Ileostomates.. How much water do you drink in a day?

Hi all,

I have a permanent ileostomy (4 1/2 years). I think it's whatever works for you.

For me I use an app that links to my Samsung watch that tracks my steps and sleep and I input my liquid intake. I am very active - physically strenuous job plus I work out and or run everyday with a 30,000 step daily goal.

With that said I drink an average of 14 glasses a day. As for the rest of that I drink when I drink. No set times or amounts.

I combat all my liquid intake with loperamide and chia seeds. I get zero nutritional help from the chia but they do act like little sponges. They absorb at least 5 times their weight in liquid that I then excreted easily.

Hopefully that helps. Fell free to ask me anything about this or any other issues you have ostomy related. How long have you had your ostomy?

Is anyone experiencing post operation pain and pressure feeling in the rectal area. I have for nearly 3 yrs after the surgery.

Wow! 30,000 steps a day is a lot! My minimum is 10,000 but I like to get more than whenever possible. I've had my ileostomy for one month now. I need to do 6 months of chemo and then after a couple of months once the chemo is completed I'll get reconnected. I am curious as to why you take the Chia seeds? Thanks!

Hi!

It was a great Sunday. Awesome 5k time and 47k steps!! Ok, I put my horn away! LOL

I take the chia to soak up water in what's left of my intestines. They soak up quite a bit of liquid and pass easy. I sprinkle them on everything.

How are you doing with appliance sticking and such? What are you using? Anything I can help with do not hesitate to ask.

Jason

Jason,
I too sprinkle chia seeds on a lot of my food. They’re very healthy. Do you make chia seed pudding? It’s one of my favorite low sweetener desserts! I demonstrated it on our last Connect Transplant Culinary Arts webinar. Here’s the link to the recipe - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/650368/

I hope you’re doing ok. I can’t believe you’re steps goal is 30,000! I thought I was doing well with 7,000…
Athena

Hi Athena,

Great name! Awesome song by the Who. Goddess of war too!

As for chia seeds, I would love to know if I am actually getting any nutritional benefit from it at all. I take it because of their power to absorb liquid, but since my body doesn't break them down at all I'm thinking I get no other benefit.

I will definitely try the pudding recipe. Thanks for that.

Thank you for wishing me well, I wish you good health as well. Not sure if I am or not, but I'm a fighter. I refuse to quit. Some company should give me a sneaker deal! LOL. You listening Saucony??

Hi Jason and thank you, and yes, The Who song is excellent! Chia seeds are an excellent source of calcium, iron, magnesium, and protein. They are also very high in fiber, so I don’t know if with your gastroenterological health issues if that’s a concern. Attached is the nutritional information and additional chia pudding recipes. If you can do cocoa, the chocolate chia pudding is excellent!

I admire your positivity and strength. Having been very close to death three times due to liver disease, I’d definitely support your campaign for a sneaker deal! It would certainly be a way to raise funds and awareness for transplantation.

Be strong! Athena

Considering that having the large intestines removed, which is a key organ for absorbing water into the body, is it wise to restrict the amount of water in ones stools and thereby perhaps reducing your bodies now limited ability to absorb water?

I am not sure what you are asking.

I do drink a lot more than most people and I don't believe the chia is hurting me. If I don't use it; on top of a lot of Loperamide, then my discharge would be pure liquid.

If it's pure liquid then I'm hurting my kidneys, plus my discharge burns my skin. The pH of my liquid discharge is somewhere between lemon juice and battery acid. No lie.

Did I answer your question?

Ken, I found this info online:
"There are no hard and fast rules about how much you should drink. Everyone will have different needs from one day to the next. A normal healthy person is recommended to drink around 6-8 glasses of fluid per day, but some people will need more and others less. Use your urine color as the best guide."
https://meplus.convatec.com/articles/living-with-an-ostomy-hydration/
Do you drink more, less or the same as you did before your ostomy?