Ostomy Do's and Don't

I am still on a low residue diet; however, my family and I are leaving for a cruise this Saturday and I am not sure what I can and cannot eat.  Can some of you please give me an idea of foods that I might want to avoid on the cruise (just as a precaution).  For example, a friend of mine ate grilled asparagus when she was three weeks post surgery.  The strings of the asparagus got caught in her stoma and caused blockage.  She ended up in the hosptial for 4 days because of this.  So now I know....NO ASPARAGUS on the trip.  I am nervous about eating something that I shouldn't and then I would have to be flown by helicopter to some unknown hospital in the Keys....

 

Thanks....

 

 

Ok....now here is something I learned I should DO.....always carry a stick of gum (or a breath mint) in your right pocket.  I was on my walk today and a big dog kept smelling my bag.  The owner looked at me funny and then I pulled out a stick of gum .  It worked like a charm. 

 

 

Okay here we go with some very "old" advice from my ET back in the early 80's ------  if you can put the food item into a glass of water, except for meats, and it disintigrates, then you shouldn't have a problem.  For example, tho pretzels are hard, they turn to mush in water.  Same with fritos, potato chips, tortillas.     NOT the same with corn or some fresh veggies and fruits.  Watch fibery, stringy items.   If you can mush it up between your fingers, it's ok.  If you experiment, just remember to chew, chew, chew and drink lots of fluids.  If you know of things that are "iffy", don't try them on the cruise.  You want to enjoy the cruise.  Just don't drop your food into water or mush it up in your fingers at the dinner table..!!!!! 

Go ahead and make fun of me everyone!!  I can take it.

Where are you going on your cruise?  How long?

 

Ever since I had my butt-ectomy, dogs like to sniff my bag, too! Good advice on the gum.

They'll have such a variety of food to choose from on the cruise, that you'll be able to find plenty of things that you know are safe to eat. I've had my ileostomy for 18 months and have never had a problem with blockages, and I eat everything under the sun.

Enjoy, don't worry, and make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen!

After your cruise, I hope that you'll start experimenting more with food because eventually, there should be very little (if anything) that you can't eat. Just because a food causes problems for one person DOES NOT mean it will cause a problem for you. I (and the majority of other ileostomates and colostomates) eat whatever we want without a problem.

This far out from surgery though, you will probably just want to stick with eating what you KNOW will be safe foods for you, esp during the cruise, since you don't want any problems.

When you get back home, introduce new foods into your diet, one at a time and CHEW, CHEW, CHEW! You'll be suprised at what you can eat. I eat pineapple, nuts, corn, mushrooms, salads, etc without a problem.

Remember, there are no absolutes when it comes to ostomies. Everyone is different in what they can and can't tolerate. You don't want to miss out on your favourite foods simply because you're too afraid to try them.

Good luck.

I made it up since nobody (except you all) seems to know what a proctocolectomy is!

i would ask your doctor again how long you have to stay on the low-residue diet....

I agree with Shaz......

i personally love food, it is one of my favorite aspects of being alive...so I started eating regular food very soon after my getting my ileostomy....and have never had a problem....true, that is only my experience, but i think Shaz is accurate in saying most of us eat whatever we want now that we have ostomies.....that is one of the good things about getting one.....yeah, you have a pouch stuck to your belly, but at least you don't have to worry about the pain of everything coming out your rear end....

in my opinion.....you ought to personally experiment with all foods so that you don't stop yourself from eating too many things...

Fear nothing but fear itself......