Trouble putting on weight following ilestomy

Hi Jennylou

I'm really sorry that I have not answered you before, I've no excuses it was on my flagged lists to do but well I've got no excuse at all and I do apologise.

First of all tell your husband not to get annoyed with you for not eating the meals he has prepared as when we have bowel surgery and yours was particularly awkward with having a perforated bowel.

He must understand that you've had a large piece of your bowel removed and in the process all your internal organs have been disturbed and everything is still settling down.

After bowel surgery we should stick to very small meals at regular intervals, around 4 to 6 meals a day is the normal whilst keeping up our fluid levels.

The easiest meals to digest are light and easily digestible, i.e. not too spicy, fatty, highly flavoured or high in fibre.

Your meals should comprise of some protein foods such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese and milk with only a small amount of starchy foods like bread and potatoes.

There is nothing wrong in having snacks in between your 4 - 6 meals, a packet of plain salted crisps on the side that you can nibble on helps to replace any salts you might lose during the day.

Most types of surgery can affect our taste buds and foods we loved before the surgery may have a bad taste to our mouths and we just can't face them.

For a while a big plate of a full English breakfast, Steak and Kidney pie mash and peas, curries and Chinese are to be avoided.

A small tasting plate some milky porridge oats (Oats so Simple made with milk), weetabix and milk, small cube of pate for breakfast 

Eggs at anytime of the day, broth or homemade soup (strained) or tinned.

Small yogurts, jellies, ice cream. A few spoonfuls of minced beef with gravy, not a heavy sauce and a few spoonfuls of mashed potatoes milky puddings little tubs of custard or rice pudding that can be eaten hot or cold on the side that you can snack on.

Message to husband.

You are going through a period of trial and error with food, you're sure he's made you a nice meal but I just need something light at the minute 

Not everything will taste nice but give it a few days then try again

Whatever you try, eat slowly, if you need to chew, do it at least 30 times.

Gradually your taste buds will improve you feel like eating more of a variety and quantity but until then lots of  small meals, the weight will return and you'll be back on asking how do I lose weight.

I'm not sure if this will be much help, but if I can elaborate on anything come back to me, I'm about every day and evenings and I usually give a check at least once during the night.

Apologies for the delay.

Ian

CC

Ian, 

Thank you so much again for the incredibly helpful response. 

I was trying to stick to the usual three meals a day but the way you describe it sounds a lot easier. I will discuss with hubby and try to alter the way we do my meals. 

Do you know on average how long it takes to get your taste buds back to normal and your full appetite back? My operation was three months ago and I was hoping to at least be eating properly even though I have no strength in my legs, desperately trying to improve this but pain still continues to be an issue

No need for all the apologies, many thanks 

Hi Jennylou

If we're talking averages you should have both your appetite and your taste buds back by now but we are all different. I lost my appetite and taste buds for 6 months then suddenly had an appetite and could taste food.

I am currently going through a phase of having no appetite and food has no taste.

You just have to fight through it, if you can manage the 6 meals a day with ease you can start to increase the plate size and reduce the number of meals per day, sometimes if the plate has too much food on it this will take your appetite away. Start with your meals on a saucer, then onto a side plate or bowl then onto a small dinner plate.

Have your meal with others or watching television the distraction may help you eat more 

Having you tried smoothies as a meal, I'm not talking shop bought ones but ones you make from scratch from fresh ingredients which could be one way of giving everything a kick start. The benefit of a smoothie is that you can't finish it; you just put it in the fridge for later.

I've got recipes for eleven weight gaining ones that might interest you, I'll send them over if you want.

 Ian

CC