To the recent take-downers (took-downees?) of the past couple of weeks

I am curious about consistency and what certain foods will do to consistency.

I am presently pigging out mega on 2/3 of a pint of Ben & Jerry's 'half baked' which I think is the most heavenly stuff in the world and it breaks my heart to think that I'll have to give it up for the rest of my life starting with take down.

(If it goes into the bag now, I don't care, but later when I'm pooing for real, I don't want to deal with liquid).

What about meat?

French fries?

I mean the really naughty things that are not healthy to eat often but just once in a while.

suebear said...
I don't know why you think you will need to give up certain foods after your reversal?
I eat everything. Sure some foods move more quickly than others, but there is not a food out there they I don't avoid due to my jpouch.

I can and do eat meat but I mostly live on fresh fruit because that's what I like to eat. That preference has nothing to do with my jpouch. You will and should have formed stools, at times with your jpouch. You won't have diarrhea. Some things will be thicker some thinner and you can adjust all that with fiber, diet, or imodium if you chose. It's not that hard to manage but in the beginning it can be trying as your new jpouch has to learn how to behave like a colon. Don't expect it to be perfect right out of the box.

Yesterday for lunch I had a large salad with organic greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, and grille chicken. Because that was SO healthy, I had a side of organic onion rings. Not a problem!

Sue

 

Hehe, Suebear is the perfect spokewoman for J-pouch Inc. She and her Jpouch work in tandem 100% and everything is in peace and harmony.

We all get looser stool with sugar, but there are things you can do to offset that. Taking imodium or fiber can help bulk stool and slow transit time.

Sue

amused said...
Maybe I'm a little different then some of you because my Colon was removed due to Diverticulitis which perforated my Colon a year ago. I had a bag for a year and after 2 more surgeries I finally had the take down on Dec. 29th, 6 weeks ago yesterday. I don't have a jpouch, I have a rectum that is directly connected to the small intestine so I get terrible diarrhea real easy. Many of you advised me on this site (after surgery) to not eat fruit and veggies and that would help with the severe diarrhea but eat the "white diet", white bread, potatoes, bananas, pasta etc. I did a food journal like you suggested and found out that the major diarrhea outbreaks was caused when I ate fruit and vegetables, Mexican food, and even beef. I talked to my surgeon and she agreed to stay away from fruit and veggies and other things that were causing the diarrhea to be worse. She also added some more medication to help me. I currently take Metamucil 3-4 times a day, 8 Imodium tablets a day (2, 4 times a day), and then a new RX called Cholestrene which is used to lower people's cholesterol and the side affect is constipation....so that is why she has me to take it is for the side affect "constipation". It has helped but I still have to watch what I eat very carefully and sweets are a no-no too. My diet is pretty boring right now but at least I'm alive. Will this ever get better? Any ideas?

You should probably ask your GI/surgeon if a J pouch is possible for you and it may make you feel better than now.

I eat everything too. After all those years of not be able to eat because of UC , I'm not depriving myself of anything! You shouldn't have any diet restrictions at all. You will come to know what things may may you "go more" but it's not like you are sick with UC and can't eat because you are in pain. Sugar doesn't make my stools looser at all so you won't know unless you try. :)

You know I'm less than a month out from takedown, so here's what I've learned so far:

It seems like the first two weeks, pretty much anything is going to make things liquidy. It's just how it is. The thing is though, it really doesn't matter because it's not like diarrhea from when you had a colon. You get an urge to go to the bathroom, but it's like from before being sick. If it is convenient to go, then you do. If it isn't, then you finish what you are doing, etc. and then find a bathroom. No rushing or worry. You sit down and go and the liquid comes right out. You don't feel sick or bad when it happens. Now, your butt may get sore with this liquid phase just because it irritates the skin more, etc but there are ways to work around that.

Now, I am having more formed stools. In fact, I have to be careful to drink a lot of water with my meals plus in between or I have a hard time going. The occasional liquid movement I get now is kind of welcome because it makes things feel cleared out more. A few nights ago I had a huge slice of chocolate cake with awesome frosting for dinner! I did have to go to the bathroom one time during the night where normally I sleep all night. Yesterday I had pizza for dinner and even ate some pineapple that was on it. I never ate pineapple with my stoma because I was too scared of blockage from it. Later in the evening I had some Ben & Jerry's Cinnamon Buns ice cream. Slept great all night and had formed stool this morning.

One thing that seems to help, for me at least, is keeping my portions small. If I ate 2/3 of that ice cream, maybe it would upset things? I just feel better and my digestive system seems to work better when I don't overload it. If I get hungry again, then I eat again later. No problem.

Wow B'Dereh you're eating plenty, I'm thinking you've got your appetite back?! I'm still eating loads! I hope I can calm it down again after takedown. I'm sure the weight wont stay off after that!

I'm just not sure about the whole weight thing. I was yo-yoing so much over the last 7 years with all the steroids and UC. Maybe it'll even out and I'll stay thin.

Anyway, I'm going to the gym lots as well! Doing loads of weights and already seeing a difference. It's great to get back into it and feel normal again!