low fiber/residue diet

jalusa
jalusa Member Posts: 21
edited May 2022 in Colorectal Cancer #1

My current plan of action is to avoid surgery until after I can finish another round of chemo and then portal vein embolization, so about another 6-8 weeks. After that time I would have surgery on both the colon and liver.  I have had one bowel obstruction and am a good candidate for another.  If I do obstruct again they are going to want to move forward with the colon surgery.  I am now on a low residue diet.

I am looking for food suggetions.  It seems like healthy foods are almost off the table as you have to aviod the fiber. You have to eat highly processed foods.  My list of allowed foods actually includes Cheetos.  I like cheetos.

 

Comments

  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #2
     
    Hi,
    I used this diet from

     

    Hi,

    I used this diet from the Mayo Clinic when I needed to go on a low residue diet last month:

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/low-fiber-diet/art-20048511

     

  • TheLadySkye
    TheLadySkye Member Posts: 203 Member
    #3
    Low Residue Diet

    My cancer is in the small intestine and resulted in an almost complete blockage of the small intestine.  In the weeks leading up to surgery, I too was on a low residue diet.  You're right - nothing bulky, fiber, seeds, nuts, etc.  My options were pretty bland but kept me safe.  I was also told to cut all my food very small and chew it extremely well.  It would take me an hour to eat dinner, but again, I managed to be safe.

    Eggs - fried, scrambled, whatever.  No veggies or cheese in them though.

    Toast - white toast only and just one piece a day

    Chicken - about half a breast cut VERY small

    Broiled fish - cut VERY small

    Potatoes - shredded like hashbrown, just a few, chewed very well (no skin!)

    Applesauce (in small quantities)

    Jello

    Broth - no noodles, veggies, or cream soups

    Clear juice with no pulp

    Lots and lots of water

     

    Honestly, it wasn't nearly enough calories and I lost a lot of weight.  Carnation Instant Breakfast was a miracle for getting some extra calories and nutrition.  Ensure and Boost are good too, though the taste is pretty sucky.

    Best of luck to you!

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,428 Member
    #4
    I Used This

    From Sloan Kettering, they gave me a pamphlet with it, or just about the same.  Normally I eat a lot of fresh vegatables and other food normally considered good.  No whole wheat bread.  What?!?

    http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/resources/low-fat-low-fiber-diet

    On the canned vegatable side the ones that were not sliced as much (such as green beans whole) seemed to taste better.  Made some infused water (well my wife did :) ) which is good, breaks things up a bit and I find the juices can get too sweet quickly.  Also cutting them with water seemed to work on the juice.  Spoke to the nutritionist and using lemon or lime for the taste (without the pulp and the rest) was okay for the water.  Also herbal teas had no limit (as compared to caffeine drinks) so some brewed cold herbal teas worked well.

     

     

  • Belltolls1102
    Belltolls1102 Member Posts: 2 Member
    #5
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1494799#Comment_1494799

    Just wondered if you were around on this platform anymore. I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of jejunum after bowel obstruction too. Mine was well-differentiated T2N0M0. I am MSI-H, but because I am 40, they have offered me the chemo and I'm just not sure if I should take it or not. I am considered stage 1 and just don't know if since I am MSI-H if it is worth it. I had read some of your posts and know you were around my age when diagnosed. Just wondered your thoughts.

  • TheLadySkye
    TheLadySkye Member Posts: 203 Member
    #6

    Hi there! I am not necessarily on the platform anymore, but I did get your message and wanted to respond. I know how invaluable it was to find ANYONE who had been through the same cancer I had (and in all my research, I only came across one other person who was able to respond. If you have any questions, I am happy to answer them the best I can.

    Please keep in mind that you have to do what is best for you when it comes to deciding if chemo is right for you and why. I'm not going to lie. It was hard. There are lingering effects from it even years later. That being said, my BIGGEST fear was the cancer recurring at some point in the future. I wanted...no, NEEDED...to know I had done everything possible to prevent such a thing. And so I chose to the do the chemo. Even with the after effects and how hard it was, I don't regret that decision. Small intestine cancer tends to recur more quickly and more aggressively that colon or rectal cancer if it does recur. I am now 8 years out from treatment, and my doctors have declared me CURED. Not just in remission...CURED. I never dreamed I could hear those words!!!

    I still worry about it sometimes. Less so as time goes on. I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Reach out to me ANY time.

  • Belltolls1102
    Belltolls1102 Member Posts: 2 Member
    #7
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1695929#Comment_1695929

    Thank you so much for responding!! Because I am in a somewhat similar boat, I really appreciate it. Yeah, I get that 100%...the feeling you have done everything. The one issue I am having problems with in deciding is due to the MSI-H status. My doctor hasn't really brought up doing both the capecitibane with oxaliplatin...he's just mentioned capecitibane which from what I understand, doesn't really help with MSI-H tumors on it's own. But you responding helps if for no other reason, knowing you are 8 years out is FANTASTIC! And I hope to be right there with you one day! I've researched and researched and researched and realized I gotta just make a decision and do the best I can with settling into it. But boy, it is hard, especially when my oncologist just really doesn't have a definitive idea on a proper course of action and it appears to be heavily influenced by my age. If I was older, he said, he wouldn't even bring chemo up, but because I'm 40, he wants me to have the option. This makes it difficult because everything I've read says no chemo, but I know he's being overly cautious! Just almost wish he'd just tell me I need to do one or the other and I would be fine with either decision. But I am not a doctor, so trying to make the "right" decision is difficult especially being told there is no "right" answer!

  • TheLadySkye
    TheLadySkye Member Posts: 203 Member
    #8
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1695930#Comment_1695930

    I had FOLFOX chemotherapy. It's no walk in the park to be sure. And while no one can know with 100% certainty who will respond to chemo and by how much, my surgeon put it to me this way - I can't tell you what to do. But if it were MY daughter asking for MY opinion, I would recommend the chemo. It's not without effects, some of them lifelong, but I don't regret the decision. I wish you successful healing and that this nasty little bugger never comes back!!!

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #9

    Lady Skye, long time no see.

    So happy to see your name pop up on the forum.

    Tru

  • TheLadySkye
    TheLadySkye Member Posts: 203 Member
    #10

    Hi, @Trubrit ! I hope you are doing well. It makes me happy to see you :)

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