How winter illness can affect your stoma
It’s completely normal to wonder how sneezing, coughing, vomiting, or a change in appetite might affect your stoma. Depending on the type of stoma you have, colds and flu can affect your digestive system differently:
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Ileostomy: Output may become looser and increase, especially if you're eating less or running a fever. Because ileostomies already produce more liquid output, dehydration is something to watch closely when you're dealing with flu with a stoma.
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Colostomy: Output might slow down if your appetite drops or loosens up if you're fighting a stomach bug or drinking more fluids. You may also notice a change in odour linked to illness or medication.
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Urostomy: You may produce less urine when feverish or dehydrated, and it might look darker or contain more mucus than usual.
These changes almost always settle once you're back on your feet. In the meantime, just keep an eye on your output a little more closely than usual.
Staying hydrated is your top priority
Fevers and vomiting drain fluids from your body fast. Staying hydrated is important for everyone, but it's especially crucial if you have an ileostomy where dehydration can creep up quickly.
A few simple habits can help against dehydration:
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Sip fluids often rather than gulping large amounts at once
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Try a rehydration solution to replace lost electrolytes
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Aim for pale yellow urine: a good sign you're keeping up, especially with a urostomy
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Cut back on caffeine if it irritates your stomach or increases output
Watch for dizziness, headache, a dry mouth, dark urine, or a noticeable drop in stoma output; these are signs of dehydration, and worth a quick call to your healthcare provider if they don't improve.
Eating well when your appetite isn't
Losing your appetite during a cold or flu is common. Smaller, more frequent meals can help keep your energy up without asking too much of your system. Stick to easy-to-digest foods such as soups (smooth, no lumps, if you have an ileostomy), mashed vegetables, rice, noodles, eggs, or yoghurt; and ease back into your normal diet once you're feeling better.
If your output turns loose, foods like bananas, white bread or toast, pasta, rice pudding, smooth peanut butter, mashed potato, or a few jelly babies or marshmallows (not ideal if you're diabetic) can help thicken things back up naturally.
Managing coughs and sneezes
Coughing, sneezing, and the general muscle aches that come with flu can leave your abdomen feeling more sensitive. Coughing alone is unlikely to cause a hernia, but it can put extra strain around your stoma site. To ease the pressure:
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Support your abdomen with your hand, a folded towel, or a small cushion when you cough
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Consider a light support garment if you find it comfortable
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Skip heavy lifting until you're feeling stronger
If you already live with a parastomal hernia, this extra support becomes even more worthwhile while you're unwell.
What about medication?
Most over-the-counter cold and flu remedies are safe to take with a stoma, but a few things are worth knowing:
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Avoid codeine-based medicines unless your GP says otherwise as they can thicken or slow output significantly
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Decongestants can cause mild dehydration, so top up your fluids to compensate
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Enteric-coated or slow-release tablets may not fully break down for those with an ileostomy, so they can appear in the bag. This usually isn't harmful, but a different formulation might work better for you
When in doubt, your pharmacist, GP, or stoma care nurse is always the best person to ask.
If you're vomiting with a stoma
Vomiting can feel unsettling when you have a stoma, but it's usually caused by the same everyday viruses or food-related bugs that affect anyone else, and most episodes clear up within a couple of days.
Seek immediate medical help if:
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You have an ileostomy with no output for several hours, combined with vomiting or cramping as this could signal a stoma blockage
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You can't keep fluids down for more than 12–24 hours
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Vomiting comes with a high fever or severe abdominal pain
For milder episodes, take small sips of water or a rehydration solution, ease back into light foods once you can tolerate them, and hold off on very high-fibre foods until your stomach settles.
Protecting the skin around your stoma
Illness often means more frequent pouch changes, leakage from watery output, or extra sweating from a fever; all of which can leave the skin around your stoma feeling sore.
To keep it protected:
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Check your bag's seal regularly for leaks
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Reach for a barrier spray or wipe if your skin starts to feel irritated
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Switch to a drainable bag if your output turns looser, so you can empty it as needed. For more information regarding stoma skin care, feel free to refer to our guide.
Rest is part of the recovery
Your body needs energy to fight off illness, and sleep is one of the best ways to give it that. Feeling more tired than usual while you're unwell is completely normal; listen to your body, rest when you need to, and hold off on anything strenuous until your strength is back.
Don't hesitate to reach out if you notice:
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Dehydration that isn't improving with fluids
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A sudden, persistent increase or decrease in stoma output
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Severe vomiting or abdominal pain
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A high fever lasting more than a few days
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Skin around the stoma that's getting worse, not better
FAQ: Flu with a stoma
Can having a stoma make me more likely to catch the flu or a cold?
No. A stoma doesn't weaken your immune system or make you more susceptible to seasonal illnesses. It can, however, change how your body responds once you're unwell — particularly your output and hydration levels.
Is it normal for my output to change when I'm sick?
Yes. Dealing with flu with a stoma often means looser or increased output (especially with an ileostomy), or slower output if your appetite drops (more common with a colostomy). These changes typically settle once you've recovered.
What's the biggest risk when managing sickness with a stoma?
Dehydration — especially for ileostomates, since fluid loss through the stoma is already higher than average. Fever, vomiting, and reduced fluid intake during illness can speed this up, so hydration should be your main focus.
Can I take normal cold and flu medicine with a stoma?
Most over-the-counter remedies are fine, but avoid codeine-based products unless your GP advises otherwise, as they can significantly slow or thicken output. Enteric-coated or slow-release tablets may also pass through undigested if you have an ileostomy.
When should I contact my Stoma Care Nurse or GP?
Reach out if you notice ongoing dehydration, a sudden spike or drop in output, severe vomiting or abdominal pain, a fever lasting several days, or worsening skin irritation around the stoma.
Should I change my stoma bag more often when I'm ill?
You might need to, especially if output becomes looser or leakage increases. A drainable bag can make this easier to manage, and keeping the seal checked regularly helps protect your skin.