diet with an ileostomy

Is there any site that gives a comprehensive list of foods allowed and not allowed with an ileostomy?  I recenty has one and I am still confused as to what exactly I can or cannot have.  For instance can I have bean sprouts or barley soup?  Thank you to anyone who can help.

Pauline

Polly,
Many of us can eat about everything and then there are others who cannot for fear of a blockage. Each person is a little different. There are several things to watch for and eat is very small quanities until you know how YOUR body will handle them. Nuts and seeds are hard to digest as are a lot of the fresh veggies and fruits, esp with the skins and/or seeds. B.arley should not be a problem. Bean sprouts should be fine so long as you chew them well. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids with your meals and when you are trying new foods. Introduce new, possibly hard to digest items one at a time so you know how your body handles them.

Let us know if you have any other questions. How long have you had your ileostomy?

Hi Polly,

Peggy was right on with her response. I have found that I can eat anything I want, just as long as I chew it well and don't eat a massive amount of it at once.

The only foods my surgeon said to avoid completely were mushrooms and large potato skins. Like Peggy said, trying a Little bit of something first to see how it goes is your best bet.

My surgeon also told me about a guy that developed a huge blockage from eating spinach, because he ate an ENTIRE BAG in one sitting! All the little stems created a blockage.

Also, anytime I eat salad or corn or whatever, I make sure to eat something like bread/potatoes/chicken with it so that they can mix with the fiber and kind of help push it through, you know?

I really haven't changed my diet much since my ostomy; I eat popcorn, regular corn, peanuts, salads, peppers, sesame seeds, apples, raisins (but only a few at a time), grapes, whatever. :)

Hope all goes well! Summerstorm who posts on here recommended getting shredded lettuce for salads, so I did that for the first few times I had them to help things along (now I just get regular lettuce).

Hope all goes well!

-E

Thank you that was very helpful.

SInce your ileo is new, i would reccomend a low residue diet, meaning staying away from fresh veggies and fruits, stringy meats, nuts, anything that is hard to digest.
However in a few weeks start adding things, and like they all said drink LOTS of water with anything that might cause a problem, like veggies and fruits at first. And the shredded lettuce is great to begin with.
I did that for about the first year or so, i am on regular lettuce now, i just chew alot.
After a few months, you shoudl be fine with anything, in moderation. My surgeon said you sshould be fine with pretty much anything he said, "dont get eat a whole head of cabbage or anything!"
Anyway, I choose to stay away from nuts and seeds cause they cant be digested by anyone, but lots of the people on here do fine with them

Most of your problems for the first year or so will come from gas from certain foods, like broccoli or spicy foods. But that should calm down, and you can also take some gasx to help lessen that effect.
Ok there is my totally rambling post, lol.

Thanks for that link, that was interesting.

I'm nine weeks post step one and eat everything I should be watching or avoiding, it seems.  I don't do low residue; I'm diabetic and fibre is the way to go.  I eat veggies galore and though I've cut back on eating corn, I did eat some the week I came home from the hospital.  Trail mix has always been my favourite snack -- nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.  Oops! 

I am thankful I haven't experienced a blockage yet!  My appetite never returned after surgery but I should probably reassess my new (healthier) diet.  I live on meat, potatoes, and veggies now.

oh and just so you know, syrup, like on pancakes makes it super sticky and hard to go down teh toilet! so i try not to eat it when i have to go out shortly there after, lol