Are Iceberg Lettuce and Tomatoes Safe to Eat with an Ileostomy?

I have had an ileostomy for 8 months now. Are iceberg lettuce and tomatoes safe to eat? It would be nice on a burger again.

There's one way to find out. Chew well, fluids. Enjoy.

With the caveat that we are all different, yes maybe. As Alex says, chew, chew and find out. Small doses to start. Lettuce is best at least shredded, if not finely chopped. I've personally had no problems with tomatoes, but I mostly eat them on burgers or sandwiches. Experimentation is really the only way to know. What is good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander. Or another goose, for that matter. :-)

Daniel

For those without a colon, the only types we can actually digest/get some nutrients from are spinach, romaine, and butter lettuce. Iceberg might make things more runny? Can't imagine a little would cause issues, but as others have said…

I can't say if you can. You just have to try a small amount and see how it goes down and comes out. Then, if there was a problem, it will be short-lived.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Just do it. The amount you would put on a burger is irrelevant.

I can eat mine this way without a problem. Try it for yourself and enjoy that 🍔. Just chew it well. As Axel said, the amount is minimal.

Iceberg lettuce is the only lettuce I can eat. I have an ileostomy. I peel tomatoes, so I don't eat the skin. But so far as I can tell, once peeled, they digest okay for me.

 

I grow my own romaine and we consume a lot of it. I do wonder if the intestines have enough time to absorb the vitamins since it comes out looking just like it did going in.