Ileostomy question

[Dukeis]

As I contemplate that I may soon have to have Ileostomy surgery I think about life after surgery and all type of things come to mind. This may be a stupid question, but can you drink a beer with an Ileostomy? I don't drink very often at all. Usually just when I go to a friends and they offer me a beer I'll drink one. Will I still be able to do that?

 

[Mara114828]

Hello Dukeis, my son has an ileostomy. Has been 4 months now. He doesn't drink but he coul drink one if he wanted. You got stay away from anything with fiber. Best of luck to you!

 

[Nyx]

You sure can! I haven't found that there's much that I can't have now. Mind you, I have a colostomy, not an ileostomy, but I've read from others that having a drink isn't a problem for them either.

 

[Susan2]

I have an ileostomy and, although I don't drink beer, I find that I can drink a couple of glasses of wine. Any more than that I start to get diarrhoea/very loose output.

 

[Crohn'sFor Life]

Yes you can definitely drink. But there are 2 things to worry about...emptying the bag while dead drunk...and interactions with any medications you are taking.

 

[2thFairy]

Dehydration with drinking alcohol or caffeine or anything that could cause diarrhea would be the thing I would worry about. Champagne and beer might give you more gas and therefore more air in the bag. Outside of those two things, you should be able to drink the same things with an ileo that you could before ileo.

 

[Hobbes650]

Hello Dukeis, my son has an ileostomy. Has been 4 months now. He doesn't drink but he coul drink one if he wanted. You got stay away from anything with fiber. Best of luck to you!

Hi Dukeis, I can't say you need to totally stay away from fiber as the fiber does help to bulken up your output which is a good thing (less likely to leak and need to empty the bag less). But I don't snack on a bowl of peanuts while watching the football game since I could get a small obstruction. Somewhere in the middle is my happy place. For me I don't eat popcorn, but I do eat a handful of raw almonds at night- the extra bulk is nice as I can wait until I wake up to empty the bag. By the way, here's a good tip on getting rid of any odor your gas might have- cranberry juice. Drinking a small glass is like a using and air filter.

 

[Jaano711]

Hi Dukes

I'm not much of a drinker, but found myself letting my hair down on Saturday night. I drank some champagne, some beer and some spirits.

No major problem, just some teething, or rather, burping issues. When everyone had gone to bed I sat In my recliner and was having a little breather when I noticed bag was a little gassed up, or so I thought. So being full of liquid courage I reclined and tried to release a little 'gas' unfortunately was not full of gas but poop, and I managed to get it all over my jeans, and onto suede recliner. I can tell you that even though I tried to clean it up (in an inebriated state) the next day the stench of the chair had me gagging. I blamed the kids or spilling milk over it and we ended up having to throw it out.

Long story short, yes you can have a beer but please have the first couple at home in your safe environment. Don't want to get crap all over the place at your mates place. Or worse, all over yourself at the pub.

 

[2thFairy]

EXCELLENT advise, Janette!

 

[Franners]

I've had an illeostomy for over a year now and have been drinking when i'm allowed to due to the medication i was taking.
The only thing i find when i do drink is that there is sometimes excessive gas or a more liquid stool but that is usually if i have several drinks.
I have sometimes had just one drink when i was in the mood and had no adverse side effects.
As for staying away from fibre i wouldn't say you have to completely, i just find foods such as peanuts, coconut and popcorn to be a bit painfull when then come out the stoma but if i drink these with lots of fluid, then i dont have to much of a trauma
But it is different for everyone and you may find that you have no adverse effects when you drink.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Well personally I don't stay away from anything anymore. I eat whatever I like and I drink whatever I like. Wine makes my output smell like dog food though

 

[2thFairy]

Hahaha! Grape juice makes mine smell like ultra funk, so dog food makes sense.

 

[Dukeis]

Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[robbo87]

I pretty much stopped drinking for a few reasons, but on the odd occasion I have drank it doesn't seem to have caused any problems, although it has only been small amounts in comparison to what I used to drink. You might find thing's might fill up quicker but that would be about it, I'm with misty in that I pretty much eat whatever I want. Just If I'm not sure about something I just eat small amounts to make sure It's safe.

 

[Snap]

LOL "dog food and ultra funk smells!" Thats funny! Yup--small amounts first for sure so you can see how you react. I've drank a teeny tiny bit and nothing happened. I'm like the others, can drink and eat whatever--but my output is always wild and watery. One thing that I cannot stand to eat is fish---output smells absolutely disgusting and I cannot describe how gross it smells! LOL. Anyway, try it and see! Dana:thumright:

 

[2thFairy]

The fish stank is definitely the worst!

 

[Susan2]

The fish stank is definitely the worst!

True, but it doesn't stop me from eating fish.:ybiggrin:

Fortunately, I live on my own now.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Haha fish smells the same going in as it does on the way out.. just more rotten like! Gross. Orange gives off a really bad, strong citrus smell for me too!

 

[Hobbes650]

Cranberry Juice = Nature's Air Filter.

Seriously, drink a glass with stinky food. What comes out doesn't smell.