Ostomates Food Reference Chart

I was given this Ostomates Food Reference Chart in the hospital.  I thought it was helpful, so I am going to share it with you all.  Honestly I wish this would have been given to me a year ago when I first got my ostomy, because I have found it helpful. 

This is for individuals who have had ostomy surgery, it is is important to know the effects of various foods on ileal output.  The effects may vary with the remaining portion of functiong bowel.  Listed below are some general guidelines of the effects of foods after ostomy surgery.  Use trial and error to determine your individual tolerance.  Do not be afraid to try foods that you like, just try small amounts. 

Stoma Obstructive

Apple Peels
Cabbage, raw
Celery
Chinese vegatables
Corn, whole kernel
Coconuts
Dried fruit
Mushrooms
Oranges
Nuts
Pineapple
Popcorn
Seeds

Gas Producing

Alcoholic bev.
Beans
Soy
Cabbage
Carbonated bev.
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Dairy products
Chewing gum
Milk
Nuts
Onions
Radishes

Odor Producing

Asparagus
Baked Beans
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cod liver oil
Eggs
Fish
Garlic
Onions
Peanut Butter
Some Vitamins
Strong Cheese

Color Changes

Asparagus
Beets
Food colors
Iron Pills
Licorice
Red Jello
Strawberries
Tomato Sauces

Constipation Relief

Coffee, warm/hot
Cooked fruits
Cooked vegetables
Fresh fruits
Fruit Juices
Water
Any warm or hot beverage

Increased Stools

Alcoholic bev.
Whole grains
Bran cereals
Cooked Cabbage
Fresh Fruits
Greens, leafy
Milk
Prunes
Raisins
Raw vegetables
Spices

Odor Control

Buttermilk
Cranberry juice
Orange juice
Parsley
Tomato juice
Yogurt

Diarrhea Control

Applesauce
Bananas
Boiled Rice
Peanut Butter
Pectin Supplement (fiber)
Tapioca
Toast

J-Pouch Surgery

I finally had the J-Pouch Surgery!

         It wasn't nearly has painful as I expected it to be.  My doctors did a good job managing my pain.  I was in the hospital for 6 days.  It was still an uphill battle. 

These are the things that I struggled the most with.

1.) Because the surgery is done lower in the abdomen, it can cause a lot of swelling in the blatter.  So I had a catheter in for 4 days.  It was actually quite painful the last couple of days.  I have had catheters in for other surgeries and it was removed once I woke up, so I wasn't prepared for the discomfort that 4 days of having a tube rubbing my urethra raw would cause.  And of course they made me walk (waddle) 3 to 5 times per day with that thing in to prevent blood clots.  This only made matters worse.  I'm sure the sight of me wondering down the halls was a spectacle to behold.  I had many other tubes coming out of me as well (IV, drain, and catheter) so it was a team effort. 

2.) Another unexpected surprise came at the realization of finding another tube coming out of my abdomen, a drain pump.  According to my surgeon some people are more oozy than others.  So not everyone needs one, and they didn't tell me this going in because they didn't know if I would need a drain.  So we had that in for about 4 days.  And yea it hurt like hell when they yanked it out.  At least that pain was temporary. 

3.) Starvation City!  I knew that this would be part of the fun, but knowledge doesn't make things anything easier.  One day prior to having the surgery I was put on a liquid diet.  The day of the surgery I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything.  The next 2 days was a ice cube only diet.  Then clear liquids for 1 day (brooth, juice, jello).  Next full liquids for a day (soup, pudding, oatmeal).  Then low residue and soft foods for a couple of weeks (nothing that you can't cut with a fork, no raw fruits or veggies).  Now we are finally on a regular diet but I've been advised to go slow, to prevent blockages.  Ugh.   I lost 10 pounds the week prior to the surgery. 

4.) Fatigue........I am 3 weeks out from the surgery and I still get worn out easily.  I'm not in a whole lot of pain, I stopped taking the pain killers after 2-3 days of getting home from the hospital.  The only time I really feel the incision pain is when I cough or sneeze.  I just find that doing things like going for a walk or grocery shopping wears me out.  I'm not suppose to lift anything over 10 pounds.  So that is a challenge.    

5.) Incision locations.  My surgeon told me that she planned to go though the same spots that she originally went through for my first Ileostomy surgery.  (I had it done laproscopically, so I have 4 small scars).  Because I am smaller they couldn't see well enough so they ended up having to go in through different spots, thus creating 4 more scars in places that aren't exactly convenient for having an ostomy bag.  Yep I have one right by my ostomy, so it is no longer a even surface which makes keeping an appliance on more challenging.

6.) Change in bowel.  Due to how they configure the j-pouch, the ostomy is placed high upstream.  Which makes my output more watery.  So dehydration is going to be a ongoing concern.

My doctors thought the surgery went well.  The j-pouch is air tight, so now we just have to wait the 3 months for everything to heal.  Then it is on to the take down surgery.  After going through all this.....I hope that the j-pouch works out well for me.  Anyways, I am just happy to have this behind me.  Onward and upward.