Diet advice

Hi Mat C 

I’m going to tag my friend Kath Katz51 who I know had the same surgery as you to see if she can help with some advice for you. 

I had a different surgery, lost my rectum and have a permanent colostomy, but my hospital had me immediately on a “normal” diet with no advice on what I should eat. As it happened, I couldn’t manage to eat much and had no appetite due to constant vomiting. On discharge from hospital, for me it was very much trial and error in what I could eat, and I avoided things if they caused any issues. Sometimes I was able to try again during my recovery, and everything improved.

You are very recently out from surgery, and it’s true that the bowel doesn’t like to be manhandled! Nowadays, for me being 4.5 years from my surgery, I am basically free to eat anything, but there are certain things like dairy products and fatty foods which will cause me issues. However, I also had my gallbladder removed last year, so that may have an additional impact for me with high fat stuff. 

I hope others will come along to let you know what has helped them.

Sarah xx

Thank you Sarah, it's good to hear from you and know how things worked for you. I get a sense that what works or doesn't work for different people varies, but that there are some commonalities, so I'm keen to hear from as many people as possible.  As you say, it's still pretty early days for me and it'll be a case of trial and error going forward, but this first foray into eating sgain is helping me feel human again post-surgery! Thank you for your help. 

Hi Mat.yes I had the same op 5 yrs ago.once I was over the ileus( you are quite right the small bowel really doesnt like being messed with)I was told to gradually introduce foods with initially the mantra (if its white its alright" so white bread,rice,pasta,fish,chicken ,potato,cauliflower etc.

Once I knew that didnt cause any problems to then introduce more foods about an eggcup full at a time.its really trial and error.for example Ive never had problems with peas,pulses nuts etc but others cant eat them.the only thing Ive never tried is sweetcorn.and although I love mushrooms they do tend to not alter at all on the way through(if you see what I mean)

I have heard people say chew chew chew so thats probably worth remembering.

I hope something amongst my rambling might be useful

Kath

Thank you for your wisdom Kath. At the minute I really want to get home so I'll be able to experiment with what works. My system still seems to be coping ok with the food I've eaten today and yesterday, so it's onwards and upwards, carefully! I appreciate your help, thank you.

Hi Mat C,I didn’t have a bowel op but followed the same sort of diet as Kath post surgery.I had Ileus post op so it took a while for the bowels to start working again.I introduced new foods gradually and if they didn’t agree stopped them and tried at a later date.Best wishes Jane 

Jelly and yogurt each day. Filled pasta with sauce and grated parmesan. Mashed banana on toasted crumpets. Hot smoked salmon fillets. Old fashioned porridge oats with high cocoa chocolate added. I avoided seeded bread, beansprouts, sweetcorn, peas (tinned were OK), baked potato skins, bony fish and undercooked vegetables.

I did (and still do) drink plenty of still fluids, including pomegranate juice drink. It all seemed to restore my health OK.

Dulac

I ate jelly and yoghurt too as well as rice pudding.I found bread too filling but sandwich thins were manageable.I had savoury biscuits,soup,pasta,rice and jacket potatoes (not the skins).I ate little but often and my surgery was a cystectomy and urostomy.I found it difficult to drink due to nausea but using a straw helped.Jane x