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Posted 8/3/2011 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I've been told over and over since my ileostomy not to eat nuts/seeds or potato skins/fruit skins because they may cause blockages. My question is how? If the small intestine hasn't changed during the op at all apart from the fact it has turned into a stoma (and for me it has also gone on to form an internal pouch) then why would I and others be fine pre -op to eat these things, and not post - op, even though the food is following exactly the same track??!
Posted 8/3/2011 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
The items you mentioned don't digest/break down very well (or sometimes at all). The opening of your stoma is a lot smaller than the opening of the anus, so pieces of food can literally get stuck and unable to go through the opening of your stoma even though that same food used to pass easily through the rectum/anus.
Posted 8/3/2011 6:22 PM (GMT 0)

run4pancakes said...
The items you mentioned don't digest/break down very well (or sometimes at all). The opening of your stoma is a lot smaller than the opening of the anus, so pieces of food can literally get stuck and unable to go through the opening of your stoma even though that same food used to pass easily through the rectum/anus.

Ohhhh I see! Thank you!

Posted 8/3/2011 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Me too, Ron. If I get a partial I can feel where my stomach is hard and kind of massage and *blop!*
Posted 8/3/2011 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
I've done same as Nascaron when I've had a blockage. I have a stricture about 10 inches from the stoma and can feel when it is stuck and so sort of squeeze the stomach along to help it. Best to avoid anything which could get stuck but the only thing I have problems with is mushrooms and tough stringy meat which to be honest I avoid anyway once as was out having a meal with people I didn't know very well so could hardly spit it out and sure enough it got stuck.

I eat baked potatoes including the skin and also seeds/nuts etc and not had a problem so think it is a case of trial and error using small amounts first and see how things go.
Posted 8/3/2011 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
Anytime you cut the skin you are at risk for adhesions (scar tissue). Scar tissue can narrow the intestine. Some ostomates are more prone to developing scar tissue than others. For jpouchers the first year post surgery one is at their highest risk for blockages. But then again, some have then chronically due to the above.

Sue
Posted 8/4/2011 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Also to make the stoma, the small intestine has to be angled at somewhat of a right turn so it can come out through the abdomen to be made into the stoma. No longer a straight shot down into the colon. Rosemary
Posted 8/4/2011 2:50 PM (GMT 0)

Aah all this makes a lot more sense...and yes I have in the past also put pressure on my stomach area when I can feel something is coming through and quite a bit has come out.

One more question though - is the opening of the stoma the same size as the rest of the inside of the small intestine?

Posted 8/4/2011 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
I believe the opening of the stoma is narrower because to make a stoma the small intestine is brought out through the abdomen then turned outward, like putting on an ankle sock and folding the cuffs down and outward. Rosemary
Posted 8/4/2011 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
A nurse at a support group I went to said that the opening of the stoma is narrower because the belly skin naturally wants to close around the stoma, so it tightens it up some.

But it is turned inside out like Rosemary said, not sure if that narrows it....

I had the same question you did, and before I heard that nurse I had been thinking it was because there were no muscles at the end to push out what pools there, but I don't think that's the reason....
Posted 8/7/2011 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
My stoma has been able to handle all kinds of things, and I'm a bit shocked sometime when I havent been chewing as well as I thought. But I#ve seen pieces of cooked carrot and other vegetables, lettuce, nuts, raisins and other things.

But is my jpouch going to be less effective than the stoma is no?
Posted 8/9/2011 8:19 PM (GMT 0)

Yeh I'm amazed at how easy it is to subconsciously swallow something quite big and it just comes through whole...carrots are the bain of my life! I also had a big bit of chicken come through once and I'm amazed it didn't get stuck!

Anyone know why 'big mouthfuls' /pieces of food don't digest ATALL but come out whole?

Posted 8/10/2011 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
How does whole stuff come out? Mine is always digested. How do you dare eat carrot? Rosemary
Posted 8/10/2011 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
Well if I forget to chew loads and accidently swallow a bit whole it just seems to come through exactly as it went in. And I don't eat carrot or things like that anymore unless it is mashed up...I'm only 4 months post surgery so I didn't realise that certain foods have can have this affect, as it's all trial and error at the beginning isn't it!

Posted 8/10/2011 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yep all trial and error. When my ileo was new, I would literally have to be right enroute or next to a bathroom. If I ate a sandwich and glass of milk, say, it would all be in the bag in about 15 minutes. Then I'd empty and be on my way. Actually I sort of liked it best that way. Now as my system has adapted it is a lot slower. So far so good in no adhesion reobstruction (hoping I stay free of those), but now the food takes about 2 hours to get to my ileo stoma). Of course I can speed it up with a decaf dunkin donut coffee with cream and sugar :-)

Rosemary
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