New development: So as I posted yesterday, I have been making more than several trips to the restroom. It's awful and painful. So I took a hard look at what I was consuming, thinking there has to be a solution, and I think I found it! I need to be dairy-free, and the hospital gave me Ensure to drink twice a day. I remember telling the nurse that I needed dairy-free, and she said it was lactose-free and it's the same thing. IT IS NOT! I have come to find out the hard way! I did not drink it today because now I am almost sure that's the problem. I made 4 trips to the restroom today since ditching the Ensure. Also, gas was not an issue in the least bit; all those noises stopped. Hopefully, tomorrow's BM is better and better from now on too. I have a soreness feeling about 2 inches under the stoma site when I press slightly. It's probably nothing, but the doc will check it out on Wednesday. I remember when the stoma was put in place, I had pain there too, so it's probably just surgery pain. Other than that, nothing new, and since I was not constantly in the restroom today, I was able to walk more. If tomorrow is like today, I think I will be ready to walk outside and get some fresh air finally! Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read what I put out. I appreciate you! Be well, everyone. I am thankful for you! I prayed a special prayer for our community today. I hope it reached your hearts. 🩵
Hello MoeMoe.
Just a brief note to say that, although your situation does not equate with my own, I do very much appreciate reading your updates.
Best wishes
Bill
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You are probably correct with the Ensure. After my ostomy surgery, I became sick and nauseated after eating dairy products. I was advised that oftentimes dairy products are the last to come around. I was strongly advised to take Ensure with every meal since it was dairy-free and provided protein necessary for healing. On two successive meals, with Ensure, I experienced heavy vomiting. I was told by my doctor to stop the Ensure. Therefore, if you are having problems with dairy, you should proceed cautiously with Ensure.
For more tips and resources, check out our Ostomy Learning Center.
Good on you for monitoring your input for output and sharing. Hoping for you that omitting the Ensure will help you on your road to complete and successful recovery. Thank you for sharing so that others can benefit from your experiences. One comment you share, such as the Ensure info, may help multitudes! You are a brave soul and one who has much compassion, which is desperately needed in today's world ❤️. Thanks, jb
First, thank you for the prayers. Good observation on your part on the Ensure.
Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister
G-Day MoeMoe, you know we all learn from each other and it's information like this that gives other people an idea as to go for a reversal or not. Your journal, when finished, could be a winner and I would buy your first edition. Good on you, my friend, one day at a time. Regards, IGGIE,
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Good to hear, MoeMoe. You're getting better every day. It's funny, I drink an Ensure every morning with no trouble. My wife, with normal plumbing, drinks one and gets bloated and gassy. Well... more for me.
Continue to be careful. A couple of weeks after surgery, I was feeling pretty frisky. Well, I fell down my stairs. Laid on the couch recuperating. Got up... fell again. Lucky I didn't break anything. Took a while for my ears to stop ringing from my wife yelling at me. Yikes.
OMG BeachBoy, yikes is right! Wow, yeah, good thing you didn't break anything and you're all good now, I assume.
Thank you!
The good news is that you can avoid them with some small changes in your diet.