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Fiber and ileostomies

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Posted 5/4/2011 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
Is there any value in eating fiber if you have an ileostomy (other than if it's a food you like that won't cause a blockage)? I was thinking about this after reading the posts about watery output. The point of fiber is to slow transit in the colon and make stool more formed, correct? So if you have no colon, then there's no point? And it can be dangerous?

When I had to be low fiber before my surgery, I always felt like I wasn't eating healthy with all that white stuff and no whole grains, raw fruit/veg etc.... so, now I'm feeling better, but I think the definition of healthy food has changed.
Posted 5/4/2011 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, it does have a purpose. You may have been given discharge instructions that indicated using Imodium (slows down output) and Metamucil (bulks up output) in your recovery. Fiber is used differently for a person with an ileo than someone who has a colon (who uses it for regularity).

Personally, I eat a VERY high fiber diet with a lot of fresh veggies and fruits and whole grains (love Ezekiel Bread!). The only time I have a very liquid output is when I drink coffee/soda/juices.

If a person with an ileo uses fiber supplements they have to be very careful to find the right amount for them. We have to start off with a small amount daily and slowly increase every few days. We would never have to use the amount listed on the packaging!

Not everyone needs or even wants to be bothered with fiber supplements. If your diet contains the right portions for you, you may never need to use them. Same as some ileostomates do not need to drink extra fluids when the foods they are eating contain plenty to keep them hydrated

Confusing, huh?! It took me a very long time to find what worked for me.
Posted 5/4/2011 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
I eat a crap load of both soluble and insoluble fiber daily because it's my preferred diet pre UC and post UC. As EM said, the soluble fiber will absorb liquids and slow transit time. I have been using Chia mixed in my morning yogurt. It's a very smooth gelatinous type of fiber which is allegedly high in omega 3s. Actually I started using it not for the fiber benefit but for the omegas as I don't eat fish. Another fiber I like is hemp. I put it in my nightly smoothie and the added benefit is that it's high in amino acids. You can experiment around with different fibers and see what you like best. I also find fresh fruit to be bulking and anything with wheat gives me higher frequency so I don't each much wheat. Everyone is different so after some time you will find what works best for you.

Sue
Posted 5/4/2011 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon recommended metamucil rather than imodium for slowing the transit time. As metamucil will absorb the water - whereas the imodium actually constipates you.

Remember - your small intestine is now taking on a lot of the role of a colon - so the fibre has an impact.

My partner loves cooking soups and fibrous dishes - I find the output is thick from these and the transit time varies - but - it def increases the amount of output. Also find that it comes through all at once. Feels like someone opened a high pressure valve on my stoma!

Still trying to play around with imodium and metamucil to see if it can reduce the volumes a bit.
Posted 5/4/2011 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
This is so helpful and interesting, thanks. I seem to have completely missed these points. Guess it makes sense the plumbing changes are complicated and confusing -- a big deal.

Right now I am gorging on wheat and cheese because they used to give me a lot of urgency pre surgery, and I didn't eat them for a few years. It feels like one of the most concrete benefits I've had from my surgery so far is that I can eat pizza and regular pasta etc, as I'm still healing from my abscess. But I would like to slow down at some point and move to more fresh veggies and fruits and such....

EM do you have to peel most of the fruits you eat? It is hard to figure out the right level of paranoia about a blockage....

Sue, I have used hemp powder before, I presume you mean the powder, right? The seeds seem like they would just go right through....

I haven't been keeping a food diary because I've done that so often and got sick of it, but I can see where it's a good idea to start up again.
Posted 5/4/2011 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I buy my hemp in seed form and toss it in the blender with my fruits. The chia I buy in seed form and run it through a coffee grinder.

Sue
Posted 5/4/2011 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks suebear! I am going to buy Chia seeds on my next WF visit...I hate taking those awful Fish Oil capsules!!! Never thought of another form idea
Posted 5/5/2011 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Equestrian Mom,

And if you like the Chia, the most inexpensive place to get it is here:

http://getchia.com/products-1

The website also has the nutritional info if you want to study up!

Sue
Posted 5/5/2011 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Am I missing something here? I could not care less about how thick or watery my output is or how much. I eat and drink whatever I want and whatever happens, happens. Immodium?? I threw that away when I got my ileo. Can't stand that packaged fibre stuff.  Why is it necessary to "program" your ileo amd output?

Dan

Posted 5/5/2011 7:16 AM (GMT 0)
For me it's useful when I'm heading out walking or exercising or out with friends where there isn't a loo near. Also I find it much easier to stay hydrated when it's thicker and means less trips to the loo generally.

Also - in the back of my mind I am also thinking about a reversal later in the year and what diet would work then.
Posted 5/5/2011 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
polishdan~when our bodies are flushing out all liquid other organs have to work more (kidneys) and can cause other problems sad

I don't care for Imodium myself, I find that the foods I eat do the trick, and if I am not eating like I want to, I add fiber capsules. My output isn't 100% thick, 100% of the time, but I easily stay hydrated.

Thanks for the info Sue!
Posted 11/3/2015 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
I am just beginning to explore the difference between soluble fibre and insoluble fibre. We need both. I would love to hear opinions about this, forom the viewpoint of an ileostomist.

Post Edited (Pablo2) : 11/3/2015 3:25:50 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/3/2015 10:25 PM (GMT 0)

polishdan said...
how thick or watery my output is or how much. I eat and drink whatever I want and whatever happens, happens. Immodium?? I threw that away when I got my ileo. Can't stand that packaged fibre stuff. Why is it necessary to "program" your ileo amd output?

Dan

I am sure that prior to very painful kidney stones, I paid no attention to how watery my output was. Now I realise - we need to keep food in our systems long enough for our bodies to extract as much nutrition from it as possible. At best, ileostomist now have only half the time to extract nutrients than previously.
Posted 11/3/2015 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
My diet is perfect for me. McDonalds sausage, egg and cheese on a biscuit with black coffee for breakfast, garlic mashed potatoes with some kind of meat and a slice of potato bread lathered with a lot of butter for lunch, two 5 oz glasses of red wine at dinner time, a toasted slice of potato bread with peanut butter and real butter then three scoops of french vanilla ice cream and then to bed.

Life is good!
Posted 11/4/2015 7:18 AM (GMT 0)
I guess that still having some colon left means you can have a more varied diet.
Good for you.
Posted 11/4/2015 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Paul -I had my ileostomy done 9 years ago. My point was...in time all things will fall into place.
Posted 11/4/2015 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, you are right there.
At first I was worried about what to eat, but it is amazing how quickly the body can heal.
My stoma, and around it is absolutely fine. It just feels like a normal part of the body and I feel able to eat virtually any kind of food I want to.
My op was about 8 years ago.
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