Solutions for loose output

If you’re prone to loose output, there are a few things you can try to resolve the issue:

Change your diet¹

If you think your lose output is due to your food, it might be worth considering adding some of the following to your diet to help thicken the output.

Although it can vary for each individual, foods that are linked to loose stools include:

• Alcoholic drinks
• Apple juice
• Baked beans
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Dairy
• Grape juice
• Green leafy vegetables
• Liquorice
• Prune juice
• Spiced foods
• Tomatoes

Foods that can help thicken stools include:

• Bananas
• Cheese
• Rice pudding
• Marshmallows
• Mashed potatoes
• Peanut butter
• Rice
• Weak tea

If you feel that your diet is somehow negatively affecting your output, you may want to keep a food journal which may then help you understand if a certain food is causing the problem and help you discuss this with a healthcare professional.

Check your stoma pouch

If your stoma pouch fits correctly and it is not overly full, there should be no leakages, even with loose output.  If there is still an occasional leak, you may like to consider a skin barrier film to help protect the skin from any damage and provide a base for stoma pouches to stick to.

If you are prone to loose output, or your pouch is prone to leakages, it may be time to consider alternative stoma pouches that fit your body better.  Bodies and stomas come in all different shapes and sizes, so if a stoma pouch isn’t quite working for you, it might be time to try something new.

If you’d like to try our naturfit^® range, please visit our samples page here where you can order free samples of our one-piece stoma pouches.

Consider using a solidifying agent

Solidifying agents convert liquid output in your pouch into a manageable gel and help to reduce the possibility of leaks and malodours. They are easy-to-use and an ideal choice for ostomates that often experience loose output.