That seems like a hugely excessive amount of stomach acid. I'd definitely get that checked out. Acid should not cause a problem with the bags or the filter, though I have noticed that at least with my Hollister 2 piece filter bags, that the filter rarely works anyway.

I'd be more concerned about the acid leaking under / around the opening and burning my parastomal skin.

Hey Chris,

Filters are notorious for failing and even leaking. The liquid output would likely explain the filter problem. 

Acidic output, digestive enzymes, etc. fan erode wafers quickly, so an extended wear product is recommended. In the Hollister line, that would be their Flextend product.

Excessive acid/enzymes would cause the skin to burn very quickly. Has this been happening for you? 

It would be interesting if your GI does any tests to measure what's coming out.

Do you also have acid reflux or anything else they might indicate excessive stomach acid?

I was thinking the same thing, re the skin burning.  I haven't noticed a major change in wafer usage - a bit perhaps, but then again I have set up my stoma behind Fort Knox.  I use a convex wafer, an eakin ring AND  a stoma collar - it takes a fair bit to get past all that. That being said, I only typically get 3 days.

Maybe its just the plastic surrounding the charcoal that is being affected. Or.. maybe its just a bad batch of bags.  Its just that I haven't changed anything, and I'm suddenly seeing the black charcoal in my bag and getting that smell after one day.  The only real difference is the sunshine yellow liquid that I assume is bile or acid or something.

I have had a little bit of acid reflux, but nothing brutal. I'm going to fire off an email to my GI today and see if there IS a test to measure my output.   

Posted by: @chris

Its just that I haven't changed anything

You might not have, but the product may have silently been "improved".  Did this start happening with a new box of product of halfway through an open box? 

Not sure about Coloplast, but Hollister recently "reformulated" their products in the last year or so, but I'm also noticing differences in the packaging, wafer backing, etc. I stopped using filtered bags, so I haven't noticed any difference with those. 

When I had filters that would leak their charcoal, it was because the filter was simply getting wet too often (liquid output). I was always having leaks through the filter with ConvaTec bags :( 

Posted by: @chris

I have had a little bit of acid reflux, but nothing brutal. I'm going to fire off an email to my GI today and see if there IS a test to measure my output.   

Yes, do this for sure. 

I still haven't received the product I ordered in January. Its been backordered.  I usually use a deep convex with a high output bag.  I've been experiencing this breakdown issue irregularly.  I have mixed up my supplies so I cant be certain about a bad batch or not.  It seems to have happened with my light convex and the highoutput bags.  I found one of my really old deep convex wafers and went 4 days with no issue, then changed into a light convex with a new high output bag and it started smelling that night.  Im thinking possibly the click seal isnt as tight with this combo.  I don't know.. im perplexed.

My acid situation has only gotten worse and my GP doesn't have much to say at this point. Over a series of months my output has become more and more liquid and brighter and brighter yellow. Im now living off metamucil, immodium and Cholestyrine powder. Anyway, I suspect this is the reason for the weardown of my bags.

Posted by: @chris

My acid situation has only gotten worse and my GP doesn't have much to say at this point.

Are you still in touch with your GI, or do you have another specialist lined up? 

How's your skin holding up?

@chris ... yes...to most of the above!!  Chris months ago I noticed leaking thru my filter within 1/2  to 1 1/2 days of a new pouch.  I have since gone to another  Hollister pouch without a filter. I still use & apply apply the Osto E Z Vents. The filters are fabulous for being relatively useless within a day or two anyways so no loss there. 

At the filter, I had leaks from the plastic separating around the edge & of the filter material xovering the charcoal.  I  also have been having what looks like a strong stinkier urine colour in my pouch & thought it was responsible for the breakdown of the pouch I wear too.  I think these "silent changes" the companies are making on behalf of our Planet & Gov't  requirements are what is going on here with pouch break downs happening so much earlier. I hope these changes are worth the so many extra pouches I go thru in a month compared to the 7 to 10 days I too was able to get prior to their changes!!!!!! 

The other issue of higher acid concern for me turned out to be that I was earing an orange every few days and drinking orange juice each morning.  I took Erics long ago advice & kept a journal to figure that one out. Thank you Eric!! I think the O.J. simply cleans me out & it goes through me so quickly its pretty much the same colour mixed with gut acids = stronger smelling too!! Lol!  

Have you tried to keep a journal of what your eating and how long it takes to go thru you & what its like after it does go thru you?? These food journals really make a lot of sense when I'm trying to figure things out. Maybe give it a try. I honestly had not realized I had such issues with orange juice. My Mom reminded me that as a kid I used to get severe Eczema from eating one orange and very dry skin.

Other changes I've noticed are the way wipes are folded plus they are a bit smaller in size & the packages they're  in are harder for me to rip into.  Also... the plastic over the wafer is so much thinner then before & the C-Shaped elastic tapes do not seem to be as thick as they used to be either but fortunatly that does seem to affect any wear issues with the pouch.  

 Oddly enough the bile - or whatever it is - isnt causing a problem with my skin, but I really do think that stoma collars protect the sides of the stoma well. That being said, I HAVE been drinking more OJ because I use it in a homemade electrolyte mixture I make, but I only started it after my output greatly increased in yellow colour and viscosity.  I was getting terribly fatigued in the morning from what I assumed was dehydration.  I use a high output bag and would wake up three times a night and just pour a 3/4 full bag of yellow liquid into the toilet - so I started making this drink and I've felt better; not great, but better.

I have a good GI at Mt Sinai, but there isn't any major symptom other than yellow liquid - blood and stool shows no sign of inflammation - so I kinda understand the lack of urgency on his side.  If I drink Metamucil all day and take Imodium at night, things do thicken up a fair bit - but when I flush there is an explosion of intense yellow dye. My concern is that it has just been a slow but steady increase in yellow colour and watery-ness.

My phone appointment with him isn't till the 16th of May, and I am making a list of questions - but I was wondering.. how odd or gross would it be for me to email him pictures of stool colour?  Have you guys ever done that?  Can I do that on here? His receptionist gets the emails first and forwards them, so I was kinda thinking how horrible it would be to get a picture of my poo first thing in the morning.  And how do you take a pic of poo in the toilet without it just looking completely repulsive? Anyway, I don't sleep well partly because I spend so much time thinking about stupid things like this.

Posted by: @chris

but I was wondering.. how odd or gross would it be for me to email him pictures of stool colour?  Have you guys ever done that?  Can I do that on here?

It's not unheard of, and sometimes even requested by the doctor, so I'd ask if they'd be ok with you doing that.

You CAN post the image here, but I doubt that anyone here is familiar with what "normal" output looks like in another person. LOL 

If you do decide to post it, just edit your original post title and add an NSFW at the end of it.👍 

Chris  .... I'm sure your pictures wouldn't be the first knarly picture of output the Receptionist saw.  Like Eric said just call her 1st to warn her so she's not opening them while eating lunch at her desk.   She is your Doctors gate keeper & you need her on your side, lol!    Considering this is bothering you enough that  your loosing sleep over it you need to make sure you tell her that.   I don't think this is unreasonable at all.  

Its good you found something that makes you feel less fatigued!!  I find if I forget to take my vitamins & esp. the one for over 50 I'm hopped for the rest of the day & if I take it after  noon time I'm up to all hours of the night.   I also take a Vitamin for Hair, Skin & Nails.  I made the error of not reading the bottle & discovered I need to take it 2ce a day & it apparently absorbs better with a bit of food.  I couldn't afford to take it 2ce a day for a while  but now I'm more budgeted for it & am seeing the difference of 2ce a day & I'm excited about that. On this topic...does you drink in the a.m.  A VITAMIN B  in it??? When I take extra Vitamin B  my urine looks almost florescent!! After reading your concerns I  skipped my B 12 for 2 days & that lovely shade of yellow diminished more each emptying session.  If this is the case you may want to consider asking about Vit. B 12 SHOTS  they absorb better in your system.   I give myself one monthly & I still need that almost daily pill form. 

With shorter guts & an ileostomy we do pass foods thru us quicker not allowing for full absorption of all the nutrients we require daily from foods. Good for you finding what works for you.  I hope you find a resolve to this concern. I know how frustrating it can be to not have questions answered!! 

@chris did you ever find out what caused the bright yellow liquid output? I have the same issue and get no answers. It's eating up my rings and barriers quite quickly.