Why is My Ileostomy Output Foamy?

Replies
8
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937
Gracie Bella
Mar 08, 2025 10:12 pm

Hi guys,

Can anyone explain to me, as my stoma nurse has not fully explained to me, why I keep having very foamy output from my ileostomy, which makes it look like I have eaten a bar of soap?

I know that I swallow a lot of air and always have air in my gut, as I sleep with a CPAP machine, but now and then (like now) I am experiencing foamy white/yellow foam.

I am not concerned; I'm just curious what causes this?

Thanks in advance,

Gracie

Edit: I cannot eat solid food. I have to drink 6 bottles of Fortisip (made by Nutricia) every day. And I haven't drunk anything abnormal either... Although my gut has been very loud and obnoxious (which is better than no bowel sounds, as experience has taught me).

IGGIE
Mar 09, 2025 12:02 am

G-Day Gracie, you have been bottling a lot of fruit lately, and it could be eating fruit that has fermented a little.

Regards, IGGIE

iMacG5

When I found this web site, I didn't think its name had anything to do with actually meeting an ostomate but I later learned there were some folks who did meet and develop relationships. How good is that? That wasn't my intention. I definitely didn't want anyone to meet me. I felt broken and wasn't prepared to express those feelings. I thought it was a place where ostomates wrote about themselves, posed questions, shared thoughts, told jokes and, sometimes, just vented. I thought of it as a community of folks with similar interests and various degrees of experience. Mostly I found some of the most caring, selfless, wise and understanding people I ever imagined. I was so impressed with some of the writings; not because of their literary value but the way in which they addressed such a very complex environment. I read hundreds of exchanges and admired the way folks cared for each other. I became hopeful with my own situation and looked forward to the next day's offerings. Certainly some contributors stood out with their experience or particular skills in addressing some things but it seemed like a total effort with synergistic results. I felt blessed to have found this site. I still do.
Mike

Gracie Bella
Mar 09, 2025 3:36 am

I cannot eat solid food; dehydrating all this fruit and vegetables is so my husband has something healthy he can eat. So that isn't it. If I were to eat a piece of dried fruit, it would come out after only 15 minutes looking just like I swallowed it....

MBT
Mar 09, 2025 5:15 am
Very helpful

Frothy output can be caused by several health conditions and foods, including those containing fructose and oil. Sometimes, this happens with supplements or tube feeding when it passes through the body faster than someone's body can break down the glucose/fructose and lipid components.

Axl
Mar 09, 2025 8:32 am

I have noticed this, but it is very infrequent; I don't give it another thought.

 

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TerryLT
Mar 09, 2025 9:04 pm

Foamy output to me means gas bubbles. It happens to me with certain foods. Nothing to be concerned about!

Terry

Karasmatic85
Mar 10, 2025 6:34 am

I agree with Terry; I do experience this sometimes, but I never thought anything of it. It doesn't happen frequently.

vanestag
Mar 16, 2025 5:36 pm

I have a colostomy, often experience foaming stools, usually bright yellow in color. It can't be from what I eat because I eat very little in a day. Maybe a sandwich. No junk food. I drink a gallon of water daily. My stools have always been liquid, so I use ileostomy pouches.

infinitycastle52777
Mar 19, 2025 1:05 pm

I am not sure why it happens, but it happens to me too. I see foamy output, and I see bubbles. My ostomy actually blows little tiny bubbles sometimes. I don't know why or how. I suppose it is just air passing through because my output is so often liquid. I think it is easier to make bubbles in liquid than it would be if I had more solid output. Makes sense.