I have my treatment plan!

Hi Irene 

I can see already that you have lots of advice about your hospital packing list. It a shame you threw your nighties away. I just bought two from Asda nothing fancy just spacious and fresh looking. My hubby had to buy me another one as I showered and got pouch wet consequently I was soggy all day! I wore PJs when my swelling had gone down at home. I took in a new dressing gown I was up and walking next day with drips and attachments once up I just kept walking  they told me ten days I was out in five  

Something I really appreciated was great smelling hand soap to wash with early days and after emptying my pouch

Many thanks @Net77 - some really great tips there, and especially as the first 48 hours I will not be allowed any visitors to bring in things I have forgotten.  Thanks for the tip about the Jelly Babies.  I have some arriving today in my grocery order.  So thickening output is I guess important - any advice about this would be really appreciated as I am concerned about being 'customer facing' after this if things start 'bubbling' in the pouch ;-)

Amazingly the NHS Ginger Biscuits I tried last Friday were the best I have ever tasted - now I know why they gave me ginger biscuits.  Tea bags - indeed - I find Pukka Relax just the best, and will take my own supply ;-)

And taking a long lead for charging up - absolutely - will order some now.  I have downloaded some audio books on my iPad.  I finding listening at the moment easier than reading. My eyes have had their own issues (isn't age a wonderful thing?) so depend on Kindle on iPad to read books.

Many thanks again for your best wishes - glad to hear you are well and best wishes for your reversal on the 9th March.

Love

Irene

Many thanks Ann - I have now ordered some nighties ;-) I will also definitely get some nice hand soap - I usually use Pears Transparent - but that can have a bit of a coal tar whiff ;-)  Will see if I can get some rose scented toiletries ;-)

PS. I've ordered 5 deep edge stretched canvases to inspire me to take out the brushes again - thinking of a spring theme - starting with Magnolia - my tree at the front is almost ready to flower ;-)  At the moment I am using my painting table to sort out all the stuff to go into my hospital bag ;-)

Irene

xx

That’s perfect.nighties are easy to deal with in hospital Treat yourself to some lovely liquid soap. I had lavender oil too just a dab on the pillow is soothing. Don’t forget some big pants. I bought two sizes up to start with as I wasn’t sure how much space I needed. jelly babies are good for thickening your output and marshmallows. Don’t worry about the bubbles it’s really a good sign that’s what you want it’s a sign of your stoma working. People don’t notice my whoopi. She was softly singing in a hotel on Monday waiting for her breakfast. It was really funny. 

I am now smaller that before and wear all my clothes fine. It’s only early days. 
The Magnolia is a beautiful subject. Please put it up on Express yourself or the March catch up 

I will be thinking of you. 
sending you a hug x

Hi Irene,

You sound as though you’re in a good place now but I’m sure you’re apprehensive too, but hopefully not ‘terribly frightened anymore’.

Your stoma nurses will give you lots of good information and advice, most people seem to find them wonderful – I don’t feel I’ve had the same support from mine as other people have had from theirs so it’s been more trial and error for me. The wonderful people on this website have been so helpful, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them!

Intestines & bowels don’t like being handled and there’s a chance they will go on strike for a few days and stop working – this can be very painful (look up ileus), but at least if you’re aware of it, it will hopefully not be so frightening if it happens.

The aim is for your output to be a ‘porridgy’ consistency. To begin with it’s likely to be very liquidy but things will settle down over time. From my notes it took mine around 10 days to settle, but weeks before I could manage more than a couple of dessert spoonfuls of food at a time. You’ll probably be advised to follow a low residue diet for a while and chew, chew, chew. You may not feel like eating at all so aim for little and often.

After a few weeks gradually introduce new foods. If anything causes an upset then stop eating it and try again a few weeks later. It’s extremely helpful to keep a food diary if you can be bothered; I did and although it did seem quite labour intensive it was really good for looking back to see what might have caused an effect – (my memory was rubbish after the operation).

Jelly babies, marshmallows, bananas, cheese, rice, white bread, pasta, mashed potato and mashed root veg are all usually good at thickening output – but everyone is different and it’s a steep learning curve.

I hope this doesn’t sound too daunting (I’m a great believer in forewarned is forearmed). On a positive note, my ileostomy has coped with everything & I mean everything I’ve thrown at it. I’ve stayed away from whole mushrooms, sweetcorn and whole nuts but everything else is doable, although I know if I eat somethings I will be up 2 or 3 times during the night to empty the pouch (I weigh up carefully if my need for a salad or homemade soup with lots of vegetable is worth the extra disturbance on my sleep that night).

Sorry for such a long post – as you can see I can talk for Britain!

Best Wishes,
Net x

Oh Artsie Anne, you do make me laugh with some of your written expressions

Best Wishes, Net x

Thanks Nett77

I always did see the funny side of life in the past. It’s still there occasionally. 

WOW, Net, that meal plan is going to be interesting. 

As a complete aside, I was part of a two year research project starting 1982 similar to the FPlan Diet.  It was about only eating high fibre foods.  So for 2 years we started the day off with first break wheat porridge, a huge bowl of salad for lunch and stuff like steamed fish and mountains of vegetables for dinner. Fruit for dessert or wholemeal cake made with dates and apricots.  So after two years, and noticing that we, and the children didn't have a day of illness during that time, we continuing on living fairly much like that, making high fibre choices for everything.  White pasta was unknown in our household for 40 years.

The irony of this is not lost on me - I now have Colon Cancer.  The very thing I was trying for 40 years to avoid, due to my mother having it.

Anyway, what can I say: bring on the white bread and pasta, please ;-)

Love

Irene

I know it's a rubbish diet isn't it!!  We've tried to follow healthy eating for the last 30/40 years too (although maybe not to the same extent as you though) - ironic as you say!. Interesting re your part in the Plan diet.

I couldn't believe it when I was told to eat crisps everyday (re replacement of lost body salts to help hydration) and to eat sugary/starchy carbs and add cream, butter etc to food to get the calories I needed immediately after the operation.

Best Wishes,

Net 

I agree. I was dumbfounded when I was told white bread!!! Pasta, high salt, high sugar and fats !!! 
This was my go to favourite for weeks. 
White bread with real butter thick,

Mayonnaise Thick

Fish Fingers.  Yummy and my stoma loved it 

Another little tip…… I was told isotonic drinks as Ileostomy’s can dehydrate you quickly. Second day when emptying my output was GREEN. Oh no why. I left the toilet in shock then saw my BLUE isotonic drink half gone. Yes yellow output and blue drink makes a green pouch