I am officially a Semi-Colon

Your mileage may vary
Hey Mickey,

Congratulations on getting through the surgery! Did your surgeon/hospital nurse give you a list of foods to avoid, or a plain, bland diet to follow? Usually this is only for a couple of weeks after surgery so that your intestine/colon don't have to work hard to process food. I was given a bland, plain "white" diet... which kind of freaked me out. I was told to eat white bread, no healthy grain breads. I could have pizza but only if it had a white crust. White rice and potatoes. You get my drift... everything we have been taught is soooo bad for us, is actually good for a healing colon.

But, I could go back to healthy foods 4-6 weeks after the surgery. I think once you do that, then it's all a matter of what your intestine/colon can handle. It's not going to hurt you or do damage... but you may find certain foods will give you the runs, that never did before... then it might mean it depends on quantity rather than the actual food item.

I find nothing really bothers me unless I eat something "rich"... then it's a matter of "Gotta go!". I don't get the runs or anything... but I definitely need to go

Huggggs,

Cheryl

mc1717 said:

Foods I was told to avoid
Dr told me to avoid foods such as popcorn, raw vegetables and anything that is whole grain. She said the reason is whole grain products can cause an obstruction at my ileostomy. She said i need to avoid these types of foods until I am "reversed" in August.

Has anyone ever had a problem with an obstruction? I am terrified to eat too much or swallow biger pieces as I DO NOT want to go back to the hospital. What will happen if I eat red meat?

I guess I just need a little help with establishing a diet I can eat with an ileostomy.

Thanks

Mickey

Ileostomy
Oops, sorry Mickey. I missed the part where you have an ileostomy and wondering about foods that would be a problem for that. I never had an ileostomy, so I can't help you there. I was just talking about a diet after resection surgery.

But... the Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy (CAET) - http://www.caet.ca/booklet_ileostomy6.htm - has some very good information regarding food and the ileostomy. Here's an excerpt from their site... if this is the sort of information you are looking for, then I recommend going to their site. They have a ton of information over there!

Dietary Management

Having an ileostomy may require some diet adjustments. There is no need for a special diet unless you have another medical condition. Ask for a visit with a dietician prior to discharge from the hospital who will assist you with dietary concerns and management.

Following any type of bowel surgery, there is a gradual progression in diet from clear fluids (e.g. juice, broth, Jell-O), to full fluids (e.g. milk, ice cream, cream soup), to a light diet (solid food that is low in spices and fibre), to a regular healthy diet based on Canada's Food Guide for Healthy Eating.

A regular diet should include a variety of foods from the following food groups:

Grain products
Vegetables and fruit
Milk products
Meat and alternatives

Everyone differs in the foods they tolerate. You may find foods that bothered you before your surgery will no longer be troublesome. Experiment with a variety of foods. Try one new food at a time so you can identify the foods that may cause you difficulty. Give foods a second and third chance before eliminating them from your diet. If you eat slowly and chew each bite well, most foods will be tolerated.

Tough meats or high roughage (fibre) foods could cause a blockage in the bowel (refer to the section on Food Blockage or Obstruction for more information).

You may find in a few weeks you are able to tolerate foods that bothered you at first. Eat regularly – skipping meals will not stop stoma output.

Remember:

Drink plenty of fluids
Eat slowly
Chew your food well

Following ileostomy surgery, more fluid, salt and potassium are lost from the body and it is important to replace these losses. To prevent dehydration, drink at least 6 to 8 large glasses of water each day. Unless your doctor has advised you to restrict salt, take a little extra with your meals. It is also important to eat high potassium foods such as bananas, apricots, tomatoes, potatoes, and squash or drink orange juice. A more extensive list of high potassium foods can be obtained from a dietician.

Huggggggs,

Cheryl