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

Posted by pjebp @pjebp, Oct 30, 2021

Ileostomates ... I found the following on the internet:

Aim to drink 8 to 10 (8-ounce) glasses (about 2 liters) of liquids every day. Don't drink more than 4 ounces (½ cup) of liquids with meals. Don't drink any liquids for 1 hour before and 1 hour after meals. This helps make your bowel movements bulkier.

How much water do you drink in a day? Do you refrain from drinking one hour before and 1 hour after your meals?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ostomy Support Group.

kenc | @kenc | Nov 24, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Ken, I found this info online: "There are no hard and fast rules about how much..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

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?

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More.

REPLY
kbunkers | @kbunkers | Aug 25, 2023
In reply to @msgtrebholtz "Hi all, I have a permanent ileostomy (4 1/2 years). I think it's whatever works for..." + (show)
@msgtrebholtz

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?

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I’ve had my ileostomy for three years I only walked about 3.4 miles a day. How much water do I need to drink?

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Marco | @marco789 | Aug 26, 2023

I've found that 64 ounces is not nearly enough for me after getting my ileostomy. I drink about 120-150oz of water daily in order to stay hydrated, flush my kidneys, prevent cramping and minimize urinary frequency. Great question, great topic!

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hardingv | @hardingv | Aug 27, 2023

The goal we discussed after my ileostomy surgery was around 70 oz per day - preferably at least half being with electrolyes. (Given I am also limiting the amount I drink at meals to help with consistency of the output + not drinking for about 2 hours before bedtime to cut down on overnight bathroom trips, I would find it difficult to drink a lot more.)

The other thing I hear from all (including stoma, urology for kidney stones, and PCP) is that the best indicator of whether you are drinking the right amount is the color of your urine. It generally should be a light yellow. Darker means you are not drinking enough and clear suggests you are overdoing it.

Of course the corrolary is that whenever you go out it is a good idea to know where the nearest bathrooms are!

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1 reply
kenc | @kenc | Aug 28, 2023

Discuss this with your doctor. We all have different metabolisms.

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susan_f | @susanbfoster | Aug 29, 2023

I've had my ileostomy for 21 years and before that I had a j-pouch for 15 years.

I don't measure my water intake, or avoid drinking water with meals. I find that the foods I eat have far more impact on my consistency than water. Foods that have soluble fiber tend to slow things down and make the consistency thicker.

There aren't any hard and fast rules, different things work for different people.

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1 reply
hardingv | @hardingv | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @susanbfoster "I've had my ileostomy for 21 years and before that I had a j-pouch for 15..." + (show)
@susanbfoster

I've had my ileostomy for 21 years and before that I had a j-pouch for 15 years.

I don't measure my water intake, or avoid drinking water with meals. I find that the foods I eat have far more impact on my consistency than water. Foods that have soluble fiber tend to slow things down and make the consistency thicker.

There aren't any hard and fast rules, different things work for different people.

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... and just to complicate things, different things can work (or not) for the same person over time ... which can be frustrating.

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rwh1968 | @rwh1968 | Sep 13, 2023

I must drink at least half a gallon per day. I think it's because I like to stay active and the fact that I live in the south with the heat factor.

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morironman | @morironman | Sep 26, 2023

I drink every time I pass the fridge water spout, whenever I’m thirsty or when I think about 2 quarts.
I think that I get enough water, but I’m not a fanatic.
I can now drink all I want after 7 p.m. due to the nite bag availability.

REPLY
morironman | @morironman | Sep 26, 2023
In reply to @hardingv "The goal we discussed after my ileostomy surgery was around 70 oz per day - preferably..." + (show)
@hardingv

The goal we discussed after my ileostomy surgery was around 70 oz per day - preferably at least half being with electrolyes. (Given I am also limiting the amount I drink at meals to help with consistency of the output + not drinking for about 2 hours before bedtime to cut down on overnight bathroom trips, I would find it difficult to drink a lot more.)

The other thing I hear from all (including stoma, urology for kidney stones, and PCP) is that the best indicator of whether you are drinking the right amount is the color of your urine. It generally should be a light yellow. Darker means you are not drinking enough and clear suggests you are overdoing it.

Of course the corrolary is that whenever you go out it is a good idea to know where the nearest bathrooms are!

Jump to this post

I found that the antibiotics made my urine dark also.
After they were completed, I lightened up.
With a bag, it’s plainly evident (color). 🙂

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