Struggling with Diet After Colostomy, Need Advice

Hi,

I've had abdo pain after eating for a long time. Since xmas its got a lot worse, I'm living on fortijuices, porridge and plain jacket spuds with no marg, tried a bit of gravy tonight with bread in it and its going mad. Got to have a transit test to confirm consultants opinion that bowel is knackered.

Really struggling to cope any ideas, help would be appreciated.

Thanks for reading this

Dear Scraggy, I am so glad you have an appointment and will get some answers.  Sometimes the not knowing is worse than anything.  Good luck!!

Mary

Hey Scraggy



Do you get such a thing as Ensure Plus over where you are (don't know where you are as you haven't set up a profile page yet), Ensure Plus is is a complete meal in a milkshake, strawberry is the best flavour, but you get them in many flavours.



Ensure Plus kept me alive for about 6 months prior to my op as i was unable to eat solid foods for most of that time. I swear by the stuff....



It's best to stay away from gravy mixes dude, especially if it has cornflour in it to thicken it, has a potential to stodge things up a bit, i doubt the bread will be doing you any favours either. Did you get any information on low residue diets from you consultant?.



Also if you are having troubles with your transit time being a bit too quick, ask your consultant about taking suppliments, and wether it may be a good idea to grind them up before taking, if you get the go ahead for the supliments, be sure to check the labels to see if they have either bone meal or Dolimite in them, if so don't use them a) because the bone meal will have a tendency to constipate you, and b) bone meal and dolomite tend to come from animal bone which has a tendency to contain significant amounts of lead, arsenic, mercury, and other potentially toxic metals. Not quite what an already tender bowel needs to cope with.



Take care Scraggy

Sweede had an excellent idea with the Ensure Plus!  That is something in similiar situations of my own in the past, my doc advised for me.   Please do keep on your doctors about the pains you are having and make those appointments to have this checked!!  Let us know how you're doing!!  In the meantime, maybe liquid vitamins are in order and try to drink lots of nourishing broths...beef broth, chicken and vegetable broths... eat jello...drink organic decaf green and black teas......it's all helped me in the past anyway.  Good luck!!!

Never heard of product, do have liquid drinks that give all vitamins etc but was hoping to be able to eat some food. Its really getting on top of me not being able to eat or being in so much pain because of it. Will update profile page.Contact dr for advice, hoping they can help

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I forgot how horrible it is NOT to eat.  However, I am grateful for Ensure, my blender, broth, Carnation instant breakfast.



Stay away from porridge!! It is high in fiber and will bulk and cause blockage. No cereals.



WD - Jello will also keep you hydrated.

  

Pudding (not with tapioca) tricks my mouth into pretending I'm chewing.



Good luck. Let us know how the appt goes.

Yes....stay away from fiber!!!  unsaturated fats (corn, canola, olive oils) are hard to digest, as are seasonings like black pepper & cinnamon that are made from ground bark.  You may be sensative to preservatives so lay off margarine (also unsaturated) & stick to butter if you can.  Minute Rice is low-fiber and easy on the guts.  Canned fruit & veggies are softer because they're way-cooked.  Pain is a symptom to listen to.  And if you can stand the bland for now, you may be able to add other foods back in after you're healed.