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- Who is this information for?
- General advice for eating with a new ileostomy
- Dietary advice following your surgery
- Food Groups
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of drinks to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Examples of foods to choose
- Foods to avoid
- Moving on
- Fluid and hydration
- Signs and symptoms of a high output stoma
- Promoting stoma health
- Contact details
Who is this information for?
This information is on diet and lifestyle for patients who have an ileostomy (stoma). Stomas are surgically created openings made on the abdomen to divert bowel waste and are used as a treatment for a number of medical conditions including cancer, diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Approximately 1 in 500 people have a stoma in the UK .
Foods and fluids can have an impact on stoma output volume and consistency as well as symptoms. This diet page discusses strategies to resolve these issues as well as how to eat in the initial weeks following your surgery. It is also important to ensure you remain well nourished and hydrated without the function of your large bowel due to ileostomy formation.
If you have any further questions relating to your diet and ileostomy please speak with a dietitian or a stoma nurse.
General advice for eating with a new ileostomy
- Eat little and often, with smaller meals with snacks between meals), if you can no longer tolerate a normal meal pattern
- Chew your food well
- Caffeine can increase the speed at which foods and fluids move through the bowel. Consider choosing decaffeinated drinks
- Fizzy drinks and artificially sweetened drinks may cause wind or bloating or diarrhoea
- Sip rather than gulp fluids as this can aid fluid absorption
- Add salt to your meals
- A healthy ileostomy output is between 700 to 1000 ml/day. If your stoma output is less than 1 litre in 24 hours drink freely but do not exceed 2 litres of fluid a day. Avoid drinking large amounts of plain water
- If you have a high stoma output, more than 1.5 litres per 24 hours you will need to speak with a healthcare professional. Also see section on fluid hydration
Dietary advice following your surgery
Following the formation of your ileostomy it is recommended to follow a low fibre diet initially (between 4 to 6 weeks). This allows your gut to heal and any swelling to settle. This advice is only to be followed for a short period of time following your surgery.
Fibre is a complex indigestible carbohydrate found in plant foods. The following tables identify foods lower in fibre (foods to choose column).
Food Groups
Moving on
After 4 to 6 weeks start reintroducing some fibre back into your diet. Consider introducing small portions of higher fibre foods and increase gradually to tolerance.
Occasionally high fibre foods can contribute to a high output stoma (more than 1.5 litres per day). This is associated with dehydration and salt deficiency. If this is an issue, continue the low fibre advice for longer and introduce higher fibre foods more gradually and one at a time to assess tolerance.
Fluid and hydration
Ileostomies can be associated with high fluid and salt losses and can lead to chronic dehydration. To avoid this aim for 8 to 10 cups of fluid per day (max 2 litres) and consider isotonic sports drinks (lucozade, powerade) or oral rehy-dration solutions (dioralyte) to improve hydration as they contain extra salts that water does not. If you are concerned that your stoma output may be high or have the symptoms below discuss with a healthcare professional including your GP, Dietitian or Stoma Nurse.
Signs and symptoms of a high output stoma
- Watery stoma output
- Changing your stoma bag more often than usual
- Possible leaking of stoma bags
- Becoming dizzy when standing up (related to low blood pressure)
- Having a dry and sticky mouth
- Sunken eyes
- Passing a reduced volume of urine (that may be dark in colour and strong smelling)
- Headache
- Lethargy, tiredness and feeling low in mood
- Cramps in your hands and feet
Promoting stoma health
The following stoma issues have been associated with some foods. Consider eliminating the foods discussed below for a short while (around 1 week) and assess response. Reintroduce the eliminated foods if no difference is observed.
If you are diabetic you may wish to avoid some of the foods mentioned that are higher in simple sugars.
Consider using a food diary if symptoms persist.
Contact details
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Dietician
01273 696955
Ext. 64290
Princess Royal Hospital
Dietician
01444 441881
Ext. 68313
This information is intended for patients receiving care in Brighton & Hove or Haywards Heath.
The information here is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.