When you say a food is a no-no...

...what exactly does that mean?

Like, we can't eat peanuts because they don't digest. Does that mean they get stuck? Cause pain?  Or with veggies and skins and seeds? Is it just we run a risk having getting a blockage?

I had a veggie-Brie quiche yesterday (so GOOD, BTW) Anyhow, it was full of veggies - carrots, lots of squash, zucchini, peppers, etc. I noticed (this may be TMI), a lot of the veggies came out pretty much the way they went in - it was like a salad in a bag. (HA HA.) But, it didn't hurt or anything. So why is it bad?

Also, if all my veggies and fruits seem to come out undigested, does that mean I'm not getting nutrients from them? I've eaten all kinds of veggies and fruits - tomatoes, grapes, oranges, carrots, broccoli...Did I just get lucky and I'm playing with fire by eating them? The only foods I've stayed away from are lettuce, nuts, and popcorn.

Thanks!

 

I have a jpouch and I eat everything, nuts, seeds, popcorn, fruit skin, vegetables both cooked and raw. I haven't yet found a food that bothers me. You are getting all your nutrients. The insoluble fiber you see was also in your stool when you had a colon, it was just disguised in the stool because the stool was formed. Now that stool is looser you are able to see the fiber that does not digest.

As long as you are gaining or maintaining weight, you are not lacking in nutrients.

Sue

If you have no active disease left, you should be able to eat anything you want. Usually when you have an ostomy procedure it goes hand in hand with taking out the diseased area, or at least by-passes the diseased area. I think the people on here who have problems eating certain foods have some issues with narrowing (meaning scar tissue or inflammation) or it wouldn't be an issue.

You are so fortunate. Last night I made breaded squash for my hubby (I dip squash in egg whites and then lightly bread them in homemade bread crumbs. Then I bake them in the oven for 10 min or so). I took one bite of the squash to make sure it was done and that was enough for me. about 2 hours later I started to have stomach cramps. My stomach ached for a good 20 minutes or so and then a small piece of squash popped out of my stoma followed by some stool. The stool was trying to pass and the squash was blocking it. This really frustates me! I love fruits and veggies and salad. They are usually 85% of my diet. I am having a hard time finding foods that I can eat.

I certainly hope you all at least "try" and "experiment" with various foods... and different ways of preparing them. Trying them in small portions, and along with a "safe" food is usually a good way to start. Some folks just never have a problem. Others, well, just have to be careful.

Amey, I am sorry you are having such issues with fruit and veggies. I have nearly always had some issues, but mine don't seem as bad as yours. I do know that if I eat a known problem food (sometimes I just can't resist a little), I'd better NOT eat it on an empty stomach. I like them, but I can guarantee ya that they never were 85% of my diet, even when I could tolerate them!!! I do crave chef salads and the like, but I KNOW better!!!

Judy, you hit the nail on the head ---- I'm sure my partial blockages are from scar tissue/kinks. I have always, from my very first surgery, had problems with abnormal amounts of internal scar tissue. I wouldn't know that except when I've had subsequent surgeries, my surgeon always commented on how full of ahesions I was. Since I have had this problem for a long time I have just learned over the years thru trial and error!! ( and pain!) What irritates me is that I can eat the very same thing --- one time I am fine, and another time I am not. It usually gets me in the middle of the night too - no matter when I eat it, but I still 'sample' my favorites, even if only a couple of bites.

Bluz, you have come to the right place to get the answers to just about anything! There are so many "eyes" on this board, certainly someone will have a suggestion for you. But I can't stress enough that everyone's body reacts differently. You should be able to sample different things at 6 months out.... experiment cautiously and enjoy. Have a Breeze for me Friday too!

suebear said...

As long as you are gaining or maintaining weight, you are not lacking in nutrients.

Sue

This is not always a true statement.  I've gained steadily in the last few years and I've also become vitamin B12 deficient, low on calcium, vitamin D and my hemoglobin is low, so low iron. 

Weight is not a good indication of nourishment (even doctors are guilty of this judgement), just fat ;0) which I have plenty of even though they tell me I don't absorb fat correctly due to short bowel.  Go figure. 

Believe it or not, my bone density tests were fine the last time I had them which was about 1 year ago. I think a lot of the vitamin deficiencies are new for me, although it takes years to become deficient in B12.

For a few minutes, it's dinner time in CA, lol.

I'm one of those who eat everything and anything (and it shows!), incl peanuts (I love salted peanuts - gotta get my salt fix!), corn, mushrooms, tomatoes, raw stuff, etc. Just CHEW, CHEW, CHEW! Yes, I often see these (and more) come out looking just like they did before I ate them (I swear corn, no matter how much I chew it, regroups in my tummy and comes out looking whole again!), but that doesn't stop me from eating them.

Introduce new foods into your diet, one thing at a time. That way, if it does cause problems, you can identify the culprit and either limit it or totally eliminate it from your diet.

I often think that those of us who have had our ostomies for many many years are lucky in that 20+ years ago (for the most part) we were never handed pages of foods to avoid, etc and have just gone on to eat whatever we want without a problem (ie we were never told not to and, for the vast majority, it hasn't harmed us). Nowadays, I find a lot of newer ostomates are very cautious in what they eat and a lot are scared to add new foods to their diet simply because of something that MIGHT happen. I have met so many who religiously stick to the diet they were given in hospital and don't realise that it's a diet for them mainly while they're healing. They're missing out on so many foods they love because they're too afraid to try anything new.

Remember, only about 10% of blockages are caused by food. The other 90% are caused by adhesions. Most ostomates will never experience a blockage at all.

OK, That's it! I am tired of reading about all of the foods you CAN eat. You all make me sick! LOL just kidding

Have to put in my 2 cents at this point. There is no need to eat something that comes back out whole as far as I can see. I take vitamins and they help tremendously. Drink, drink & drink more water. I have had a craving for cashews and broke down and picked up a can, hmm hmm good. I did make sure I chewed and chewed some more so I wouldn't suffer any pain. It all went well. I looked for the can today and found out my wife finished off the rest. lol I eat apples but don't swallow the skin. Like everything else it does pay heed to watch out. Something will get ya.

1 thing that got me was salt water taffey. Came out whole & it hurt!!!!