Strange Shapes in My Stoma Output - Any Ideas?

Hi everyone, I have something strange (I think) coming out of my stoma. They look like macaroni, but I haven't eaten any recently. I mentioned it to my ostomy nurse and my doctor, but neither gave me an answer. Has anyone run into this kind of thing? It is so good to have somewhere to go with my many questions. Thank you all.

Often, I get a bit of unchewed veggies or fruit in my pouch. Looks like pasta. Try more chewing!

It could be a medication you are taking. Do you take any gel caps? Or capsules? You might check into that, especially if you take anything time-released, like extended-release tablets. Other than that, it could be something you are eating that isn't macaroni. Sometimes other things can appear like that. Maybe bread if it isn't chewed all the way. Marshmallows. Something like that. Whenever I eat marshmallows to slow down my output, I almost always end up with one or two coming out in my bag. I guess I missed chewing them thoroughly. Stomas are a fickle thing. They will surprise you whenever they can. Oh, look what I can put in my bag. LOL

Eating Guide

 

Partially copied from my nutritionist's guide, Ileostomy Nutrition Therapy from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (This handout may be duplicated for client education.)

My recommendation is to see a nutritionist for the full guide as not all can be pasted here.

I've added my own observations to further clarify.

 

Chew all foods well to the consistency of paste.

 

Foods That May Cause Blockage (very bad, avoid!)

 

Apples, unpeeled (unpeeled and applesauce are excellent thickeners; don't eat the skins or the core, chew well).

 

Bean sprouts, Cabbage

 

Casing on sausage (inside fine if no tough parts, avoid swallowing if a chunk is felt). Also, sausage-like meats like pepperoni and salami contain indigestible bits.

 

Chinese vegetables (stir-fried crunchy, too hard, need very soft veggies with no skins).

 

Coconut, Coleslaw, Celery (avoid).

 

Corn (grits also, corn anything doesn't seem to dissolve in the stomach).

 

Cucumbers (skins bad, inside chewed up good seems okay, no seeds).

 

Dried fruit, raisins.

 

Grapes, blueberries, etc. (skins and seeds are the problem).

 

Green peppers (red, yellow also) pureed or very very small seems okay in small amounts.

 

Mushrooms (don't dissolve in the stomach) pureed or very very small seems okay in small amounts.

 

Nuts (totally avoid).

 

Peas (mushy interior okay, like pea soup, skins a problem).

 

Pickles (skins a problem, inside if chewed up good seems okay, seeds not).

 

Pineapple (liquid okay, mushy parts fine, hard parts not, rather risky as parts of mushy may not digest).

 

Popcorn (totally avoid).

 

Relishes and olives.

 

Salad greens (diarrhea nightmare too).

 

Seeds and nuts (avoid).

 

Spinach (doesn't digest, pureed perhaps).

 

Tough, fibrous meats (for example, steak on grill, well done, tough parts especially, over-grilled chicken or dry pork chops. Juicy grilled or pan-fried chicken, shredded pork in juices, medium rare steaks, hamburger better).

 

Vegetable and fruit skins (any avoid).

 

Whole grains (no grits, rolled oats oatmeal seems to be okay, oat cereal is an excellent thickener).

 

Foods That May Cause Gas or Odor

 

Alcohol, Apples, Asparagus (stink), Bananas, Beer, Broccoli (clog hazard).

 

Brussels sprouts (clog hazard).

 

Cabbage (clog hazard).

 

Carbonated beverages.

 

Cauliflower, Cheese, some types.

 

Corn (clog hazard), Cucumber.

 

Dairy products.

 

Dried beans and peas (clog hazard).

 

Eggs (don't digest in the stomach).

 

Fatty foods, Grapes.

 

Fish (cooked salmon in small portions may not, nor stink, same for raw tuna).

 

Green pepper (red and yellow also, clog hazard).

 

Melons, Onions (clog hazard).

 

Peanuts (clog hazard), Prunes.

 

Radishes, Turnips.

 

Soda and sipping using straws (drink from glass instead).

 

Seafood (oh God, does it stink!).

 

If you're having pancaking issues, a small amount of something above (like having a soda during a meal) could introduce some air into your diet and thus into the bag. Also, by avoiding too many thickening foods by themselves which often contribute to pancaking.

 

Foods That May Help Relieve Gas and Odor

 

Buttermilk, Cranberry juice, Parsley.

 

Yogurt with active cultures (Greek yogurt).

 

Foods That May Cause Diarrhea (looser or more frequent stool)

 

Alcohol (including beer).

 

Apricots (and stone fruits).

 

Beans, baked or legumes.

 

Bran, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts.

 

Cabbage, Caffeinated drinks.

 

Chocolate.

 

Corn (in my experience, corn anything doesn't digest in the stomach, just passed through and out, kernels/popcorn will clog).

 

Deep Fried meats, fish, poultry (KFC, supermarket rotisserie chicken very bad, and anything soaked in brine).

 

Fruit juice: apple, grape, orange (small amount okay).

 

Fruit: fresh, canned, or dried (small amount okay).

 

Glucose-free foods containing mannitol or sorbitol.

 

Gum, sugar-free, Licorice.

 

High-fat foods, High-sugar foods.

 

High salt foods (KFC, supermarket rotisserie chicken).

 

Highly seasoned foods (like blackened).

 

Milk and dairy foods (small amounts okay).

 

Nuts or seeds (bad, clog hazard).

 

Peaches (stone fruit, one rarely okay).

 

Peas, Plums (stone fruit).

 

Prune juice or prunes.

 

Soup, Spicy foods.

 

Sugar-free substitutes.

 

Tomatoes, Turnip greens/green leafy.

 

Vegetables, raw.

 

Wheat/whole grains, Wine.

 

Rice (very soft 1/4 cup mixed in food okay), refried beans (1/4 cup okay), pasta (one cup max).

 

Any foods soaked in brine or deep fried (rotisserie chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc).

 

Solent nutritional meals.

 

Foods That May Help Thicken Stool

 

Applesauce (unpeeled apples, no cores).

 

Bananas, Barley (when OK to have fiber).

 

Cheese (processed cheese food a clog problem, use real cheese).

 

Dried Chinese Crispy Noodles (severe thickening, mix with other food that causes diarrhea).

 

Marshmallows.

 

Oatmeal (when OK to have fiber).

 

Pasta (sauces may increase symptoms) (in my experience more than a cup of pasta causes diarrhea).

 

Peanut butter, creamy only, nuts clog (may make skin greasy).

 

Potatoes, no skin (skin clogs, more than a cup may cause diarrhea).

Pretzels (salty may cause more flow water consumption).

Metamucil, mix or crackers (mix in a cup of water and drink before it gels up).

I get chunks of stuff quite often, onions are notorious for coming out like an onion, long and stringy. 😁 I wouldn’t worry too much about it. 

How to Manage Emotions with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

I have learned so much about how food is digested by having a Colostomy.

I see stringy things. Asparagus, green onions, cabbage...

I smell everything I have eaten.

I know what is really undigested fiber. I can see it.

Anyway, I eat everything. I am an apprentice chef, cook most all the meals for Hubby and I. Never use processed foods. Use some organics, not all.

Healthy diet includes all food groups. And yes, as ostomates, we are more aware of how foods are digested. Kinda cool!