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diet after surgery

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Posted 10/23/2008 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
  Hello.  I am a friend of a person who will be logging in sometime in the near future but is still going through adjustments of dealing with having her large intestines removed and her small intestines connected to her rectum.  I have been with her every step of the way and have also been reading the postings on this site.  Many of the postings have described exactly the symptoms and the things she is dealing with today.  My friend had this surgery appx. six weeks ago and is doing much better now except for the fact that she is still cramping and is somewhat distended.  What  I am looking for is suggestions on foods she may be able to eat.  I think its a great thing that all of you are sharing ideas and the care of concerns for one another.  God bless all of you.  You are all in my prayers.

Post Edited (ramamorthy) : 10/23/2008 2:39:48 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/24/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I would think that for now, she should stick to bland foods, if she is still having cramping. Stay away from things that can cause gas, that may be part of her cramping feeling.
Posted 10/24/2008 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks summerstorm. That seems to be the case with her right now. Bland . Im just worried she is not getting enough nutrition since all she eats is rice cereal and some occasional tuna, and water of course. Hope all is well with you!
Posted 10/24/2008 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
ramamorthy,
with my surgery, I had my small intestine connected to my rectum, I have developed alot of food intolerences because alot of foods for me cause uncontrollable diareah, even though it has been almost 3 months since i have had my surgery.Eveyone is different when it comes to what foods they can tolerate or not. Even my surgeon told me that there are foods that one person can tolerate, while another eprson can not tolerate the same foods. He admitted there are really no list by the medical book of foods that people can not tolerate. He just told me to listen to my body, write a jouranl, and avoid those foods. I hope your friend is doing well, and this is a great board to come to. Good luck.
Posted 10/24/2008 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
she can take some vitamins, and those will help, or drink some juice.
Posted 10/24/2008 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replys.  What all of you are recommending is what she seems to do naturally.  I have told her about your care and concern and hopefully she will feel up to joining this resource of information soon.  I think its very healing to know that your not alone.  Take care of yourselfs.

Post Edited (ramamorthy) : 10/24/2008 5:43:59 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/25/2008 2:56 AM (GMT 0)

Someone suggested I use Gasx and it has been my saviour since surgery!  It has really helped with the bloating and gas!

Posted 10/25/2008 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yes gas-x is great, it's best to take it BEFORE you get the gas though.
And she may be getting gas if she is letting herself get hungry.
Posted 10/31/2008 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Summerstorm

You said something interesting.  That she maybe getting gas is she is letting herself get hungry. The problem is that she is afraid to eat because she gets distended everytime she does.  So you may be partially right in your voice of experience. We went to the health food store tonight and got some Fennel seed extract.  Have you or anyone else ever heard about this product for gas problems.  She has tried most of the other store bought products including Gas-X and they have not seemed to help much at all for her.  The lady at the health food store seems very knowledgeable.  She tried it about an hour ago.  No comments from her yet.  I will post the results of how the Fennel seed extract to let all who would like to know the results in a couple of days.

Posted 10/31/2008 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Not eating can cause gas; then eating can cause gas. It's a vicious circle. But you just need to get the air out of the system, then on to eating normally again! I hop that the fennel seed extract works for her. Maybe she will increase her diet intake and the gas will resolve itself.
Posted 11/1/2008 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
The fennel seed extract turned out to not be good for my friend. It had alcohol in it and the slightest bit of alcohol makes her sick. I went on the internet and found that they do have different kinds of fennel seed extract. In the trash with the first bottle and back to the health food store for another extract minus alcohol. Thanks for the reply Peggy. I'm noticing a little difference in my friends appearance. Shes getting her color back. She starts back to work in three days.
Posted 11/1/2008 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
If you are concerned about her getting enough nutrition, has she tried "Ensure"??  It's a complete nutritional meal in a drink.  Also like someone suggested...multivitamins??  I have done both, and it's now 5 weeks post surgery and I am starting to feel really well.  I also have to take iron supplements too as I lost alot of blood during surgery.  Good luck with everything!! :-)
Posted 11/1/2008 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
yeah ensure is a great idea, i didn't even think of that. Or even the kids version, it tastes a tiny bit better, lol.
If she is afraid to eat, just eating a tiny tiny bit, just enough to keep from being hungry will help. Like if i start to feel hungry, and i let myself get to the point where my tummy is grumbly, then i get gas, but if i can eat just a little. like just a carton of yogurt will keep me from getting like tha.
Posted 11/2/2008 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Ensure is a good suggestion, but I never could tolerate the taste of it so my MD recommended Carnation instant breakfast with my meals to help to get more vitamins and minerals.   To this day, when I drop a few needed pounds, I start drinking it again.

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