become so weak, I'm admitted to hospital and the dehydration is a by product of the stomach upset.

I consume the correct intake of fluids and I also drink the St Marks rehydration solution 2 or 3 times per week, as well as salty snacks.

I was diagnosed with UC during the 90's and I've had a end ileostomy for years and during that time, I've consumed the correct intake of fluids and I've never had any treatment for Crohns or Colitis since 2005.

Even with the end ileostomy and now the loop ileostomy, my Stoma output has always been thicker than expected or what's regarded as normal. I've been prescribed loperamide, upto 6 or 8 per day to help slow down my output & the thickening of it, is inevitable.

After a 5 days hospital admission, I've been discharged today and none the wiser; same diagnosis... Gastroenteritis, don't know how or why and neither does my medical team ?

Johnny J Pouch;
After the creation of my J pouch, my Stoma output was continuously watery, for at least 4 weeks, it was this kind of output which consisted of bile acid which caused the burning and erosion of the skin around my Stoma.

During 15 to 20 days after surgery, I too was nauseous and I was producing too much bile acid, so much so, I had to have a nose tube inserted to drain the bile from my stomach.

I vomited a few times too.

Due to the vomiting, the production of acid and the expulsion of fluid from my body, I became dehydrated; luckily I was still in hospital recovering from surgery, so I was provide with the equivlent measure of fluids lost via IV.

Once this was under control I was able to leave hospital and the watery, green stoma output was condidered normal, even though it was burning my skin.

My Stoma output thickened, was brown in colour, considered normal and acceptable by my Stoma nurse, althoug still burning my skin.

Although your symptoms are similar, your body is actually adjusting to the changes made to your intestine during surgery; I must admit, when I was experiencing the same, especially the burning skin, it made me question whether I had made the right decision to have the J pouch created, luckily, I'm past that now and eventually you will too.