Why is my output green?

Hi, when I was changing my pouch, I noticed that my output was green. Why is that?

Hi harapavlou320,

You've come to the right place! This community is full of people who are ready to share their experiences and offer support.

About your question, seeing green output can be a bit surprising, but it's often related to what you've eaten. Foods like leafy greens, food coloring, or even certain drinks can cause this. If you haven't eaten anything green, it might be worth keeping an eye on it and checking with your healthcare provider if it continues or if you have other symptoms.

It's great to have you as part of this community. You'll find lots of support, information, and some really cool people who understand what you're going through. Don't hesitate to reach out with any more questions!

Have you been using some kind of deodorant in your pouch?

Hi there, this could be the result of a couple of different things. Your profile doesn't say whether you have a colostomy or an ileostomy. If you have an ileostomy, your food doesn't have as much time to digest, and if you eat spinach or other green leafy vegetables, it can come out looking pretty much like it went in. If your output is very loose and your transit time is very short (the time from eating something to it exiting your body) it can also come out green, as the enzymes in your bowel don't have time to break down the bile in your stool, and turn it from green to brown. It can also be caused by some supplements. If your output is always green, I would probably talk to your doctor about it. If it is just happening once in a while, it's probably nothing to worry about. Always good to check though.

Terry

Green is from bile; made in the liver to break down fats plus a lot more. I'm guessing you're not eating much. Bile flows when there's no food to treat.
Hope this helps.
Sharon

Hello Harapavlou320.

Thanks for the question - which has already recieved some good replies. It used to amuse me when my output was different colours so I wrote a rhyme to make light of the situation:

If your post had come earlier (like 10 years) I could have written another verse:

"There are various hues of green

the likes of which I've never seen

in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

Best wishes

Bill

IN MY COLOUR-FULL RAG-TAG BAG.

Right from the start
I sensed there was art
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

I’ve so often said
the cherries stay red
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

And to my delight
all nuts stay white
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

There in my sack
the currants stay black
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

I tell you my fellow
the sweet corn stays yellow
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

Blueberries too
will keep their dark hue
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

Those carrots stand out
bright orange they shout
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

I perplex and frown
as I ponder the brown
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

A vortex soup of colours blend,
a pot of gold at rainbows end
in my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

Were I an artist like Matisse
I would paint a masterpiece
from my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

But I am just a simple poet
rhyming words is how I show it
from my colour-full rag-tag bag.

I use the rhythms and the rhymes
to tell of smell and raw enzymes
from my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

The subject matter won’t get worse
by placing it within a verse.
The ostomate as graduand
will be the one to understand
my colour-full rag-tag-bag.

                               B. Withers 2011

How to Manage Emotions with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Thank you all for your replies, all much appreciated. I have an ileostomy. Thanks again.

Not used anything other than skin barrier spray

Mine is orange when I eat sweet potatoes... green when I eat spinach... brown with beef. I'm an ileostomy and when I have grape juice it's purple.
I was told when I had tomato soup and I freaked out due to the red; it wasn't blood. I guess I'm entertaining my toilet!

Hi, I’m new to this site, I have had an ileostomy for about 10 years, and I can manage it fairly well apart from leaks - often in the night meaning I have to get up, and have occasional leaks during the day. Still working out the foods which cause me wind. Ballooning is embarrassing, so I’ve discovered it’s best to make frequent visits to the loo (if there’s one handy)and also change my bag as this seems to help. Interested to know how others deal with this.

Hi Morville,  Attaching your question to a really old post that is on a different topic is not going to get you many responses, as people just won't see it.  You need to click on 'new topic' near the bottom of your screen, then post a new topic of your own.  In answer to your question, I'm wondering if this is something new, the leaking that is.  You say you've been an ostomate for 10 years, so did you just recently start getting leaks? There could be many reasons why you are getting leaks.  What products do you use?  Has something changed in your routine, diet, ostomy products you are using?  For gas, do you know how to 'burp' your bag? 

Terry