Home from Colectomy 4 days

Hi,
I also had a colectomy with recatl anastemosis as well, back in Augaust. With the food thing, I have alot of food intolereances, as many foods cause diareah and more output. what I did and it works for everyone is keep a food diary and see what foods cause problems. I at first averaged 20+ times BM's my first few weeks after my surgery, so it was hard to see what foods bothered me. As soon as my BM's slowed down to 5-6 times an with in an hour after I ate than I stopped until I ate again, I realized what foods I can and cannot have. If I ate something and then I went to the bathroom more than 5-6 times within an hour and usually ended up going for 8-10 every single hour after that until I ate again and/or had watery, oily, and black stools with the constant BM episodes, that meant I had to avoid that food because my body could not tolerate it. Even though you will at first get watery, oily stools in the begginiing as your body adjusts to the change, Foods that make you go more frequently than your average will determine what you can tolerate, so it will take a few weeks or so, but it you will get the hang of it.In october, my surgeon put me on metamucil to help withbinding up my stools a bit. It works pretty well with binding up the stools and with the frequency, as long as I eat the foods I can have. Even after my surgeon had me take metamucil the powdered stuff to help bind my stools a bit, If I ate those foods I could not tolerate, I would still get the watery, oily, diareah and constantly be in the bathroom. That is how I found out what helps me and how to get control over my life. My surgeon told me that different people have different food intolerances, so what one person can tolerate another one can not. He also told me that they can last a very long time and can be lifelong, as well. As for the constant bathroom trips, which can be a pain in the butt, literally, I use Destin cream or the wal-mart brand destin cream for my butt to help with the pain and the soreness. Also at first I had alot of hemmeroids, so I would use hemmoroid cream once in a while, but than every other I time I would use A&D cream. But then I found out The Destin cream worked better for the pain, so I use that now. I now longer have hemmeroids, since my BMs are pretty much controlled, with alot of hard work on my part figuring out what the body can tolerate and how to control things, but it was well worth it. I also get tired alot too, especially in the beggining because of the pooping and having a major operation, but everything will settle down. Well, good luck and I hope this helps out a little bit. You have come to the right place for support. This is a great board and everyone here is a great big help. I hope i have helped you a little bit. If you have any more questions, I am very gladly willing to answer them. Good luck and I hope you feel better.

annie,
i know what you mean about the dietitians. I was lucky because my surgeon told me that because of the food intolerances are a complication of the surgery, he did not even want to recommend a dietitian, since dietian tell you what to eat or feel what you should eat, and since my surgeon says it is pretty much up to me what my body can and can not handle, it would be a waste of time and money because it is my body and I only no what bothers me and does not bother me. I love that food diary. It is a great tool to have. I know how it feels to be out of control with the bMs. I can only literally eat 18 foods, and the only protein I can have is chicken, fish, and Fat Free eggs. I can't even eat the foods I used to love like sweets and fries and even salads. But I got to say, and I know it is crazy, but I rather avoid the things I can not eat even though I loved them so much, than live my life in the bathroom 24/7 being deprived of going out, sleeping and all of the good activities in life can offer. This thought helps me out alot to cope with my food intolerances. Well, I am so glad to be talking to you. I hope everything goes well. I am glad that you are keeping that food diary. It is my lifeline. i am here if you have any more questions.