New to Ileostomy

My apologies this is a long response 

Hi and a very warm welcome to the online community and whilst I appreciate that this is a place you didn't want to join but we all meet under different circumstances and we're glad that you felt this was the place to reach out to and I hope that I can answer this and any subsequent questions for you to make this part of your husband's journey a bit easier.

Can I put something to rest for you in this group/ gang asking questions are never thought to be silly or stupid each question is valid in its own right and if you have one/something rolling around in your head come on here ask it, get the answers then we can move on to the next one, there is one question that would be considered silly or stupid and that is the one never asked, so if it's about eating, output, products, clothing or anything else just ask we have a wealth of knowledge all based on our individual experiences that we are willing to share with you.

Now that I've got that part out of the way, let's have a look at your questions.

If you haven't got something similar to this Eating with a new Ileostomy you may find it of interest.

Seabass should be okay but I would maybe avoid the skin unless your husband can really chew it down to a pulp before swallowing it

He can still eat fresh tomatoes but they should be peeled and all the skin removed. Seeds could be a problem.

Peppers should be okay again without the skin

Green beans okay but make sure they're cut into very small pieces and chewed well.

Tinned tomatoes no problem except don't be alarmed if his poo is red. (Beetroot and tomato soup also turn the poo red)

It's good that his appetite is slowly coming back and he has a yearning for some particular foods and if you can cook them for him so much the better but he may fancy a particular food and you cook it be prepared for him to turn his nose up at it this is not down to your cooking but the fact that sometimes food that we loved and enjoyed pre Ileostomy tastes strange and we can't eat it, if this happens leave it out if the meal plan for a few weeks then try again it should be okay if not just give it time, it's all down to the surgery and anaesthetic playing around with our taste buds.

A food diary would be a good thing to start to record everything that he eats and drinks and the reaction his body has to it i.e. output changes.

Drinking avoid fizzy drinks unless the fizz has been taken out (flat) and sugary drinks. Water is okay but it doesn't replace the salts he will be losing through his ileostomy add a pinch of salt. No sugar added squash okay, fruit juices in moderation.

A packet of crisps daily helps to replace salt loss.

Eating small meals regularly is the way to go but to satisfy all my readers I must slip this into the conversation, every mouthful of food must be chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed chewed until it is down to a pulp then before swallowing chew chew chew chew chew chew again having a blockage is something he wants to avoid.

No exercising strenuously until the 6 weeks check up then speak to stoma care nurse about support garments and ask her to measure him for some usually to starting off with a peelable belt. You can ask the manufacturers to come to the house to measure him and whilst they will advise on their products and let him try on some garments, the people who visit are trained in the products and how to measure they are at the end of the day sales people and it is a sales call but normally they don't pressure you into ordering but will suggest that only one garment is ordered initially to make sure the size is right, but do emphasise it to them to make sure. If a peelable belt is offered ask if it comes in different depths and get the largest one (as in depth).

Something else that will be of use to your husband when going to the gym or returning to his manual job is a support belt with hernia protection and I would suggest looking at the Sash range of products. They don't supply through supply companies only direct to you the patient but are available on prescription. All support/hernia garment are supplied on Prescription

This might be of interest (Most of the people working there have a stoma so they know first hand of the problems we encounter).

You might be interested in this

www.sashstomabelts.com

Make sure he has the correct certificate for prescriptions charge exemption if his stoma was a result of cancer he needs a prescription exemption card which entitles him to free prescriptions for everything if not due to cancer but something else as his stoma is temporary he needs a prepaid prescription card which is paid for monthly by direct debit for either a three monthly or yearly type. Application forms from you GP who has to sign it.

Note it is your responsibility to make they are renewed on time as obtaining prescriptions without a certificate of either type and not paying involves a fine of £100 plus the prescription charge being sent to in the post.

This also maybe of interest

Details about Me+ (worth joining)

me+ enrollment form

You don't have to use their products or get your supplies from them or one of the companies in their group.

Having a stoma is not a one size fits all we are all individual and out management needs to be adapted to suit ourselves and usually involves a lot of trial and error but we've all been through it and will share everything with you.

I think I've covered nearly everything if not or you need any further help of information on your husband's stoma management I'm only a click away so please give me a shout out and ask away nothing is too small or considered too stupid or daft, everything is relevant and needs an answer which will be my pleasure to answer.

I'm Ian and they call me "The "

By clicking on any of the green text above will open up new pages for you.

Ian

Hi Ian, thank you so much for your reply, it was really helpful, informative and reassuring and very much appreciated.  

Hi Beebee87

Welcome to the forum, I hope things are settling down for your husband now with the help of Bodach's knowledgeable response. A couple of things you've said are similar to my own experience so I thought I'd just add a few comments from my personal perspective.

I had an ileostomy in February following severe abdominal pain and obstructed bowel caused by metastatic breast cancer. I'm 52, have teenagers 14 and 17, previously very fit and active - I was skiing the week before my surgery!!!  I lost 3 stone in weight between Christmas and my discharge from hospital in March.

The stoma nurses' and Ian's diet and exercise advice are very important to follow for the first 6-8 weeks as the ileostomy settles down. 

DIET

Slowly reintroduce foods to see what effect they have. I eat lots of tomato based sauces made with tinned tomatoes with no problem. I've only recently started on raw tomatoes,  I find  beef toms better as it's easier to remove the skin. Ive had no issue with pips. Other veg my stoma is happy with are green beans, cooked carrots, swede/carrot mash, broccoli, asparagus. I've just tried cabbage and salad for the first time, admittedly I've also had fish and eggs this weekend and things are very windy and smelly... so I'll give it a rest then try individually again in a few weeks!

I think that is the key to this, it's slow and laborious but that's the best way to avoid trouble.

I peel apples, but they are fine raw. My husband segments oranges for me and removes all the pith. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches (skinless), nectarines (skinkess), bananas all ok.

I've had one blockage caused by eating a homemade fruit laden tea bread... I thought the dried fruit would be ok as it had been soaked in cold tea overnight but was obviously

EXERCISE

Exercise is a very important part of my life and I was desperate to get back ASAP. I religiously did the rehab exercises from day one. At about 6-8 weeks I returned to gentle yoga wearing M&S firm support knickers. I did a lot of research on belts and support underwear and had the hospital's nominated supplier come round to measure me. I was promised I'd have my garments so I could exercise after 3 months, but I only received them 2 weeks ago, 5 months post op. In the meantime I have also returned to horse riding wearing 2 pairs of pairs of firm support knickers and my skiing back support! Terrified of getting a hernia. 

WEIGHT LOSS

I have regained about 1 stone 4lb so I've still got a way to go to reach my pre op weight, although I'd always wanted to shed a stone (don't we all?) amd am into a healthy, normal weight/BMI for my height. I just want to gain a bit more so I have some excess in case I am ill again.

I have been referred to a dietician who has given me lots of advice on adding calories without bulk as I find I still cannot eat large quantities. Things like fortifying whole milk with milk powder, using this on cereal, drinks and in sauces. Making jelly with milk instead of water (I eat jelly when my output gets a bit loose). Add cream and butter to vegetables, soups and sauces, eat 3 meals a day plus at least 3 snacks including cakes, biscuits, cheese etc ....... basically add in all those things you're told to avoid when you want to lose weight! I am tasked with adding 500 calories a day to my normal diet. 

Apologies, my dialogue box went blank and I thought I'd lost my post so just hit reply button.

Was going to say that the fruit tea bread was obviously too fibrous. The blockage was scary but cleared relatively quickly without medical intervention - lots of fluid, tummy massage, inverted yoga positions and heat. I hat to cut the hole in my pouches quite a bit larger for a few days. 

Anyway, I hope that's helpful. Don't let your husband rush into exercise or heavy lifting as you really don't want a hernia on your hands too. I would imagine this would complicate a reversal, but I don't know? 

Of course the final comment has to be chew, chew and chew some more!

Good luck, keep popping in to visit us and let us know how he is getting on. 

Dawn