Diet

   Goodafrernoon readers! A key factor in staying healthy after surgery is watching your diet, and what you put into your body. What you eat can affect what you stoma puts out, and ultimately can determine the amount of times you use the bathroom, what comes out of your stoma and ends up in your bag, what it smells like, and sometimes, if you eat the wrong things, can land you in the emergency room in a lot of pain.
   You body needs to receive the necessary nutrients to stay healthy. There are a few foods you shouldn't eat, but some people are lucky enough not to have any problems. Most people, on the other hand, end up in the hospital. Some common problems food can cause to your body are blockages, and partial blockages. These can be extremely painful. What happens is that some food may not digest fast enough as it makes it way though what is left of your digestive system. In turn, this can cause a blockage, not allowing food to exit the body. If you notice pain in your abdomen, swelling around your stoma, little to no output, and you feel nausea approaching, you should definitely take a trip to the hospital and get it sorted out.
   If you do not want to take the trip to the hospital, there are a few things at home you can try to maybe move things along.

• Start by changing the bag, and cutting the opening of the bag a bit bigger. You stoma may be swelling up due to the lack of output. 
• Stop eating food; continue with liquids only. If there is no output, you're going to get backed up, and eventually vomit. 
• Try taking a warm bath. This will help relax your abdominal muscles.
• Try walking around, or laying down in different body positions. For example, bring your knees to your chest. This will help open your body, and help break apart the blockage.
• Massage the area around the stoma. Most blockages occur below the stoma, and massaging it may help break apart the blockage and move things along.

Blockages are no fun, and shouldn't be taken lightly. If you feel like you may be having a blockage, I recommend you take the trip to the hospital.

   You need to maintain a fairly healthy diet. Sure, you can snack, but late at night snacking can cause gas. Gas= Bag filling up with air= Blowout. You need to watch what you eat, and watch what certain foods do to your body. I recommend keeping a food diary, and writing down what foods you have throughout the day, how they digest, and how they affect your output. 

   A few tips I can offer are pretty useful. 

• Chew your food thoroughly. Chewing will help avoid blockage, as well as help digest foods that are hard to digest. 
• Eat meals regularly. Instead of 3 big meals, have 6 small meals instead. This will help digestion and prevent blockage,
• Try new foods one at a time, this way if you react to something badly, you can pinpoint it and try it again a different day, or avoid it all  together.
• Try to avoid gaining excess weight. It is bad for your ostomy, and for you in general. There are many problems that can occur, such as hernias. 
• Drink lots of fluid daily! Liquid is your best friend. It helps move things along, as well as keeping you hydrated. You stoma releases a lot of liquid, and if you had your large intestine removed, you need all the liquid you can get. Water is normally absorbed back into your body through the large intestine, and now that its gone, you should focus on keeping hydrated.
• Remember that not all people react the same to something. Just because you see that someone took well to eating popcorn or salad, doesn't mean you will.

Foods that do not digest properly:

• Cabbage, lettuce, celery, mushrooms, coconut, nuts, corn, olives, cucumbers peas, dried fruits, pickles, green peppers, pineapple

Foods that tend to form gas:

• Asparagus, beer, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, dried peas and beans, fish melons, milk and ice cream, nuts onions, radishes, soda, sweets, excessive wheat products, fresh fruit

Foods that cause odor:

• Alcohol, cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, fish, brussel sprouts, cabbage, onions, baked beans, cheese, eggs

Foods that cause diarrhea:

• Baked beans, beer, broccoli, chocolate, dried beans, licorice, prune juice, soup, red wine, hot beverage, heavily spiced meals, and large meals

Foods that help reduce odor:

• Butter milk, yogurt, cranberry juice, parsley, charcoal tablets

   There are many different types of foods to try! Don't be scared of trying something new, just make sure you chew chew chew! Just because we have to watch what we eat, doesn't mean we can't enjoy life.

   If you're new to the whole ostomy bag thing, like I am, you should watch what you eat for the first 4-6 weeks. You doctor or surgeon will advise you what not to eat. This includes things that are hard to digest, leafy foods like spinach and salad, foods that gave you problems before the surgery, and foods that contain large amounts of fiber. 

   

   If you ever need any tips, don't be afraid to message me! You can message me here, or add me on Facebook and send me a message. I love hearing peoples stories, and I love being able to give people advice. Please just let me know that you are adding me from the blog if you do. :)

Be Well,

Johnny :)