Low/Slow Output...Am I obstructed?

Oooh, for dinner? Steak is hard for anyone to digest so it's especially hard when you don't have the extra plumbing LOL! And rice is a thickener so that may be causing your low output. I learned the hard way with rice and now only have it at lunch with PLENTY of fluids. I'd suggest hot tea, that works for me. Or hot chocolate - or coffee, anything hot :)

Are you having any pain?

Others will add to this thread but regardless of what the Dr said right now I would go slowly.

My husband's only blowout was when he ate a chinese dinner....shrimp chow mein, fried rice and an egg roll about 2 months after surgery. It tasted so good and he ate most of the dinner that night even though I had the chow mein cooked a little extra so it would be softer and not too stir fried. Steak even now he doesn't eat a lot of and it has to be very tender and chew, chew, chew.

As time passes you will be able to eat a bigger variety but just be careful for now...this is not the same with your insides now before the surgery. Mini meals are much better than larger ones too.

It's still very early days. Your surgery was only weeks ago. My surgeon said the same to me, but the reality is that things will take longer to settle and you must go gradually (and ignore your surgeon for the time being!). It could take a few months and you should stick to a 'low residue' diet for a while, slowly building things up and trying small amounts of new foods to see if you can tolerate. Nearly a year on and I still can't eat steak :-( that's not to say you won't be able to, as many people can, it's just the way I work. I stick to smaller meals (2 courses is a killer) throughout the day, and avoid red meat, high fibre foods, fruit and veg with skins etc etc

I've also recently discovered after working with a dietician that I haven't been absorbing electrolytes properly and since switching to a sports drink (rather than calorie free electrolyte tablets) I've been feeling a lot better and my output is more consistent and I'm able to tolerate a few more foods than I could before.

Agree with the others, just take it easy (boring I know!) and drink drink drink. Try a sports drink (gatorade etc) too.

What everyone has said is dead on. It's early and you have to start slow since this experience. Blockages are really painful, I've had a couple, one of which I was hospitalized for. I had no output what so ever, fowl smell, and pain around the stoma area, with distention.

Everyone's diet experience post op is different. Be mindful of what foods cause you symptoms and when your output is thick or slowed, drink hot tea. Also several months post op, you have to drink alot of fluids, more than 100 fl oz per day, more than 10 glasses of water. And that might not even be enough. Snack of pretzels and chips for salt and keep your electrolytes under control. I always encorporated 1 gatorade per day (G2 is better) for the first several months.

Post Edited (windy city) : 6/7/2012 8:47:02 AM (GMT-6)

If you aren't in any pain and you're still getting output, then I wouldn't worry. I would, however, take this as a sign that your body isn't quite ready for that much of those types of food at once. Drinks lots and do some good walking and things should move on through.

Some of us just have slower systems, too. Even now with my j-pouch it isn't unusual at all for it to take until the next morning to pass what I ate for dinner, etc.