Food while having stoma

Hi Lamor,

My husband is in hospital after a bowel cancer operation 2 weeks ago. They are giving him icecream.!!! (See Stoma not working thread)

really? they are just so concerned that something it won't work, so my mum is feeding dad what I call baby food

Hi . I’ll attach a couple of links now before I forget!

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/EatingWell_BowelCancerUK.pdf

https://www.thh.nhs.uk/documents/_Patients/PatientLeaflets/colorectal/Healthy_eating_and_management_of_your_ileostomy.pdf

The main things that can cause a blockage are nuts and coconut which can clog together and cause a problem. A lot of people avoid tough skins, sweet corn, mushroom etc. as they dont break down easily and can come out as they went in. The important thing to remember is to chew, chew, chew. My stoma nurse told me to gradually introduce things and, if they caused a problem, then to try again later. Your dad may have been told to follow a low residue diet for the first couple of weeks and I wonder if your mums getting it confused with the things you have to avoid before a colonoscopy?

Theres some information in the first booklet about putting weight on too - I know I lost quite a bit straight after my op and I’ve stayed about 10lbs less than when I was diagnosed but I would say he certainly doesn’t need to be on a low cal diet unless your mums been told differently by a doctor? 

Milk and other liquids will not cause a blockage so maybe treat him to a big bar of dairy milk! x

Hi Lamor63

i have a loop ileostomy and ate very beige foods for about six weeks. Carbs and calories. I was told to up sugar and salt as it’s processed in the bowel and my bowel wasn’t getting any of it and to drink plenty and have high sugar!

 I dropped nearly two stone however it was par the course. I kept a food diary.
Before the surgery I found bread difficult to eat and had very little mainly high fibre.  
After the op fish finger sandwiches with mayo and buttered white bread steamed puddings  custard or ice cream ,small portions. I would chew extra well. I’d try and get four small meals in finishing before six in the evening. Each time I tried a new food I would keep other meals within my tolerated foods  I honestly was very lucky and ate quite well.

 Now I can eat a good variation of foods minus skins, seeds ect.  

I can understand the fear of blocking I definitely felt concern but my confidence is growing and I’m fine to go out with friends and eat. It’s adaptable. 
Many have said that chocolate causes issues  
I am fine with hot chocolate and marshmallows, ice cream and the occasional chocolate bar,  in fact most of the bad things. The one thing I long for. ………sweet corn and a crunchy salad.
Now that would block me.